A few days from now, Millions of Nigerian Muslim faithful will join their counterparts around the world to celebrate this year’s Eid-ul-Adha 1442AH celebration. Eid al-Adha is a festival that is marked through the act of sacrificing animals and donations to the needy. The festival is held within the first ten days of Dhu al Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. Since the calendar is based on the lunar year, the exact celebration dates vary depending on the time the new moon is seen. Eid al-Adha 2021 is projected to start on Tuesday, 20th and end on Thursday, 22nd of July in Nigeria. It is necessary to note that the dates may vary depending on when the new moon of Dhul Hijja is sighted.
By now many Muslims are already flooding the market or roadside retailers in pursuit of their Salam ram. City People’s Jamiu Abubakar reveals why it’s Muslims slaughter rams for the Salah, and what they should look out for before buying their Salah ram.
The Feast of Sacrifice has reference to the experiences of the Prophet Abraham. All three monotheistic faiths believe that he was tested by God, who ordered him to sacrifice his son before replacing him with a ram at the last moment. The act of slaughtering an animal is usually done on the 10th, 11th and 12th days of Dhul-Hijjah i.e till the fourth day after the Salah. The deed should be done as close to the completion of the Eid Salaah as possible. The animals to be slaughtered should be bought a few days before the slaughter. During the period before slaughter, they must be well fed and kept under favourable conditions.
The animals which are eligible should meet minimum requirements, such as the age of the animals and their condition which include:
(1) Sheep and goats must be at least one year in age and is enough for one person
(2) Cows or buffalo at least two years in age is enough for seven people
(3) Camels of at least five years in age is enough for seven people
In addition, all these animals depending on your choice of purchase must be healthy and free of disease, including the following conditions:
(1) They must not be blind, one-eyed or have lost a third (or more) of their sight.
(2) They cannot be missing a third (or more) of their ear or tail, either through loss or since birth.
(3) Their horn(s) cannot be broken off from their roots.
(4) They must not have a lame leg that is sufficiently weak that they are unable to walk on it.
(5) They cannot be excessively thin or lean.
(6) They must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter.
(7) They cannot be toothless or missing over half their teeth.
(8) They must be Mange free.
(9) There is no preference between male or female animals to be slaughtered.
