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In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

The sacrifice and the grace of the day of Arafa

Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

07 Thul-Hejjah 1437.

09 September 2016.

Dearly beloved in Allah, the sacrifice and the grace of the day of Arafa is the title of our talk today; on this distinguished and blessed day.

Dearly respected, the sacrifice is what is slaughtered from camel, cattle or sheep on the day of Eid or Tashreek days, for the purpose of an offering to Him Allah may He be exalted.

Allah says: {We have given to you the Kawther river in paradise(1) So pray unto your Lord, and slaughter a sacrifice.(2) Lo! it is he who insults you; who is without posterity.(3)} 108:1-3. Allah also says: {We have appointed camels among the ceremonies or rituals of Allah} 22:36. The messenger ppbu had offered a sacrifice; and so did all Muslims after him, and it has been carried out with a general agreement by all. But there have been some differences of opinion on the requirements of the sacrifice itself. Some of our scholars stated that it is compulsory for every affording Muslim. The majority of scholars stated that it is a definite Sunnah which they deterred against not implementing when one is capable to do so. It was reported that the messenger ppbu used to sacrifice two fine rams with horns. He actually did the slaughtering in person while saying the name of Allah and glorifying Allah (بسم الله والله أكبر). It was also reported that the messenger ppbu did sacrifice two rams and he said: {O Allah, those are on my behlf and on behalf of my nation}. Jaber Ebn Abd-Allah said: I did my Eid Al-adha prayer with the messeger ppbu. When he came off his member he slaughtered his sacrifice and said: {In the name of Allah, and Allah is the greatest (Besmel-Allah and Allah Akbar). This is on my behalf and on behalf of those of my nation who do not sacrifice}. It was also reported that the messenger ppbu one Eid adha day had ordered that two rams to be prepared. Asked Aesha to bring the knife and have it sharpened. The messenger then he slaughtered the rams while saying: {O Allah; do accept from Muhammad and from the family of Muhammad, and from the nation of Muhammad}.

Some of the requirements or conditions in the sacrifice ritual are that it has to take place after Eid prayer and not before it. The messenger ppbu said: {whosoever does the slaughtering before Eid prayer then he just does an ordinary slaughter for himself, and whosoever does it after Eid prayer then he has done our tradition or Sunnah (or the tradition of the Muslims) and has completed his sacrifice rite}. So, it is not acceptable to slaughter your sacrifice before Eid prayer has completed. Otherwise it is considered ordinary slaughtering and ordinary meat which one provides for himself and for other Muslims, but will have nothing to do with the ritual of sacrifice. We are in need to learn the guidance of our messenger ppbu.

Other requirements or conditions of the sacrifice are that the animal itself has to be good and free of all deformities. The messenger ppbu said: {some animals are not acceptable in order to be sacrificed; the one eye or the animal with a faulty eye where the fault is clearly seen. And the sick animal who is clearly sick, and limping animal with a clearly seen limp or cannot keep up with the herd, and the broken that does not heal or weak bones, such as lacking the bone marrow}. This should be enough guidance to be able to select a good animal as an offering to your Lord; all glory be to Him.

Dearly beloved, what about the age of the animal to be offered? The messenger ppbu said: {only sacrifice a mature animal unless it becomes difficult to find one then you may slaughter a young animal}. The mature animal is the one who has reached certain growth or age. That is completing five years and starting the sixth in case of camels. Or completing two years and starting the third in case of cattle; or completing one year and starting the second in case of sheep. If it is not possible to do so, then it is permissible to slaughter a younger animal and in the case of sheep that is six months old or older.

Slaves of Allah; now that we have learnt the rules and conditions of the sacrifice. How about the lesson or wisdom behind the ritual of sacrificing? Allah has ruled the sacrifice in order to feed the poor on Eid day and Tashreeq days. Allah says: {.. from it you eat and feed the desperate and the poor} 22:28. Allah has also ruled it for us in order to celebrate and resurrect the memory of Prophet Abraham. Allah wished in His wisdom that this ritual is to remain and continue to the day of resurrection; carried out by the descendants of Ismael of the nation of Muhammad ppbu.

You; whom Allah has bestowed upon you the grace of financial comfort in halal and good money, do not deny yourself this goodness. And remember what you save of your money; is in reality what you offer and donate in your life time, while the money that you keep and leave behind is not really yours. It is in fact for those who inherit you; while you will be the one who will be questioned for at the hands of Allah; all glory be to Him. Dear brother do give to yourself. And ease off the burden of others; and Allah shall ease your burdens. Do not forget about the needy-brothers of yours everywhere; especially in Syria. {O People, (remember that) you are the poor who need Allah, and remember that Allah is the Rich deserving of commending and praise. If He so wishes He can be rid of you; and bring (instead of you) some new creation. That is not hard for Allah} 35:15-17.

We are still living those blessed days. Allah used them to make an oath with their grace and honour. A deed is more loved to Allah if done during those days than done in others. You Muslims need to know that this coming Sunday is the day of Arafa. All those doing Hajj (pilgrimage) will assemble at mount Arafa. And on that day, Allah shall grant those people assembled on mount Arafa the pardon from hellfire and grant them the forgiveness of their sins. Those of us who are not doing Hajj; Allah shall forgive their sins of the past year and the remaining year just by fasting this day of Arafah as told by the messenger ppbu. So, let us make use of those remaining days. I ask that Allah accepts from you and I, and forgive us our sins.

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).

Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com