Praise be to Allaah.
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he found that they had two days on which they used to play. He said, “Allaah has given you two days better than these, the day of al-Fitr and the day of al-Adha.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1134; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 2021.
Allaah has given this ummah two days for playing and leisure, two days for remembering Allaah and thanking Him, and asking Him for forgiveness.
In this world the believers have three festivals or Eids:
One Eid which is repeated each week, and two Eids which come once a year.
The Eid which is repeated every week is Friday (Jumu’ah).
The Eids which are not repeated, which come only once each year, are:
1 – Eid al-Fitr, the breaking of the Ramadaan fast. This comes upon the completion of the month of Ramadaan, which is the third pillar of Islam. When the Muslims have finished fasting the month that is enjoined upon them, Allaah has prescribed that they should follow the completion of their fast with a festival on which they gather to thank Allaah, remember Him and glorify Him for His guidance. On that Eid it is prescribed for them to pray and give charity.
2 – The second Eid is Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), which is the tenth day of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah. This is the greater and better of the two feasts, which comes after the completion of the Hajj, for when the Muslims complete their Hajj they are forgiven.
Rather Hajj is completed on the Day of ‘Arafah [the 9th of Dhu’l-Hijjah] with the standing in ‘Arafah, which is the major pillar of Hajj, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hajj is ‘Arafah.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (889) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel (1064).
The day of ‘Arafah is the day of ransom from the Fire, when Allaah ransoms from Hellfire those who stood at ‘Arafah and Muslims who did not stand at ‘Arafah. Hence the day that follows it is a festival for all Muslims in all regions, those who attended Hajj and those who did not.
It is prescribed for all of them to draw closer to Allaah by means of the ritual of shedding the sacrificial blood.
The virtues of this day may be summed up as follows:
1- It is the best of days before Allaah.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Zaad al-Ma’aad (1/54): The best of days before Allaah is the Day of Sacrifice, which is the greatest day of Hajj as it says in Sunan Abi Dawood (1765), where it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The greatest of days before Allaah is the Day of Sacrifice.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
2- It is the greatest day of Hajj.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood between the Jamaraat on the Day of Sacrifice during his Hajj and said, “This is the greatest day of Hajj.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1742.
That is because the greatest actions of Hajj take place on this day, when the pilgrims do the following:
(i) Stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah
(ii) Offering the sacrifice
(iii) Shaving the head or cutting the hair
(iv) Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah)
(v) Saa’i (running between al-Safa and al-Marwah)
3- It is the Eid day of the Muslims
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of Sacrifice, and the days of al-Tashreeq are our festival, us Muslims, and they are days of eating and drinking.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 773; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is permissible to share in a sacrifice if it is a camel or a cow, but it is not permissible to share in a sheep. It is permissible for seven people to share one camel or cow.
It is narrated that the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) shared sacrifices: seven people would share a camel or a cow in Hajj and ‘Umrah.
Muslim (1318) narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “On the day of al-Hudaybiyah we offered the sacrifice with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a camel on behalf of seven and a cow on behalf of seven.
According to another report, it was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: We performed Hajj with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and we sacrificed a camel on behalf of seven and a cow on behalf of seven.
Abu Dawood (2808) narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “A cow on behalf of seven and a camel on behalf of seven.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Muslim:
These ahaadeeth indicate that it is permissible to share in the sacrifice, but they are unanimously agreed that it not permissible to share in a sheep. These ahaadeeth indicate that a camel is sufficient on behalf of seven people, and a cow is sufficient on behalf of seven people, and each of them takes the place of seven sheep. So if a muhrim is required to offer seven sacrifices –except in the case of the penalty for hunting – and he slaughters a camel or a cow, that is equivalent to them all. End quote.
The Standing Committee was asked about sharing in the sacrifice and they replied:
A camel or a cow is sufficient on behalf of seven people, whether they are all from one family or are from different families, and whether they are related to one another or not, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave permission to the Sahaabah to share a camel or a cow, one animal for every seven people, and he did not say anything more specific than that. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 11/401
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Ahkaam al-Udhiyah:
One sheep is sufficient for one person, and one-seventh of a camel or cow is sufficient for what one sheep is sufficient for. End quote.
And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Have u thought to buy sheep to seek the reward of Allah.Have u thought of u poor and sisters brothers in the day of eid.Have u planned to put smile on the lips of u poor relatives,orphans and widows.Pls if u afford , buy them not only sheep but satisfy their needs.May be next year u will among the dead
Read fatawa on the day of sacrifice and types of animals and so on
http://islamqa.com/en/search2/Day%20...AllWords/t,q,a