Virtues of the Day of Sacrifice

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that they had two days on which they used to play. He said, “Allah has given you two days better than these, the day of al-Fitr and the day of al-Adha.” (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1134; classed as sahih by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah, 2021) 

Allah has given this ummah two days for playing and leisure, two days for remembering Allah and thanking Him, and asking Him for forgiveness. 

Types of festivals in Islam

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 Ramadan fast. This comes upon the completion of the month of Ramadan, which is the third pillar of Islam. When the Muslims have finished fasting the month that is enjoined upon them, Allah has prescribed that they should follow the completion of their fast with a festival on which they gather to thank Allah, 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 9^th 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 sahih by al-Albani in Irwa’ al-Ghalil (1064). 

The day of ‘Arafah is the day of ransom from the Fire, when Allah 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 Allah by means of the ritual of shedding the sacrificial blood. 

Virtues of the Day of Sacrifice

The virtues of this day may be summed up as follows: 

1.     It is the best of days before Allah.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Zad al-Ma’ad (1/54): 

“The best of days before Allah is the Day of Sacrifice, which is the greatest day of Hajj as it says in Sunan Abi Dawud (1765), where it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The greatest of days before Allah is the Day of Sacrifice.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud) 

2.     It is the greatest day of Hajj.

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stood between the Jamarat on the Day of Sacrifice during his Hajj and said, “This is the greatest day of Hajj .” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1742)

That is because the greatest actions of Hajj take place on this day, when the pilgrims do the following: 

·        Stoning Jamrat al-‘Aqabah

·        Offering the sacrifice

·        Shaving the head or cutting the hair

·        Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah)

·        Sa’i (running between al-Safa and al-Marwah)

3.     It is the ‘Eid day of the Muslims

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The day of ‘Arafah, the day of Sacrifice, and the days of al-Tashriq are our festival, us Muslims, and they are days of eating and drinking.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 773; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi. 

And Allah knows best.