Why do we Slaughter Sacrificial Animals during Hajj?
Millions of livestock and poultry are slaughtered every day for the benefit of humans, but the sacrificial animals during Hajj (Udhiyah) are an expression of love for Allah. So, let’s begin the story from the very start: Believers agree that loving Allah is the highest of virtues, because love itself is the tangible difference between living beings and inanimate objects. Even animals love their offspring at the very least. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The mare lifts its hoof away from its foal, fearing it may harm it." Even a selfish person loves himself and is excessively concerned with what benefits him. Before moving on to the next point, we should say: perhaps among animals there exists a kind of mutual affection that we do not sense—after all, they are from a different world. In addition, just because we don't feel it doesn't mean we should strip them of such a virtue. Our Lord taught us not to wrong any of His creation, as His Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence (Ihsan) in all things." Moreover, those of illuminated hearts have said: "In every creature, observe a reflection of the Creator."
Since love is a virtue, the noble have always competed in it — for love is not of a single kind, but of many types that vary in nobility depending on whom the love is directed toward. The love of a child for his ball is not like the love of a father for his family, and the love of a father for his family is not like the love of a leader for his people, and the love of a leader for his people is not like the love of a prophet for his nation — rather, for all of mankind. How incomparable is the love of all creation to the love of the Creator, exalted is He!
The value of love rises with the status of the beloved, for love reflects a kind of affinity and closeness. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Souls are like recruited soldiers — those that recognize one another will bond, and those that don’t will differ." Just as precious metals are valued according to their properties, rarity, purity, and proximity to perfection of kind — so too is love measured according to the perfection of the one it is directed toward: their inherent nature, attributes, and actions. Moreover, it is known that absolute perfection belongs to Allah alone — He Who creates essences, attributes, categories, creates harmony among them, and through the affinity between certain types, indicates the similarity between them.
From this perspective, the one who reflects on the Book of Allah understands that what Allah has promised the believers in Paradise—of ḥūr ʿīn (spouses)—in fact points to an elevated transformation in the qualities of the human being, who was created from water and clay, so that he may become harmonious with one created from another realm. We refer to this realm as the spiritual realm, to indicate that it is not as dense as the physical world. For how can there be bliss between two spouses who are not harmonious—if they are not similar in nature?
We mention these concepts to clarify the reason why wise believers have unanimously agreed that the highest form of love is the love of Allah. This is because such love reflects elevated traits within the lover, traits that Allah Himself has chosen for them so that they may be lovers of Him, Glorified and Exalted be He. These lovers are honored, respected, and held in deep esteem by the believers. Therefore, believers love them and follow their example, hoping that they may attain a portion of that love as well—or that they may be granted their intercession with Allah, so that He might forgive their sins and admit them into Paradise along with them. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “A person will be with those whom he loves.”
From this point, some people have taken advantage of this deep spiritual emotion by claiming love for Allah and pretending to possess it, in order to gain public admiration, popular support, and to attract followers. However, the true lover of Allah is someone who conceals his secret and keeps his matter hidden, content with the knowledge of the One he loves—Glorified and Exalted be He.
In contrast, Allah, the Almighty, loves to manifest His true beloved ones so that they become examples for others to follow, so that people may tread their path and beware of their harm, lest they incur the wrath of Allah. Allah said in the Qudsi Hadith (What means): "Whoever shows hostility to a Wali of Mine, I have declared war on him." [Agreed upon]. No one can wage war against Allah. In order to manifest the true lovers and expose the false pretenders, Allah tests them. He, The Exalted Says in the Quran (What means): "And We have certainly tested those before them, so that Allah may distinguish those who are truthful and He may distinguish the liars." [Al-Ankabut/3]. Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "A person is tested according to their religion." He was asked: "Who are the people who undergo the greatest trials?" He replied: "The Prophets, then those who are closest to them, then those who are closest to them."
This is the divine law of Allah in His creation: He has placed a difficult test before the high status in His sight and in the sight of His righteous servants. The human mind cannot comprehend the position that true lovers of Allah hold, a position whose effects extend in both this world and the Hereafter. And I say "the human mind cannot comprehend" because no one can grasp the true dimensions of Allah's Words (What means): "He loves them and they love Him." [Al-Ma'idah/54]. Love is a feeling that cannot be fully encompassed, and the Beloved, Glory be to Him, Said about Himself (What means): "And they do not encompass Him in knowledge." [Taha/110]!
We are not talking about material matters, but about spiritual ones. It is only the fortunate person who notices them and is happy with that observation because the matter is higher and more refined than the material world in which a person is bound by material considerations. One cannot perceive what lies beyond it except after leaving this world, when the caller says to him (What means): "You were certainly in negligence of this, but We have removed your veil, and your sight today is sharp." [Qaf/22]. This means that his sight is strong and penetrating. This is said to him after his material sight has died, and his material eye has closed. So, this is actually referring to another kind of sight, which we now call insight.
After this introduction, we say: Ibrahim (peace be upon him) loved Allah, and because of this, he believed in Him and opposed his society, which worshiped false gods and oppressed people. Ibrahim tried to warn the people about their mistake and guide them to worship Allah. He broke the idols to prove that they neither harm nor benefit, and that they cannot protect themselves, let alone protect others! As a result, he faced a great trial: a massive fire was kindled for him, and he was thrown into it, but Allah protected him, making the fire cool and peaceful for him. He emerged from it unharmed and migrated to the holy land. During his journey, he encountered another trial: a tyrant wanted to take his wife, but Allah saved her and him with another miraculous intervention. Once again, they escaped from the land of the oppressors.
These miracles were a manifestation of Allah's love for Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and they occurred in the presence of many people. Allah intended to show the people that Ibrahim also loved Him with a love that was unmatched. Therefore, He tested him with a difficult trial: He blessed him with a son after he had grown old and had no other children. Ibrahim rejoiced greatly at the birth of this son, as did anyone of his age, for the child became the apple of his eye. He could not get enough of looking at him and holding him close to his chest, seeing in him the continuation of his life, which was nearing its end. Such was the case for Ibrahim (peace be upon him) with his son, Isma'il. Then, Allah commanded him to test his love further by taking his only son and his wife, who was a stranger to the land, to a valley with no vegetation, and to leave them there. This marked the beginning of a new story, one that the believing mother, let alone her infant son, could not yet understand.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) complied with Allah's command, and his wife submitted to Allah's will. As he was leaving them, she called out to him: "O Ibrahim, who has commanded you to do this?" He replied: "Allah." She said: "Then He will not forsake us." And indeed, Allah did not forsake them. He provided them with comfort and companionship, understanding their isolation and hardship. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) would visit them, seeing his son Isma'il grow, become more radiant, and bring joy to the hearts of both his parents. As Isma'il grew and began to walk, the divine command came to the loving father, devoted to Allah's obedience: he was commanded to sacrifice his young son. Ibrahim did not hesitate or deviate from the clear command, using excuses about the objectives of the Sharia or the reasoning behind the legislation, as some might do today with their selective understanding of the texts. Instead, he immediately moved to fulfill Allah's command. He shared the divine instruction with his son, saying (What means): "O my father, do as you are commanded." [As-Saffat/102]. The mother understood, and she did not object. She prioritized Allah's pleasure above everything else. Satan tried to deter them, whispering to the mother, but she repelled him with stones. He whispered to the son, and he stoned him. He whispered to the father, and Ibrahim threw stones at him as well. Satan hoped they would reject Allah's decree, just as he had rejected it before, relying on his limited intellect rather than submitting to the knowledge and wisdom of Allah, The All-Knowing, The All-Wise. But Satan's plan failed. The knife was placed at Isma'il's throat, and only the final cut remained. But Allah's wisdom would not allow the tragedy to befall this family, one that prioritized His command above all else, a family that submitted to the will of their Lord with complete devotion. This family was meant to remain, and their legacy of righteousness and submission to Allah would endure, with their noble remembrance lasting until the Day of Judgment.
The knife refused to cut. Allah intervened, preventing it from doing so, just as He had previously intervened between Ibrahim and the fire. The divine command came for Ibrahim to desist from what he had intended. Then, Jibreel (Gabriel) appeared, bringing a ram from Paradise, a ram that had been there for thousands of years, its youth never fading but growing more vibrant, for this is the state of the people of Paradise—they do not age or wither. It was the ram that Habil, the son of Adam, had offered to Allah as a sacrifice, and Allah accepted it from him because he was a sincere believer. However, Allah did not accept the offering of his sinful brother Qabil, and so Qabil killed Habil. The curse was placed upon Qabil and his like, and it remains upon them until the Day of Judgment, carrying the burdens of unjust killings, for he was the first to commit this crime.
Habil (peace be upon him) died as a martyr, alive with Allah, and his ram was preserved for this moment, to be a ransom for Isma'il, the obedient son to his Lord. It was also a relief for Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his wife Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her).
The crisis ended with a miracle that clearly demonstrated Ibrahim's (peace be upon him) love for Allah, a love unmatched by any other. He obeyed Allah and turned away from his own desires. As seen in the previous miracles, Allah also loved Ibrahim, as His will intervened to save him from the fire, from the plots of the wicked, and from other trials. For this reason, Ibrahim was called "Khalil Allah" (the Friend of Allah), because Allah's love permeated his heart, overcoming all the inclinations of his soul. This deep and unwavering love for Allah is why he was honored with the title "Khalil Allah", a title that reflects the ultimate closeness and affection between him and His Creator.
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) succeeded in the test and proved his love for Allah when he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son to please Allah, without hesitation or argument. For him, the matter was clear: Allah commanded, and Allah must be obeyed. The beloved (Allah) commanded, and the beloved must not be questioned. This is what the believers always say (What means): "We hear and we obey; Your forgiveness, our Lord, is what we seek, and to You is the final return." [Al-Baqarah/285].
It has always been a fundamental principle in life that sacrifice is a sign of true love. Whoever loves their Lord sacrifices everything that contradicts Allah's Command and relinquishes their desires to please Him. Whoever loves their faith sacrifices themselves for the sake of Allah, Who has decreed the religion for them. Similarly, whoever loves their homeland sacrifices themselves to protect it. This is an obvious truth that requires no proof, and a Muslim poet captured this concept beautifully when he said: "Indeed, the lover is obedient to the one he loves."
Yes, love ignites latent energies in a person that they might not have known existed before. However, Allah’s Mercy does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. As Allah Says (What means): "Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear." [Al-Baqarah/286]. Not everyone is like Ibrahim, able to bear the sacrifice of his son, nor is every mother like Hajar, who submits to Allah's command to sacrifice her son. Nor are all children like Ismail, willing to give their lives to please Allah. Therefore, Allah has commanded a different form of sacrifice for the people: the sacrifice of livestock during the Eid al-Adha. Through this sacrifice, the following is achieved:
1- Eternalizing the sacrifice of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his family, a sacrifice that only those truly devoted can bear. It was transformed by Allah's mercy from the heartbreaking moment of a father about to sacrifice his son, to the act of slaughtering a ram, a feast of meat that brings joy and no fear, as the ram is unaware of its fate.
2- Giving money without worldly compensation to please Allah, a type of sacrifice that shows that Allah is more beloved to the one who gives than the wealth itself. This is the essence of charity, which serves as evidence of true faith and sincere love for Allah.
3- Gratitude to Allah for saving Ismail, as this act made way for the lineage of Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom Allah sent as a mercy to all of creation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) exemplified mercy, compassion, and justice, even praying for his enemies who harmed him severely. What a great loss the world would have faced if Ismail had been sacrificed, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) had not come into existence! Saving Ismail is a blessing that deserves our utmost gratitude to Allah.
4- Another reason to thank Allah for making the symbol of our love for Him the sacrifice of a ram and not a child. While we love Allah and would gladly give our lives in His defense, sacrificing our children to prove our love would be a grave trial. Instead, Allah made it easy for us by asking us to sacrifice a ram, feed it to others, and express our love for Him, an easy test that we should be thankful for.
5- In Hajj, thousands gather in one place, and they need food and care. These are the guests of Allah, and their journey is solely for the sake of Allah and expressing their love for Him. Providing them food is a way of showing our love for Allah and for the pilgrims. The best and most practical food in the circumstances of Hajj is meat, which is why animal sacrifice has been encouraged in Islam.
6- Thousands, even millions of sheep, cows, camels, and chickens are slaughtered daily for trade to feed people. However, the spiritual meanings we’ve mentioned are only found in the sacrifices made during Hajj and Eid al-Adha across the Muslim world. People slaughter animals for profit, but Muslims sacrifice animals during Eid al-Adha to express their love for Allah and gratitude toward Him by donating the meat, which costs millions. Those who understand only material gain might not fully grasp the spiritual significance behind these sacrifices made by Muslims on this blessed occasion.
The economic aspect is not overlooked in these sacrifices; livestock breeders, traders, butchers, and slaughterhouse workers consider this occasion a good season for them, a profitable market from which they earn a lot, and it boosts the economy. However, those who spend money on purchasing the sacrifices express their love for Allah because they do not seek anything in return from the worldly life.
Therefore, these are not just animals being slaughtered; they are offerings that express noble meanings, the most important of which is love for Allah. For this reason, any sheep will not be accepted; it must be of good quality, something that souls love. Allah Says (What means): "You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love." [Al-Imran/92]. It is a gift in every sense of the word, and it reaches Allah when it reaches His guests in Mecca, or when it reaches His believing servants around the world. This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) symbolically said: "The charity—meaning the money you donate as an expression of your love for Allah—reaches the hand of Allah before it reaches the hand of the poor." However, the material gift that reaches the poor is consumed when they eat it, whereas the spiritual and symbolic gift that reaches the hand of Allah is blessed and multiplied. Its owner will find it on the Day of Need (the Day of Judgment) multiplied many times, up to seven hundred times or more, depending on the amount of love that led the person to donate it. Let us carefully consider The Words of Allah (What means): "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him." [Al-Hajj/37]. This means that these sacrifices are an expression of being mindful of Allah, leading to avoiding what angers Him and doing what pleases Him. Through this, the love of Allah for a person, and the love of the person for Allah, is attained.
For the animals slaughtered during the Hajj and Eid Al-Adha, the following specifications must be met:
1. The animals must be from camels, cattle, or sheep of all kinds, as these are the types commonly raised by people, making them easy to obtain. Islam is based on ease, so these animals are chosen because they are accessible and well known.
2. There must be a certain age for these animals: camels must be at least five years old, cattle at least two years old, and sheep at least one year old. This is the age of maturity for these animals. If younger animals were allowed, it would lead to a real loss in livestock.
3. The animals should not be sick, lame, or blind; in other words, anything that has a deficiency in either appearance or meaning. Since these animals are a gift, it is not proper to present one that is imperfect.
4. These sacrifices must be slaughtered during the days of Eid al-Adha, which are four days: the day of Eid and the three days following it. This is because the sacrifice is a gift in celebration of Eid al-Adha. If the days pass, it is considered a general charity and no longer referred to as an Udhiyah. The regulation of acts of worship by their specific times teaches people to respect time in all aspects of their lives.
5. Some sacrifices are related to Hajj or Umrah, either as a tribute to the pilgrims or as compensation for shortcomings in the rituals of Hajj or Umrah. This type of sacrifice, called "Hady," must be done within the boundaries of the sacred area, which surrounds Mecca. Most of the sacrifices are performed during Hajj, as an act of honoring the pilgrims, and they are slaughtered in Mina during the days when pilgrims are stationed there. These sacrifices were once in line with the needs of the pilgrims at that time. Some of the poor would preserve the meat by primitive methods, such as drying it on rocks under the sun, and this practice continued after the Hajj season. Therefore, the days after Eid Al-Adha are called "Ayyam Al-Tashreeq" (the days of drying), and the dried meat is called "Qadeed." This dried meat served as a good food reserve for the people of Mecca, who lived in a barren valley. It is noteworthy that during this period in Mina, there are no flies, which helps prevent the meat from spoiling or rotting as it dries.
In this time, the number of sacrifices has increased, and pilgrims no longer rely on them for their food during Hajj. Many of them stay in luxurious hotels, where appropriate meals are provided for them. The poor are unable to store all the meat due to its abundance and their limited resources for preservation. Moreover, the quantity of meat far exceeds their needs for the entire year. This means that the meat could spoil at the slaughter sites. As a result, official charitable organizations intervened and established a project that ensures the following:
1- There is no need for the pilgrim to search for a sheep to sacrifice themselves. Instead, there are economic institutions to which the price of the sheep is paid, and they purchase the required number of sheep.
2- Experts are available to examine the sheep to ensure that they meet the Islamic specifications.
3- There are slaughterhouses with professional butchers who slaughter the sheep on behalf of their owners who have paid for them.
4- Modern methods of preserving the meat are in place to keep it refrigerated for distribution inside the sanctuary. Any surplus is transported outside the sanctuary, even outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to be distributed to the poor in Islamic countries. Charitable organizations coordinate this effort to identify those in need beforehand. Thus, the gifts of meat reach the poor during Eid al-Adha from their brothers who were honored to perform Hajj and visit the sacred house of Allah. These are not just pieces of meat, but meat blessed by the sacred lands, reminding us of Islamic brotherhood, the blessings of the holy lands, and the sacrifice of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). We can imagine the number of beneficiaries of these sacrifices, who are:
A- The pilgrims who complete their Hajj by donating these gifts to their brothers.
B- The poor who receive these gifts without any financial cost.
C- Sheep breeders who find a good market for their sheep during this occasion.
D- Traders who bring these livestock from all over the world.
E- Thousands of workers, veterinarians, and experts who consider this occasion a good opportunity for earning.
Thus, the project of Prophet Ibrahim has evolved from sacrificing his son as an expression of his love for Allah to a charitable act in which those who love Allah gather to express their love and gratitude to Him by donating the meat of livestock to their needy brothers and sisters around the world.
No matter how much money and effort is spent in this act, it is still less than if Ibrahim had sacrificed his son Ismail (peace be upon him); because the blood of a human being is precious in the sight of Allah. As the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Man is the building of Allah, and may Allah curse the one who destroys His building." Therefore, one of the wise men of Islam said: "The human being is the most precious thing we have."
If Ismail had been sacrificed, it would have been an expression of love for Allah from just one person on a single day. But Allah, The Almighty, made it an occasion through which millions express their love for Him every year. It is an unconditional love, not bound by material considerations, but a spiritual love in which the lovers declare: "From there we came, and to it we shall return." Our love for Allah is expressed through sincere obedience to the generous, all-forgiving Lord. This love is also coupled with the love for the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him), who guided us to all these noble meanings. Through this, a being made from clay becomes akin to the closest angels in the sight of Allah.
Finally, may Allah’s peace be upon our master Muhammad, who taught us these noble meanings, and upon all his fellow prophets and messengers who taught humanity that their true happiness lies in their love for Allah and in their obedience to Him.
