Mr. Javed Ahmed Ghamidi is a renowned Muslim scholar, often comes on the social media and expresses his views on various Islamic topics. It is notable that Ghamidi sahib has the different point of view about Islamic teachings than that of the majority of Muslim scholars. Recently, he has issued a statement regarding the sacrifice of Eid-ul-Azha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvP44VpJKcI).
In which he said that the Muslims should do charity and help the needy ones rather than sacrificing animals.
It is necessary here to examine his views in the light of Shariah arguments so that the other profile of the picture should be clear.
Sacrifice is such a process that all of the Islamic Ummah see eye to eye with its authenticity. The Holy Prophet (PBUH), his companions (God be pleased with them) used to offer It on the eve of Eid-uld-Azha. Sacrifice is necessary (Wajib) for him who has potentiality. It is proved in the light of Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Unfortunately, some people see it as a “mustahab” and not “wajib”. According to them if a believer offers sacrifice, he will be rewarded on the Day of Judgment and if he does not, then he will never be punished. They are of the opinion that the majority of the companions considered this worship as sort of optional worship and not a compulsory one. That is why they do not offer sacrifice on this day. They say that Hazrat Bilal Habshi offered the “sacrifice of chicken” on this auspicious day. Hazrat Ibne Abbas, on this day sent for his servant to market, asked him to bring meat worth two dirham. When he returned, Hazrat Ibne Abbas pointed to that meat and said that it was the ‘sacrifice’ of ibne Abbas?
Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: “And for every nation have we appointed a ritual that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He hath given them for food; and your God is One God, Therefore surrender unto Him. And give good tidings (O Muhammad (PBUH) to the humble whose hearts fear when Allah is mentioned, and the patient of whatever may be fall them, and those who establish worship and who spend of that We have bestowed on them. And the camels’. We have appointed them among the ceremonies of Allah Therein ye have much good. So mention the name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in line. Then when their flanks fall (dead), eat thereof and feed the beggar and the suppliant. Thus have We made them subject unto you, that haply ye may give thanks. Their flesh and their blood reach not Allah, but the devotion from you reacheth Him (The Pilgrimage: 37)
These versed are the clear proof of the sacrifice of animals on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Another place Allah Says: “Lo! We have given thee abundance; so pray unto thy Lord, and sacrifice. Lo! It is thy insulter (and not thou) who is without posterity (Abundance: 3). Hazrat Ibne Abbas says in the light of this Surah that it is about religious sacrifice only.
Moreover, the famous companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says that ‘nahar’ means only sacrifice of animals (Tafseer Ibne Kaseer). Another verse reveals about the sacrifice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying “Say: Lo! My worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the Worlds (Cattle: 162)
We concluded from above Quranic verses that :-
1. Every past nation had its sacrifice of animals and similarly it is for the Muslim Ummah.
1. The Holy Prphet (PBUH) offered sacrifice in the light of Quran and then his campanions also did so. So, the sacrifice is proved by the Holy Quran. As regards the Ahadiths (sayings of the holy Prophet PBUH), so these are as:-
1) Hazrat Anas (God be please with him) narrated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) slaughtered two he-goats on the Eid-day whose hides were white and black and horns were high. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) put his foot on their neck and recited ‘Bismillah-e-Wallah-o-Akbar’ (Bokhari, Muslim).
2) Mother of the faiths, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (God be pleased with her) narrated that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that no process of the Muslim is rewarded able on the Eid-ul-Azha than the sacrifice of animal, this is accepted by Allah Almighty when the first blood-drop do not fall on the earth yet. (Thirmadihi, Ibne Maja).
3) The Holy Prophet (PBUH) while asked about the sacrifice of Eid-ul-AZha replied that it was the Sunnah of their father Hazrat Abrahim (A.S). The companions (God be pleased with them) asked about its reward, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) replied that there was one reward in exchange with the every one hair of the slaughtered animal.
It means that as no one can count the hair of the goat or the sheep, so its reward is uncounted.
(Ahmed, Ibne Maja).
4) Hazrat Ibne Abbas narrated that we were on the way on the day while the Eid-ul-Azha come, so we seven persons took part in the slaughter of cow and camel. (Tirmadi, Nasai)
There are more Ahadiths also that reveal the authenticity of thsis religious sacrifice.
In short, the sacrifice of animals on the Eid-ul-Azha is proved by the Holy Quran, Sunnah and by the Ijma-e-Ummat (consensus of the Muslim Ummah). So, he will be punished who has potentiality and does not offere sacrifice.