الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين.

In Surat Al-Nisa (4), Allah exposed for us some of the threats that Satan made to mislead the children of Adam and one of these threats is not obvious and its interpretations in most books of tafsir are not convincing.  The context of this threat is in verses 116 to 121 of Surat Al-NIsa (4).   I am focusing in this talk on the threat in red.  The translation I am providing here is the common one.  These verses read:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ أَن يُشۡرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ‌ۚ وَمَن يُشۡرِكۡ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلاَۢ بَعِيدًا (١١٦) إِن يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ إِنَـٰثً۬ا وَإِن يَدۡعُونَ إِلَّا شَيۡطَـٰنً۬ا مَّرِيدً۬ا (١١٧) لَّعَنَهُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۘ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنۡ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبً۬ا مَّفۡرُوضً۬ا (١١٨) وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمۡ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمۡ وَلَأَمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ وَلَأَمُرَنَّہُمۡ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلۡقَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنَ وَلِيًّ۬ا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدۡ خَسِرَ خُسۡرَانً۬ا مُّبِينً۬ا (١١٩) يَعِدُهُمۡ وَيُمَنِّيہِمۡ‌ۖ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا (١٢٠) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنۡہَا مَحِيصً۬ا (١٢١)

Indeed, Allah does not forgive that a partner is ascribed to Him and He forgives everything else for whom He wills; and whoever sets up partners with Allah, has indeed gone far astray. (116) They invoke nothing but female deities besides Him, and they invoke nothing but Satan, the rebel! (117) whom Allah has cursed. And he (Satan) said: “I will take control of an appointed portion of your slaves; (118) And I will lead they astray and tempt them with false hope and I will order them to slit the ears of the cattle, and I will command them to alter the creation of Allah.” But whoever takes Satan as a guardian instead of Allah, has surely incurred an obvious loss. (119) He (Satan)] makes promises to them and tempts them with false hopes; and Satan’s promises are nothing but deceptions. (120) For such people, their dwelling is Hell, and they will find no way of escape from it. (Al-Nisa 4:116-121)

Satan’s threat that is not clear is that he will order the children of Adam to (ۡ فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ) which is translated in most English translations as (to slit the ears of cattle).  This threat is not obvious because what is the big deal about making people slit the ear of a cow or a sheep as the purpose of marking them.  In fact, some people even slit their own ears and almost all women do this to have earrings. 

My guess is that most interpreters suggested that the threat refers to making a slit in the ear of cattle is to tie this Satan’s threat to one of the actions of the idolators in which they used to slit the ear of certain cattle for identification as being dedicated for the idols, so no one can take advantage of them. They called such animals “Bahirah”.  This is stated in Surat al-Maeda:  

مَا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنۢ بَحِيرَةٍ۬ وَلَا سَآٮِٕبَةٍ۬ وَلَا وَصِيلَةٍ۬ وَلَا حَامٍ۬‌ۙ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ‌ۖ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ (١٠٣)

“Allah has made no Bahirah or Sa’ibah or Wasilah or Hami, but those who disbelieve invent a lie against Allah. Most of them have no understanding.” (Al-Maeda 5:103)

The idolators used to dedicate four classes of animals to the idols and these are called Bahirah, a Sa’ibah, Wasilah or Hami.   

1. Bahirah is the female camel that they stop taking advantage of it after it delivers five times, and it is marked by slitting its ear.
2. Sa’ibah is the animal that is dedicated for the idols from its birth.
3. Wasilah is the she sheep that delivers 7 times and after the 7^th delivery, it will not be slaughtered but any future benefit from it will only be for man and not women.
4. Hami is the male of the cattle that was responsible for ten pregnancies, and it will be dedicated only for the idols.

Suggesting that term (يُبَتِّڪُنَّ) means making a “slit” to match it with the term Bahirah is forcing a meaning on a term just to have a link between two verses. The proper meaning of the term (يُبَتِّڪُنَّ) is to “cut off form the source” or to “completely tear off”.  Therefore, Satan’s threat to make Adam’s children (فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ) “to completely cut off the ears of the cattle” remains perplexing because we are not aware of this being done in any past or present culture.  Therefore, this threat must mean something compelling that is being done by those people whom Satan has deceived.

In order to understand this verse, we need to apply two of the seven steps of studying the Quran that we previously discussed.  The seven steps are reading, recitation, purification, Tarteel , Tadabour, recollection and Dirasah).  The two steps to apply are Tarteel and Tadabour.  The tarteel step involves the assembly of all the verses related to the subject.  The Tadabour process requires studying the verses together to get better understanding of the subject.

The focus in this talk is on the term (ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ) which is “the Cattle” and this term came in the Quran 30 times. Some of these verses should give us the clue about the nature of the threat of Satan to ensure that we resist it.  

First, let us identify form the Quran the animals that are designated as cattle (ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ).    In verses 142 to 144 of Surat Al-An’am (The Cattle), Allah defines the cattle as the males an females of the sheep, goats, camels and cows.  Allah says:

وَمِنَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ حَمُولَةً۬ وَفَرۡشً۬ا‌ۚ ڪُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَٲتِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ (١٤٢) ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٲجٍ۬‌ۖ مِّنَ ٱلضَّأۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡمَعۡزِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ‌ۗ قُلۡ ءَآلذَّڪَرَيۡنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ أَمَّا ٱشۡتَمَلَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ أَرۡحَامُ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ‌ۖ نَبِّـُٔونِى بِعِلۡمٍ إِن ڪُنتُمۡ صَـٰدِقِينَ (١٤٣) وَمِنَ ٱلۡإِبِلِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ وَمِنَ ٱلۡبَقَرِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ‌ۗ قُلۡ ءَآلذَّڪَرَيۡنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ أَمَّا ٱشۡتَمَلَتۡ عَلَيۡهِ أَرۡحَامُ ٱلۡأُنثَيَيۡنِ‌ۖ أَمۡ ڪُنتُمۡ شُہَدَآءَ إِذۡ وَصَّٮٰڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهَـٰذَا‌ۚ فَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ ٱفۡتَرَىٰ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ڪَذِبً۬ا لِّيُضِلَّ ٱلنَّاسَ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَہۡدِى ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ (الأنعام(

And of the cattle are those fit for loading and those that are small. Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Surely, he is an open enemy to you.

(142) Eight pairs; of the sheep two (male and female), and of the goats two (male and female). Say: “Has He (Allah) forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females contain? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.” (143)

And of the camels two (male and female), and of the cow two (male and female). Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females or (the young) which the wombs of the two females contain? Or were you present when Allah ordered you such a thing? Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead people astray without knowledge. Certainly, Allah does not guide the people who are wrong-doers.” (Al-An’am 6: 142-144) 

Before referring to another verse to clarify the nature of Satan’s threat, there is a verse related to the cattle whose relevance is not obvious unless we understand Satan’s threat.   This is verse 17 of a Surat Al-Ghashiya (الغَاشِیَة) “The Overwhelming” (88); which is the Surat that the Prophet (PBUH) often read in Friday and Eid prayers.  This verse is (أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ ڪَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ) “Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?”   It is not clear what is the relevance of the camels in the context of the other verses that read.

أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى ٱلۡإِبِلِ ڪَيۡفَ خُلِقَتۡ (١٧) وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ڪَيۡفَ رُفِعَتۡ (١٨) وَإِلَى ٱلۡجِبَالِ كَيۡفَ نُصِبَتۡ (١٩) وَإِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ كَيۡفَ سُطِحَتۡ (٢٠)

Do they not look at the camels, how they are created? (17) And at the sky, how it is raised? (18) And at the mountains, how they are rooted (fixed firm)? (19) And at the earth, how it is spread out? (Al-Ghashiya 88:17-20)

In these verses, we note that the mountains, and the earth are related but how can the camels and the sky be related?  Because of this disconnect, some interpreters suggested that the term (ٱلۡإِبِلِ) may not be referring to the clouds and not camels to achieve the relevance between clouds and sky.  But others objected because the use of the term (الإبل) to mean clouds has not be used in the Quran, Hadith, or poetry.

Therefore, considering that the term (الإبل) refers to the camels which is part of the cattle preserves the accuracy of the verse, but we need to identify a link between the camels to the sky.

We do not have to search hard to find the link between the camels and the sky.  There are two verses that give us insight on the nature of the creation of the cattle. These verses inform us that the creation of the cattle is very unique among all animals,, The cattle were created by Allah in Heaven and then sent down to earth which is unlike all other animals that have been created in earth and may have gone through certain evolution cycles.  Allah says in Surat Yasin (36):

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ أَنَّا خَلَقۡنَا لَهُم مِّمَّا عَمِلَتۡ أَيۡدِينَآ أَنۡعَـٰمً۬ا فَهُمۡ لَهَا مَـٰلِكُونَ (٧١) وَذَلَّلۡنَـٰهَا لَهُمۡ فَمِنۡہَا رَكُوبُہُمۡ وَمِنۡہَا يَأۡكُلُونَ (٧٢) وَلَهُمۡ فِيہَا مَنَـٰفِعُ وَمَشَارِبُ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يَشۡكُرُونَ (٧٣)) يس(

“Have they not seen how We have created for them cattle, among the things that were made by Our hands and then they become their owners, (71) And We have subdued them unto them, so that some of them they have for riding and some for food?  (72) And they have (other) benefits from them, and things to drink. So, will they not be grateful?” (Yasin 36:71-73) 

In Suart Al-Zummur (39), Allah says:

خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفۡسٍ۬ وَٲحِدَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۡہَا زَوۡجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ ثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَزۡوَٲجٍ۬‌ۚ يَخۡلُقُكُمۡ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِڪُمۡ خَلۡقً۬ا مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ خَلۡقٍ۬ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ ثَلَـٰثٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ‌ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصۡرَفُونَ (لزمر – الآية 6(

He created you (all) from a single soul; then made from him his mate. And He sent down for you eight pairs of cattle (these are the male and female pair of sheep, goat, cow, and camel).  He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation in three veils of darkness; such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom; there is no God but He. Then, to where are you being turned away? (Al-Zumur 39:6)   

These verses provide us special knowledge regarding the creation of the cattle and that they were not created in earth but were created in heaven and sent down to earth.   

When we study the Quran, we note that Allah used the action verb Anz’al (sent down) 162 time referring to 6 things that He sent down to the earth, these are:  

1. Revelations
2. angels
3. Rain
4. Blessings such as the table to Prophet Isa, the special food (ma’an and Salwa) to children of Israel, the tranquility on the heart of the believers.
5. Cattle
6. Iron

Interesting that Allah did not use the action verb Anz’al (أنزل) to refer to the process by which man came to earth, Allah used the verb (إهبط) (go down) and this mean that man came to earth through actions by himself.

Out of these 6 items, two require some study because they are not obvious, and these are the cattle and the iron.  The other 4 are well understood.   The revelation that iron was sent down to earth is given in verse 25 of Surat Al-Hadeed (57) that says:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬ (٢٥)

“We have indeed sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and we sent down with them the Book and the Balance (justice) that mankind may stand up for justice. And We sent down the iron wherein is mighty power, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah knows who supports Him and His Messengers, though unseen. Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.” (Al-Hadeed 57:25)

Early Muslims gave superficial interpretation to this verse with some such as Ibn Abbas suggesting that Allah sent with Adam the anvil, the tongs and the sledgehammer.

أن ابن عباس قال : ثلاثة أشياء نزلت مع آدم : السندان ، والكلبتان ، والميقعة ، يعني المطرقة . رواه ابن جرير ، وابن أبي حاتم .

But we now know that this verse reveals part of the mystery of the creation of the universe by identifying that iron came to earth from outside the solar system.  The earth as well as all other planets and satellites in our solar system were separated from the sun.  The production of iron by the nuclear fusion process requires a temperature that exceeds 4.7 billion ^oC. 

But the surface temperature of the sun is about 6,000 ^oC, and its inner core temperature of about 15 million ^oC, that are far lower than the temperature to form iron; therefore, sources much hotter than the sun must be responsible for the generation of iron in the universe.   

The theory is that when the earth was separated from the sun, it was a heap of ash, containing nothing heavier than the elements aluminum and silicon. Then this heap of ash was bombarded by a shower of iron meteorites from massive stars. This bombardment caused the heap of ash to heat up rapidly to a temperature that exceeded the melting point of iron (2000^oC) causing iron and other heavy elements such as nickel to melt forming mega drops that penetrated the heap of ash, reaching its center to form its mainly iron-nickel core. This process has changed the Earth from a homogeneous heap of ash to a distinct body.

While the mystery of sending down iron to the earth has been resolved, the mystery of sending down cattle to the earth remains for someone to resolve. May be research needs to be done to identify:

• The uniqueness of cattle compared to other animals.
• When Cattle were first noted in earth.
• The importance of cattle to the survival of the family of Adam on earth.
•  

May be one of our students who is studying zoology or veterinarian will be successful in resolving this mystery.    However, in a recent study by researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Georgetown University and CSIRO Australia estimated that the genome of the cattle contains approximately 22,000 genes and shares about 80% of its genes with humans. The researchers also found that the organization of human chromosomes is closer to that of cattle than other animals.

So, we realize from the Quran that cattle were created in heaven and descended to earth for man to see, it was a clear declaration to the power and authority of Allah as well as His mercy on Mankind. 

The confusion that is created regarding Satan’s threat (وَلَأَمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ) is caused by the interpretation that was made for the term Adhan (ءَاذَانَ).  It was interpreted to mean ears, but the term Adhan can also mean announcement for something important. We use the term Adhan to refer to calling for prayers.   So, if we assume that the Adhan of the cattle means the announcement of the cattle regarding Allah’s power of creation and His mercy on mankind. One can understand why Satan made the threat. 

Satan threatened that he will cut off the children of Adam from the true message of the cattle and by this he cuts them off the connection to Allah, the creator of the cattle. Therefore, we can translate the verse as follows:

وَلَأَمُرَنَّهُمۡ فَلَيُبَتِّڪُنَّ ءَاذَانَ ٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ

I will order them to cut off the announcement of the cattle (regarding Allah’s power of creation and His Mercy upon Mankind). (Al-Nisa 4:116-121)

Did Satan succeed in cutting people from the true message of the cattle’s creations?  Obviously, he did because instead of learning the true message, many people started considering cattle as sacred.  We notice that cattle played major roles in many religions, including those of ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Israel, ancient Rome, and ancient Germany. Even today, cattle are considered sacred in religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and others. In Hinduism, the cow is considered as representative of the divine and should therefore be protected and venerated. The cow has also been associated with various deities, notably Shiva, Indra, Krishna, and goddesses in general. 

Allah revealed to us all the secrets of Satan including this one, but people, even educated ones, are submitting to Satan’s deceit, and making him successful in carrying out his threats.

Allah may have instituted the obligatory command to sacrifice the cattle as part of certain obligatory rituals such as Hajj in order to counter Satan’s threat of making people confused about the true message of the creation of the cattle.  The command to sacrifice the cattle should ensure that people do not give any degree of sanctity to the cattle.  Allah emphasizes the importance of sacrificing the cattle in Surat Al-Hajj (22) and also in Surat Al-Baqara(2) .  In surat Al-Hajj, Allah says:

In addition to the animal sacrifice in Eid Al-Adha, there are other conditions in which a person is required to make animal sacrifies, these conditions are specified in verse 196 of Surat Al-Baqara as Allah says:  

وَأَتِمُّواْ ٱلۡحَجَّ وَٱلۡعُمۡرَةَ لِلَّهِ‌ۚ فَإِنۡ أُحۡصِرۡتُمۡ فَمَا ٱسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡىِ‌ۖ وَلَا تَحۡلِقُواْ رُءُوسَكُمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡهَدۡىُ مَحِلَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ بِهِۦۤ أَذً۬ى مِّن رَّأۡسِهِۦ فَفِدۡيَةٌ۬ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوۡ صَدَقَةٍ أَوۡ نُسُكٍ۬‌ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمۡ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلۡعُمۡرَةِ إِلَى ٱلۡحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسۡتَيۡسَرَ مِنَ ٱلۡهَدۡىِ‌ۚ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡحَجِّ وَسَبۡعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعۡتُمۡ‌ۗ تِلۡكَ عَشَرَةٌ۬ كَامِلَةٌ۬‌ۗ ذَٲلِكَ لِمَن لَّمۡ يَكُنۡ أَهۡلُهُ ۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ (١٩٦)

“And complete the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented (from completing them), make an affordable offering of sacrifice, and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches it place (of sacrifice). And whosoever of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (preventing shaving), he must in compensation pay fast, feed the poor or offer sacrifice.  And when you are in a comfortable condition again and wish to continue the Umrah in the months of Hajj, he must make an offering of sacrifice that he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should fast of three days during the Hajj and seven days after his return (to his home), making ten days in all. This is for him whose household is not present at Al Masjid-Al-Haram (i.e non-resident of Makkah) And fear Allah much and know that Allah is severe in punishment.” (Al-Baqara 2: 196)

Making animal sacrifice is very important and it is sign of the person’s Taqwa because it is a demonstration of honoring Allah’s signs and commands, as Allah says:

ذَٲلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمۡ شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقۡوَى ٱلۡقُلُوبِ (٣٢) لَكُمۡ فِيہَا مَنَـٰفِعُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى ثُمَّ مَحِلُّهَآ إِلَى ٱلۡبَيۡتِ ٱلۡعَتِيقِ (٣٣)

“Such (is his state): and whoever holds in honor the rituals commanded by Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such (honor) emanates from the piety of heart. (32) In them (the cattle) you have benefits for a specified time: in the end their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House. (Al-Hajj 22:33)

The term used to refer to animal sacrifice is (شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ) which is translated as symbols of Allah, ceremonies of Allah, landmarks of Allah, symbols set up by Allah, the marks of Allah, the rites of Allah, the sacraments of Allah, the offering of Allah, the signs of Allah, the commands of Allah.

While sacrificing the cattle may have been instituted to counteract Satan’s threat, there are voices being raised, even among Muslims regarding the sacrificing the animals during Eid al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice) by suggesting that we should give the money to the poor instead of the meat because this will be more beneficial to them, and some raise the question of mercy towards the animals.  These are false premises, the poor existed during the life of the Prophet (PBUH) and money would have been more beneficial to them and the Prophet (PBUH) made the sacrifice.    Also, no one can have more mercy towards the animals than the Prophet (PBUH) and he made the sacrifices.    

Sayeda Aisha said that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن عائشة – رضي الله عنها – قالت : قال رسول الله – صلى الله عليه وسلم – : ( ما عمل ابن آدم من عمل يوم النحر أحب إلى الله من إهراق الدم ، وإنه ليؤتى يوم القيامة ، بقرونها وأشعارها وأظلافها ، وإن الدم ليقع من الله بمكان قبل أن يقع بالأرض ، فطيبوا بها نفسا ) . رواه الترمذي ، وابن ماجه .

“No action done by the son of Adam on the day of sacrifice (Eid al-Aḍḥā) more beloved to Allah than spilling blood of the slaughtered animals. They will appear on the day of judgement with their horns, hair, and hooves. Indeed, the blood will be accepted by Allah from where it is received before it even falls on the ground, so let your heart delight with it.’ (Al-Timidhi and Ibn Majah)

Jaber reported that:

فقد روى الإمام أحمد وأبو يعلى في مسنديهما وغيرُهما بسند صحيح حديثَ جابر في حجة الوداع وفيه: وكان جماعة الهدي الذي أتى به النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم والذي أتي به عَلِيٌّ مائةً، فنحر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بيده ثلاثة وستين، وأعطى عليا فنحر ما غبر وأشركه في هديه.

“When the Prophet (PBUH) performed his farewell Hajj, he (PBUH) sacrificed 100 camels, he slaughtered 63 camels by himself, and asked Ali (RA) to slaughter the remaining camels.    

(Observation: The Prophet (PBUH) slaughtered 63 camels and he lived 63 years)

The sacrifice of the cattle is very important ritual.  Therefore, all the arguments that are being made to diminish the importance of making the animal sacrifice are very likely inspired by Satan to cut off the children of Adam form the wisdom of creating the cattle by Allah and sending them from heaven to earth.   

Those who suggest that charity is more appropriately expressed in money in today’s conditions fail to understand both Islam as well as the ‘modern’ world.  A study conducted by the Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar in 2009 found that the sacrifice of animals on Eid Al-Adha constituted a direct transfer of money to rural households with fewer intermediaries and generated employment for thousands of opportunistic animal rearers, livestock traders, butchers and leather industry workers among others, who look to Eid for a small annual windfall.

We pray to Allah to grant us the opportunity to go for Hajj and to make the animal sacrifices that are please to Allah and to protect us from Satan and his trickery.

Dua