19/23. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 1581 — Eid Sacrifice Timing
Imam urging (the people) to give charity
Eid Sacrifice Before Prayer Hadith: Correct Timing Matters
Sunan an-Nasai : 1581
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 1581
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ، قَالَ خَطَبَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " مَنْ صَلَّى صَلاَتَنَا وَنَسَكَ نُسُكَنَا فَقَدْ أَصَابَ النُّسُكَ وَمَنْ نَسَكَ قَبْلَ الصَّلاَةِ فَتِلْكَ شَاةُ لَحْمٍ " . فَقَالَ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ بْنُ نِيَارٍ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ نَسَكْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ الْيَوْمَ يَوْمُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ فَتَعَجَّلْتُ فَأَكَلْتُ وَأَطْعَمْتُ أَهْلِي وَجِيرَانِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تِلْكَ شَاةُ لَحْمٍ " . قَالَ فَإِنَّ عِنْدِي جَذَعَةً خَيْرٌ مِنْ شَاتَىْ لَحْمٍ فَهَلْ تُجْزِي عَنِّي قَالَ " نَعَمْ وَلَنْ تُجْزِيَ عَنْ أَحَدٍ بَعْدَكَ " .
Al-Bara Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed us on the day of An-Nahr after the prayer, then he said: 'Whoever prays and offers the sacrifice as we do, his ritual is complete, and whoever offers the sacrifice before the prayer, that is just ordinary meat.'Abu Burdah bin Niyar said: 'O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), by Allah, we offered the sacrifice before I came out to the prayer, because I knew that today is the day of eating and drinking, so I hastened to do it and I ate of it and fed it to my family and neighbors.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'That is just a sheep for meat.' He said: 'I have a jadha'ah that is better than two meaty sheep, will that be sufficient (as a sacrifice) for me?' He said: 'Yes, but it will not be sufficient for anyone after you.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 1581In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 26English translation : Vol. 2, Book 19, Hadith 1582
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 1581
This Hadith explains the timing of the Eid sacrifice on the day of An-Nahr. The main lesson is clear: Eid sacrifice is not only about slaughtering an animal, but about doing it in the right order. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever prays and then offers the sacrifice as he did has completed the ritual. But if someone sacrifices before the Eid prayer, it is only ordinary meat. Abu Burdah had already slaughtered early because he wanted to eat and feed his family and neighbors. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him that his animal counted as meat, not the ritual sacrifice. He then allowed Abu Burdah a special case with his jadha'ah, but said this would not be enough for anyone after him.
What we learn from this hadith
- Eid sacrifice should be done after the Eid prayer, as shown in the Hadith.
- Good intentions, like feeding family and neighbors, do not replace the required timing of the ritual.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave Abu Burdah a personal exception that was not made general for others.
- Acts of worship should follow the guidance taught by the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم.
