Is it permissible for me to eat from the animal that I slaughtered for Allah to protect my family?
It is permissible to eat from the non-vowed animal sacrifice, and the person is rewarded based on the amount of meat that he had given to the poor. However, there is no evidence in Islamic Sharia indicating that slaughtering an animal protects one`s family, but it is a way for thanking Allah, The Almighty, for his grace.
What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah?
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
There are several Sunnahs and etiquettes that are recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah (sacrifice) to observe, including:
1-It is Sunnah for the one intending to sacrifice to refrain from removing any hair or nails once the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the ten days [of Dhul-Hijjah] begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch [remove] any of his hair or skin." [Narrated by Muslim]. If someone does remove any hair or nails, they have not committed a sin, and their sacrifice remains valid.
2-It is recommended for the person offering the sacrifice to slaughter the animal themselves. If they are unable to do so, they should witness the slaughter. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said to Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her): "Stand and witness your sacrifice, for indeed, with its first drop of blood, your [previous sins] are forgiven." [Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Tabarani; it is classified as a weak (da'if) hadith].
3-The animal should be positioned to face the Qiblah at the time of slaughter, as the Qiblah is the most noble of directions.
4-The slaughterer should say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful). Even if one forgets to say it, the sacrifice is still permissible to eat. Allah (Blessed and Exalted be He) says: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned" [Al-An'am: 118]. It is also recommended to send blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and to say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) after the Tasmiyah.
5-The slaughterer should pray for the sacrifice to be accepted by saying: "O Allah, this is from You and for You, so please accept it from me." (Allahumma hadhihi minka wa ilayka, fataqabbal minni). And Allah the Almighty knows best.
What should a person do if they suffer from an incurable illness that prevents them from fasting?
A person who has an illness that is not expected to be cured and prevents them from fasting must feed a needy person one mudd (600 grams) of food (such as wheat or rice) for each missed day instead of fasting.
Allah Almighty says {what means}: "and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person." [Al-Baqarah/184].
What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes related to the slaughtering of an animal?
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
1-The animal should not be terrified or frightened before it is slaughtered.
2-An animal should not be slaughtered in front of other animals.
3-It is recommended to offer water to the animal before it is slaughtered.
4-The knife must be sharpened before the slaughter to ensure that the esophagus, trachea, and jugular veins are severed as quickly and cleanly as possible. This is based on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: "Verily, Allah has prescribed Ihsan (excellence/proficiency) in all things. So, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare the animal unnecessary suffering." [Narrated by Muslim].
5-One must not begin skinning or butchering the animal until its death has been fully confirmed.
6-Cows and Sheep: It is best to slaughter them while they are lying on their left side, facing the Qiblah. The right hind leg should be left untied so the animal can move it, which helps it remain more comfortable during its final moments. Unlike other livestock, it is preferred to perform Nahr (slaughtering by a swift stab at the base of the neck) while the camel is standing, with its left knee tied. And Allah the Almighty knows best.
