Eating from the meat of the Qurbani animal first on the day of Eid-ul-Adha

Question:-

Is it necessary that the meat of the Qurbani animal is consumed first on the day of Eid-Ul-Adha?

Answer:-

It is recorded in a narration:

 كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْفِطْرِ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ حَتَّى يَأْكُلَ شَيْئًا، وَإِذَا كَانَ الأَضْحَى لَمْ يَأْكُلْ شَيْئًا حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ، وَكَانَ إِذَا رَجَعَ أَكَلَ مِنْ كَبِدِ أُضْحِيَّتِهِ

Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam would not go for the Salaah on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr without eating something. On the day of ‘Eid-ul-Adha, he would not eat anything until he returned from the Eid Salah, then he would eat the liver of his slaughtered animal. [[i]]

In light of the above-mentioned narration, the jurists have deemed it a Sunnah that the first food that a person consumes on the day of Qurbani, is the meat of his sacrificial animal [[ii]]. A person is allowed to eat from any Qurbani animal. However, the Hadith states that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam ate from his own Qurbani animal, hence it is best that one eats from his own animal. However, this act should not be considered as obligatory as it is Sunnah, and not Fardh.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan-e-Majeed:

فَكُلُواْ مِنۡهَا واطعموا البائش الفقير

So eat from it and feed it to the afflicted poor [Surah Hajj, Verse 28]

In the above verse, Allah Ta’ala commands us to eat of the Qurbani animal and also to feed others. On the days of Nahr i.e. the 10th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul Hijjah, it is best for us to consume the meat of the Qurbani animal as the meat is a special gift from Allah Ta’ala.

It was the habit of Sheikh-ul-Hadith, Hadhrat Maulana Muhammad Zakariyyah Kandhalwi Rahimahullah that during the days of Qurbani, he would not partake of any food except the meat of Qurbani, to the extent that he would leave out eating bread (roti). He would say that when Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with this meat, then how can we partake of any other food? Eating other foods (on these days) is tantamount to disrespecting the invitation of Allah Ta’ala. Hence, we too should try our best to follow this great Sunnah of Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam on the days of Eid.

[i] Sunanul Kubra, Vol.3 Pg.283

[ii] Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah Vol.17 Pg.483

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdur Rahman Abdur Razak

Date:- 24 Dhul Hijjah 1444 / 14 July 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai