41/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4231 — Care for the Firstborn Before Charity
The Explanation Of Fara'
Raise the Firstborn Animal Before Giving Its Meat in Charity
Sunan an-Nasai : 4231
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4231
أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الأَشْعَثِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمِقْدَامِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زُرَيْعٍ - قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمَلِيحِ، عَنْ نُبَيْشَةَ، قَالَ نَادَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَعْتِرُ عَتِيرَةً يَعْنِي فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فِي رَجَبٍ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا قَالَ " اذْبَحُوهَا فِي أَىِّ شَهْرٍ كَانَ وَبَرُّوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَطْعِمُوا " . قَالَ إِنَّا كُنَّا نُفْرِعُ فَرَعًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ . قَالَ " فِي كُلِّ سَائِمَةٍ فَرَعٌ حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَحْمَلَ ذَبَحْتَهُ وَتَصَدَّقْتَ بِلَحْمِهِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ هُوَ خُيْرٌ " .
Nubaishah Narrated from:
A man called out to the Prophet and said: 'We used to sacrifice the 'Atirah - i.e., during the Jahiliyyah - in Rajab; what do you command us to do?' He said: 'Sacrifice, whatever month it is, do good for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and feed (the poor).' He said: 'We used to sacrifice the Fara' during the Jahiliyyah; what do you command us to do?' He said: 'For every flock of grazing animals, feed the firstborn as you feed the rest of your flock until it reaches an age where it could be used to carry loads, then sacrifice it, and give its meat in charity, for that is good.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4231In-book reference : Book 41, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 4236
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4231
This narration reports questions about Atirah and Fara from the time of Jahiliyyah. For Atirah, the Prophet instructed the people to slaughter in whatever month it might be, do good for Allah's sake, and feed others. For Fara, he directed them to feed the firstborn animal as they fed the rest of the grazing herd. They were to care for it until it reached an age at which it could carry loads. It could then be slaughtered and its meat given in charity. The hadith calls this course good. Its clear focus is not merely the act of slaughter. It also stresses proper feeding, patient care, useful growth, sincere worship, and sharing food with others.
What we learn from this hadith
- Sacrifice should be connected with doing good for Allah's sake.
- The firstborn animal is to receive the same feeding as the rest of the herd.
- It should be allowed to grow until it can carry loads.
- Its meat should be distributed in charity after slaughter.
