Prayer TimesChoosing a healthy and attractive animal for sacrifice. It is preferable to sacrifice a castrated ram among sheep, and a female among cattle and camels [1].
The owner should slaughter the animal themselves, or appoint someone skilled to do it. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked to be present when the sacrifice was made on behalf of his daughter Fatimah, and said that as soon as the first drop of blood falls, previous sins are forgiven [2].
It is recommended to recite a supplication while slaughtering. The Prophet (ﷺ) would recite the following du‘a before slaughtering:
وجهت وجهي للذي فطر السماوات والأرض حنيفاً وما أنا من المشركين إن صلاتي ونسكي ومحياي ومماتي لله رب العالمين لا شريك له وبذلك أمرت وأنا من المسلمين
I turn my face sincerely to the One who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not among the polytheists. My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. I have been commanded this, and I am among the Muslims [3].
The animal should be slaughtered gently with a sharp, prepared knife to avoid causing unnecessary pain.
It is disliked (makruh) to use a dull knife and cause the animal distress. The skin should not be removed until the animal’s soul has fully departed.
It is sunnah on Eid morning not to eat before the sacrifice, and to break the fast with the meat of the sacrificed animal.
[1] Fatawa Bazzaziyyah, 3/156.
[2] Narrated by Ibn Hibban.
[3] Narrated by Muslim.
This content was drafted with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor.