WHEN DOES SADAQATUL FITR BECOME WAAJIB?

Sadaqatul Fitr becomes Waajib on the day of Eid as the time of Fajr Salaah arrives. If one dies before the time of Fajr Salaah, Sadaqatul Fitr will not be Waajib upon him. Neither should it be taken nor paid from his property.

ON WHOM IS SADAQATUL FITR WAAJIB?

• Sadaqatul Fitr is Waajib upon one who possesses so much that Zakaat is due on him.
• A person (on whom Zakaat is not due) possesses items more than his daily needs (for the purpose of trade or otherwise). The value of these items adds up to the Nisaab (amount for Zakaat being Waajib). Sadaqatul Fitr will be Waajib upon such a person as well, even though a whole year may not have passed on such items.
• A person should discharge his Sadaqatul Fitr in respect of himself and all those who are dependent upon him like his wife and his minor children (who do not possess any wealth). If they do, the Sadaqatul Fitr may be given from their wealth.
• It is not Waajib to give Sadaqatul Fitr on behalf of a child born on the day of Eid (after the time of Fajr sets in).
• It is not Waajib to give Sadaqatul Fitr on behalf of one’s mature children. Yes, one may give on behalf of one’s insane child.
• One upon whom Sadaqatul Fitr is Waajib, must discharge this duty whether he has observed the Siyaam of Ramadan or not.
• Sadaqatul Fitr is not Waajib on one for whom it is permissible to take Zakaat and Sadaqatul Fitr.

What is Aqeeqah?
SACRIFICE OF AN ANIMAL FOR A NEWLY BORN CHILD ON THE REMOVAL OF THE BABY’S HAIR.

MASAA’IL PERTAINING TO AQEEQAH:

1. When a child is born, male or female it should be given a name on the seventh day of birth. When the hair of the head of the baby is shaved a sacrifice is also offered which is called AQEEQAH. By Aqeeqah all impurities of the child are removed and the child is saved from all calamities by Allah.
2. The method Aqeeqah performing is that for a male child, two goats or sheeps and for a girl one goat or sheep is sacrificed. If an animal of seven shares (cow or camel) is used for Aqeeqah, then two shares will be taken for a male and one for a female. The hair of the head is then shaved. Silver, equal to the weight of the shaved hair, is also given in charity. However, this is not compulsory.
3. Aqeeqah is performed on the seventh day of the birth of a child. If not done on the seventh day, then, whenever it is done, it should be the seventh day, e.g. if the child was born on a Friday, then Aqeeqah should be performed on the following Thursday (the 7th day after birth). If it is not performed on this Thursday, then any other Thursday.
4. That animal which is not permissible for Qurbani, is also not permissible for Aqeeqah. Requirements for the animals of Qurbani and Aqeeqah are the same.
5. It is permissible to distribute the meat of an animal of Aqeeqah raw or cooked, and can also be served to guests.
6. If one does not possess sufficient money, then it is permissible for such a
   person to sacrifice only one goat for a male child. There is no harm if Aqeeqah is not performed provided one does not have the means for Aqeeqah.
7. Before sacrificing the animal (for Aqeeqah), the following Du’a may he recited: 

Which means “O’ Allah I sacrifice this animal in Thy name as a Sadaqa for my child in substitution blood for blood, flesh for flesh, bones for bones, skin for skin and hair for hair. O’ Allah accept this sacrifice for the protection of my child from Hell.”

If the Aqeeqah is for girl then in place of and mention the name of the child boy or girl at this point.

Du’a for slaughtering: Lay the throat of the animal towards the Qiblah and recite:

(“For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth. And never shall I give partners to Allah. Verify my worship and my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the world. O Allah this sacrifice is from you and is for You.)

WHILE SLAUGHTERING THE ANIMAL READ:

“In the name of Allah is the Greatest.”

SUNNATS OF EIDUL ADHA

1. Awaken earlier than usual.
2. Brush the teeth with Miswaak.
3. Have a Ghusl (bath).
4. Be well dressed in an Islamic manner.
5. Dress in one’s best clothes, not necessarily new.
6. Use Itr.
7. Perform Eid Salaah at the Eidgaah(place for Eid Salaah).
8. Avoid eating before Eid Salaah.
9. Go to the place of Eid Salaah walking. (if it is within walking distance).
10. Recite the Takbeeraat aloud on the way to the place of Eid Salaah.
11. Use different routes to and from the place of Eid Salaah.

THE TAKBEERAAT OF TASHRIQ

1. It is Waajib for every adult Muslim to recite the Takbeeraat of Tashriq after every Farz Salaah, which is performed with Jamaat, from the Fajr Salaah on the 9th of Zil Hijjah until after the Asr Salaah on the 13th Zil Hijjah (23 Salaahs).
2. The Takbeer should be recited once after each of the 23 Salaahs.
3. It should be recited in an audible tone, not silently and not very loudly.
4. It is desirable for those who peform their Salaah alone (men or women) and Musaafirs (travellers), to recite these Takbeeraat softly.
5. The Takbeeraat to be recited are as follows:

‘Allahu Akhar, Allahu Akhar, Laa llaha Illallahu Wallahu Akhar Allahu Akbar wa Lillahil Hamd.’

“Allah is Great. Allah is Great. There is no Deity besides Allah and Allah is Great. Allah is Great and All praise belongs to him alone.”

ZABAH (SLAUGHTER) OF THE QURBANI ANIMAL

1. It is Mustahab (preferable) that the person to whom the Qurbani animal belongs, slaughters it personally, provided he is able to slaughter (make Zabah) properly.
2. If the owner is unable to slaughter, it is better to delegate the Zabah to another Muslim who is acquainted with the requirements of proper Islamic Zabah.
3. A Muslim woman, who knows how to make Zabah, is also permitted to slaughter.
4. If the Zabah has been delegated, it is desirable that the person for whom the Qurbani is being made, be present.
5. The Islamic Zabah requires that the throat, the external jugular veins and the wind-pipe of the animal to be swiftly and clearly severed with a very sharp knife, together with the recital of BISMILLAHI ALLAHU AKBAR.
6. If only two of the passages and veins are cut, the Zabah will be incorrect. Yes, if any three of the four are cut, the Zabah will be in order.
7. It is Mustahab (preferable) to face the Qiblah while slaughtering.
8. It is preferable to sharpen the knife before slaughtering in order to ease the suffering of the animal. After slaughtering, the animal should not be skinned or cut up into pieces before it turns completely cold.
9. An animal should not be slaughtered in the presence of another animal.
10. Du’a for slaughtering: Lay the throat of the animal towards the Qiblah and recite: 

(For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him Who created heaven and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah to verify my worship and my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the world. Allah this sacrifice is from You and is for You.)

WHILE SLAUGHTERING THE ANIMAL READ:

 “In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.”

DU’A TO BE RECITED AFTER ZABAH (SACRIFICE):

“O Allah, accept from me (this sacrifice) like You have accepted from Your beloved Muhammad and your friend Ibrahim. Peace be upon them.”

If these Du’as are not memorised then make intention of Qurbani and merely recite:

“BISMILLAH ALL AHU AKBAR.”

The Qurbani will be correct.

THE QURBANI MEAT AND SKIN OF THE ANIMAL

1. It is allowed for a person who performs Qurbani (Waajib or Nafl), to either eat the flesh or to give it to whomsoever he pleases, rich or poor, Muslim or non-Muslim.
2. It is preferable that the meat be divided into three parts. One part for the home, one part for relatives and friends and one part for the poor and needy.
3. The meat or skin cannot be given to an employee or to a butcher in payment of his labour. It may be given to them as a gift.
4. The skin of the Qurbani could be kept for one’s personal use or could be given to anybody else for their personal use. It could be used as a water bag, Musalla, etc.
5. The Qurbani skin cannot be given in lieu of any type of services. Thus, the skin cannot be given to an Imaam or Mu’azzin in lieu of their services.
6. If the skin is sold, the amount received for it cannot be used by oneself. It is Waajib to give it away as Sadaqah (charity) to the poor and needy.
7. It is not permissible for one to eat the meat of the following types of Qurbani:
   a. Qurbani that is made as a Kaffarah for a Jinayat (error) committed during Haj.
   b. Qurbani performed for a deceased person due to his Wasiyyat, i.e. his instruction before his death.
   c. Qurbani performed due to a Nazar (vow) one had made.
   The meat of the above-mentioned types of Qurbani has to be dis-tributed to the poor and needy ONLY.
8. The meat of Nafl (voluntary) Qurbani, which one had made for the deceased, can be eaten by all, similar to one’s own Qurbani.
9. If more than one person participates in the Qurbani of an animal that has seven shares and each shareholder requests for his share of the meat, then it is necessary that the meat be distributed equally, by weight. If one person’s share is more than the others, it will not be permissible as this will become interest.
10. If one person’s share of meat is less than the others, but with the meat, he is given the skin or the head or legs of the animal, it will now be permissible. Great care should be taken in order to distribute the meat EQUALLY.

Animals that have the following defects cannot be sacrificed:

1. An animal that was born without horns or the horns had broken off from the middle, can be used for Qurbani. If the horn has broken off from the root, it cannot be used for Qurbani.
2. Those animals that are totally blind or have lost one-third or more of their eye-sight, or one-third or more of the tail is cut, are not allowed for Qurbani.
3. An animal which limps and walks on three legs and cannot put the injured (4th) leg onto the ground, or that it can put the injured leg onto the ground, but is unable to walk on it, cannot be used for Qurbani. However, if it is unable to walk on it, but can still take support from it, then Qurbani is allowed with it, even though it is limping.
4. Animals having no teeth at all cannot be used for Qurbani. If an animal has lost some teeth only, and has most of the teeth, Qurbani is permissible with it. If most of the teeth are lost, Qurbani is not proper with that animal.
5. Animals born without ears cannot be used for Qurbani. Animals with very small ears can be used for Qurbani.
6. Animals that are so thin and weak or sick that they are unable to walk to the place for slaughtering, cannot be used for Qurbani.
7. If an animal sustains an injury whilst slaughtering, ea. a leg breaks or an ear is cut etc. the Qurbani of such an animal will be valid.
8. An animal was bought in a healthy and perfect state. After purchasing it, an accident occurred which rendered the animal unfit for Qurbani. In such a case, if the purchaser is not wealthy (Saahibe Nisaab), it will be permissible to offer the same animal for Qurbani. If the purchaser is Saahibe Nisaab, then it is compulsory upon him to obtain another animal in place of the injured animal.
9. If an animal bought for Qurbani gives birth (before being slaughtered), then this newly born animal should also be slaughtered.

CONDITIONS FOR THE QURBANI ANIMAL

1. Qurbani can be made of goats, sheep, cattle and camels; male or female: No other type of animal is allowed for Qurbani.
2. Castrated animals may be used for Qurbani. This type of animal is preferable.
3. Qurbani of barren animals is also allowed.
4. Goats, sheep have to be at least one year old. However, very healthy sheep that looks one year old may also be used.
5. Cattle must be at least two years old.
6. Camels must be at least five years old.
7. Sheep and goats count as one share per animal. Cattle and camels are divided into seven shares per animal, i.e. the Qurbani of seven persons is allowed with one cow or one camel.
8. If a person sacrifices one cow or camel (without sharing with others), his Qurbani will be accomplished by the whole animal. If they sacrifice several animals instead of one, his Waajib Qurbani will be accomplished by one animal and the other animals will be counted as Nafil (voluntary) Qurbani.
9. If less than seven persons make Qurbani of a cow or camel, it is permissible. If any person’s share is less than one seventh, the Qurbani of all the persons will not be valid.
10. If more than seven persons share one Cow or Camel, the Qurbani of none of them will be valid.
11. When more than one person makes Qurbani of a cow or camel, the validity of the Qurbani of all the persons depend on the condition that each one of them have the Niyyat of Qurbani or Aqeeqah. If any one of them has an intention of merely eating meat, the Qurbani of all the share-holders will not be valid.
12. When buying a cow or camel one made an intention that he will share this animal with others. After purchasing the animal he finds others to share with him. This Qurbani will be proper.
13. At the time of purchasing a cow or camel one makes the intention that he will not share this animal with others. It is now, not good for him,to share that animal with others, but if he does, the Qurbani of the shareholders will be valid. Qurbani will also be valid if he is a person upon whom Qurhani is Waajib. i.e. a rich person. If he is a poor person then he will have to make Qurbani for that number of shares that he has given to others. If the days of Qurbani have passed, then he must give the value of that amount of shares to the poor.
14. The animals chosen for Qurbani should be healthy, free from faults and defects.

THE TIME FOR QURBANI

1. The time for Qurbani begins after Eid Salaah on the 10th of Zil Hijjah and ends at the setting of the sun on the 12th of Zil Hijjah.
2. It is better to make Qurbani on the first day, then the second day and lastly the third day.
3. Qurbani is allowed during the two intervening nights but it is preferable during the day because of the possibility of not slaughtering correctly.
4. People living in remote village areas where Eid Salaah is not performed, may slaughter after Fajr time (Subah Saadiq-early dawn) has set in on the morning of the 10th Zil Hijjah.
5. If a person residing in a town (where Eid Salaah is performed) sends his animal to the village (where Eid Salaah is not performed), it is permissible that his animal be slaughtered before the Eid Salaah.
6. If a doubt occurs as to whether it is the 12th or the 13th, it is Mustahab (preferable) to give away all the meat in sacrifice after slaughtering the animal.
7. If an animal bought for Qurbani was not slaughtered during these days, it must be given away alive, as charity.
8. These days, i.e. the 10th, 11th and the 12th of Zil Hijjah are known as AYYAAMUN NAHR (the days of slaughtering).