Of Sacrifice and Mercy: What Every Muslim Should Know Before Eid al-Adha

From Effective Altruism, Lagos State University, we have this message for our fellow muslims: 

1. Islam teaches that animals are sentient communities created by Allah, deserving compassion and mercy as the Quran affirms animals form “communities like you” (Quran 6:38)
    "There is no creature on earth nor a bird that flies with its wings but they are communities like yourselves."
    — Qur'an 6:38
2. Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) repeatedly modelled kindness to animals: for example he rebuked Aisha when she strucks a stubborn camel, saying “You must be gentle…gentleness is not in anything except that it beautifies it…”
    "Gentleness is not in  anything except  it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything except that it disgraces it."
    — Sahih Muslim
3. Many narrations underscore that any kindness to animals is rewarded, while cruelty is condemned e.g In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)  declared that “there is a reward for service to every living creature”. Also, an authentic Ḥadīth relate that a thirsty dog was given water by a kind man and Allah forgave him, and even a marginal woman who drew water for a dying dog was forgiven for that act of mercy.
    "There is a reward for serving any living being."
    — Sahih al-Bukhari 2466
4. Humans are “vicegerents” (khalīfah) on Earth, entrusted to uphold the Divine balance (mīzān) of nature. Classical scholars codified animal rights in Islamic law: owners must feed and rest animals adequately, not overload or pair them with incompatible companions, and never beat or mutilate them. Animals must not witness other animals being slaughtered, nor suffer from cruelty in transport or care. In fact, Islam stipulates that meat from an animal subjected to cruelty can become impure or at least makrūh (detestable).
    "Allah has prescribed kindness in all things. So when you kill, kill well; and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."
    — Sahih Muslim 1955a
5. The Prophet taught us that animals’ rights will be restored on the Last Day. He warned that if someone kills even a bird without need, “Allah will question him about it on the Day of Resurrection”
    "Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment."
    — Sunan an-Nasa'i 4446
6. The sacrificial animal must be healthy, mature, and free of obvious defects. It should be well-fed and rested before being slaughtered. For example, modern Islamic welfare guidelines  advise against purchasing overly thin, sick, or injured animals.
    "It should be free of any faults that would render it unsuitable for sacrifice."
    — Islam Q&A
7. Use a sharp knife and make a swift, single cut across the throat, severing the jugular veins, windpipe and esophagus. The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade sharpening knives in front of the animal to avoid frightening it: “Do you intend inflicting death on the animal twice – first, by the knife’s whetting, and the other by its cutting?”
    "When you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."
    — Sahih Muslim 1955a
8. Islamic relief organizations advise on  waiting until the animal’s body is fully cold before skinning it.
    "The animal can’t be skinned until the body is completely cold."
    — Charity Meals
9. A hadith narrated by ʿAli ibn Abī Tālib states that the Prophet forbade keeping sacrificial meat beyond three days after Eid.
    "None of you should eat the flesh of his sacrificial animal beyond three days."
    — Sahih Muslim
10. Contemporary Islamic welfare authorities (e.g. Islamic Relief and Animals in Islam) list practical steps reflecting Islamic principles: providing  shelter, clean space, ample water, forage, avoiding heat stress, and not transporting or crowding animals excessively.
11. Aboul-Enein, B. H. (2017) mentions the relevance of a plant-based diet for muslims. This is underscored by the fact that about 35 passages in the Holy Quran focus on the consumption of plant-based foods. As such, the author concludes that plant-based foods can  be effective in reducing obesity amongst muslims. https://doi.org/10.18415/IJMMU.V4I4.78
12. According to Alfarese & Kurt (2023), one of the higher objectives of islamic laws is the requirement to preserve the human body in terms of its existence. The Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ abounds with guidance on plant-based foods that when consume, play a central role in maintaining physical health and prevention. These foods contain nutritional value essential to the human body (https://doi.org/10.22452/basirah.vol13no1.11).
13. Given findings from the major health bodies like World Health Organization’s agencies, the World Cancer Research Fund  and dietary commissions (e.g. the EAT-Lancet report), Muslims are encouraged to eat meat in moderation, balancing it with grains, vegetables and fruits. Choosing lean cuts, trimming fat, and avoiding highly processed forms (like sausages or cured meats) can align diet with both health and Islamic ethics (since wasteful indulgence is discouraged).
14. Socially, Eid celebrations can lead to overeating. Overindulgence undermines the Islamic principle of balance and can stress the body. Excess fat and salt from rich meats may spike cholesterol or blood pressure. Therefore, even when meat is abundant, families should portion meals sensibly and share surplus with neighbors or charities. This way, one enjoys the lawful bounty without harming the body or wasting food.
15. Cooking cannot remove antibiotics residues in red meat. Although, boiling can still partially remove it, but it does not fully remove it, because the amount of heat temperature in boiling is greater than grilling, so grilling can not remove it at all.
16. The evaporated water from boiled meat is not really good for the body because of the leaching of harmful compounds that is not good for our health, i.e., boiling meat can lead to the leaching of certain compounds into the water, which may not be beneficial for health.
    And in the water the nutrients of the meat would have evaporated, so it is not  advisable to waste the water. Rather, in the boiling process the temperature should be reduced alongside with the intake of red meat.
17. Natural plant-based antioxidants may be used in meat products for better safety, appearance, and flavor during extended frozen storage. Plant-derived antioxidants, such as those extracted from fruits, herbs, and spices, have been shown to reduce lipid oxidation in meat systems (mdpi).
18. According to USDA, meat stored at 0 degrees or below is safe indefinitely but loses quality over time. .. the quality of meat deteriorates over time inspite of freezing.

19. Cloned or lab-grown meat is permissible, as long as: The meat is not from forbidden animals; It poses no considerable harm to consumers; It is processed in accordance with Islamic slaughtering laws. If these conditions are not  met, the meat would be forbidden (Haram).

    Stay a merciful servant of Allah.

    Thank you