Eat your own meat! Reviving Sunnahs: Day 9

It’s a recommended action that the Imam carries the animal that he will sacrifice to the Eid prayer (at least in the Maliki school).

The sacrifice of the community members isn’t valid until he has completed his own.

Why these stipulations in Fiqh?

Well, one reason is that if the Imam brings the animal to the prayer, it’ll ensure that he is the first one to sacrifice, thereby ensuring the community has a valid Udhiyyah.

You’ve got to love Fiqh.

But there is something else built into Islamic law.

It’s so easy to lose sight of the purpose of Eid Al-Adha when you’re surrounded by

Family,

Friends,

Food,

and Fun.

It’s easy to forget that the theme is sacrifice and that the sacrifice is solely for God.

It’s easy to skip over the Udhiyyah and get right to all the shindigs taking place all over the city.

Don’t let it happen.

This is why Islamic Law and scholars built in safeguards like having the Imam bring his animal to the place of prayer.

Why?

So that no matter how much you may become forgetful, the purpose of Eid Al-Adha is right in front of you.

Sacrifice.

Today I drove an hour to a farm to choose my goat.

It had beautiful horns,

Legs that no doubt had carried it for a number of years,

And its coat pure white.

There could be no better sacrifice.

To choose from the best, is the best one can do.

What could be better than waking on the morning of Eid,

With nothing in your stomach (unlike Eid Al-Fitr),

Praying behind the Imam, listening to his words and then heading to begin your sacrifice.

Knowing that the first thing you will eat for the day will be the animal that you sacrificed for the sake of the Divine.

Eat your own meat.

Your brother,

Arthur K. Richards