Dhabh

Dhabh literally means the act of slaughtering; however, in Hajj it refers to the slaughter of an animal. The history of offering animal sacrifice is as old as human history itself. In different ages man has expressed his faith, love, devotion and humility to God or gods in different ways. There were even times throughout the earth when humans offered other humans as sacrifices to gods of their own invention. However, Divine Law forbade all such sacrifices. The Shareeah (law) of Allah refined and reformed this human sentiment and directed it toward Allah alone.

The first sacrifices in human history were offered by the two sons of Adam and the incident has been described in the Qur'an as thus, And tell them accurately about the story of Adam's sons. When they offered their sacrifice, one was accepted and the other was not. (5:27)

Since Adam's time, the offering of animal sacrifices has been an essential part of all the rites of the divinely revealed religions with only slight variations. The Qur'an says, We have appointed for every community a time of sacrifice so that people may mention the name of Allah over the cattle which he has given them. (22:34)

The animal sacrifices offered by Muslims all over the world during the Festival of Sacrifice ('Eed al-Adhaa), is in memory of the supreme spirit of sacrifice offered by Prophet Ibraaheem. The act of sacrificing an animal confirms the fact that all of man's possessions actually belong to Allah and that he is ready and willing to give it all away for Allah's sake. This training should eventually produce a spirit of self-sacrifice and willingness to sacrifice even one's own life for Allah and His religion, Islam. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself was commanded to revive and perpetuate this spirit of sacrifice and devotion in all aspects of life and declare as Allah commanded in the Qur'an, Verily my Salaah, my rites of worship (sacrifice), my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, who is without partner. This is what I have been enjoined to do and I am the first to surrender to Him in Islam. (6:162-163)

Allah further clarifies for us that it is the spirit behind the sacrifice more so than the physical act of sacrifice which is of importance to Him saying, The flesh and blood of animals do not reach Allah, but what reaches Him is (the spirit of) your piety. (22:31)

During Hajj, the sacrifice can be made in Minaa or in Makkah itself after the stoning of the largest Jamrah. Those who are unable to make Hajj are also encouraged to make a sacrifice at home. This was the practice of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) as confirmed in a narration of 'Umar, who said, "The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) lived in Madeenah for ten years and offered sacrifice every year."

Those unable to sacrifice at home are advised to clip their hair, finger nails, moustaches and pubic hair on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, in accordance with the following narration by 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, I have been commanded to celebrate 'Eed on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, for Allah has appointed it as a day of festivity. A man asked, "Oh Messenger of Allah! What if I have only one goat which supplies me with milk? Should I sacrifice it?" The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied, No, but instead you should cut your hair, clip your nails (toes and finger), trim your moustache and shave your pubic hair on the day of sacrifice; this will be a substitute for the sacrifice.

The pilgrim who intended Hajj Tamattu' and is unable to slaughter must fast three days during Hajj and seven days on his return to his family. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade fasting on the day of Arafat (9th) as well as the 'Eed (10th) but allowed fasting during the three days of Tashreeq (11, 12, 13th).

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam