Question:
Is it necessary for a person who is performing the worship of sacrifice (qorban) to witness the slaughter of the animal himself to complete his qorban?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
For those who are performing the worship of sacrifice, it is best if the person himself slaughter his animal for sacrifice. This is in accordance with a hadith of the Prophet PBUH where he himself did the slaughter of his sacrifice. From Anas bin Malik RA:
ضَحَّى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ، ذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ، وَسَمَّى وَكَبَّرَ وَوَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا
“The Prophet (ﷺ) offered as sacrifices, two horned rams, black and white in colour. He slaughtered them with his own hands and mentioned Allah's Name over them and said Takbir and put his foot on their sides.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5565) and Sahih Muslim (1966)
According to the actions of the Prophet PBUH in the above hadith, it is sunnah for those who are performing the worship of sacrifice to slaughter their animals for sacrifice themselves following the acts of the Prophet PBUH.
It is also permissible for them to ask someone else as their representative to slaughter the animal but it is sunnah for them to witness the sacrifice themselves. This is in accordance with a hadith of the Prophet PBUH, where he said:
قَوْمِي إِلَى أُضْحِيَّتِكَ فَاشْهَدِيهَا فَإِنَّ لَكِ بِأَوَّلِ قَطْرَةٍ تَقْطُرُ مِنْ دَمِهَا يُغْفَرُ لَكِ مَا سَلَفَ مِنْ ذُنُوبُكَ. قَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، هَذَا لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ خَاصَّةً أَوْ لَنَا وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عَامَّةً؟ قَالَ: بَلْ لَنَا وَلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عَامَّةً
“Get up and go to the place of sacrifice and witness it yourself for with the first drop of blood your sins are forgiven. Fatimah asked: O Messenger of Allah! Is this only for us ahl Bait? The Prophet PBUH answered: It is for us and for all Muslims.”
Narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (7525)
There are several pearls of wisdom that could be learned from the above hadith:
- The Prophet PBUH asked Fatimah R.Anha to go out and witness her sacrifice shows that Fatimah R.Anha already asked for a representative to slaughter her sacrifice.
- The Prophet PBUH asked Fatimah R.Anha to witness the slaughtering process herself shows that it is sunnah for a person who is performing the worship of sacrifice (qorban) to witness the slaughter.
- The hadith states the benefit of witnessing the slaughter of sacrificed animals for with the first drop of blood his previous sins will be forgiven.
- Attending the slaughter for sacrifice is an act of upholding the eminence of Islam.
Conclusion
Witnessing the slaughter for those who are taking part in the worship of sacrifice (qorban) is sunnah according to a hadith of Fatimah R.Anha stated earlier. However, it is best if the person himself to slaughter the sacrifice. Wallahua’lam.