The cow sacrifice prayer must be recited when slaughtering the sacrificial animal. Prayer is a form of communication and a form of supplication to Allah Swt. It contains hope, praise to Allah, and surrender to do something because of Allah. The prayer is a form of worship and the purpose of slaughtering and distributing the sacrificial animals is only for the sake of Allah.
The Origin of Qurbani
Qurbani has a long history and is closely related to the story of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son, Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him). In the Quran, Allah swt. ordered Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, as a form of obedience and the greatest sacrifice. Prophet Ismail was willing to be with his father to carry out God’s orders.
This story shows the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail to Allah. Instead of Prophet Ismail, Allah sent a sheep to be slaughtered. This is the origin of the sacrificial service which is then continued by Muslims to this day. Animals commonly used for sacrifice include goats, sheep, cows, and camels.
Read also: These are Privileges of Praying at Maqam Ibrahim
Cow Sacrifice Procedure and Prayer
Performing a cow sacrifice requires preparation and procedures in accordance with religious guidance. Here are the procedures that need to be done:
- Choosing a sacrificial animal
Make sure the cattle you choose are healthy, free of defects and meet the age requirements. Cattle must be 2 years old entering 3 years old and not have physical defects such as limping, blindness, or extreme thinness.
2. Intention of sacrifice
Before starting the slaughtering process, intend to perform the qurbani for the sake of Allah. This intention can be said in your heart or verbally. Basically, the intention of the cow sacrifice prayer is the same as that of other sacrificial animals. However, for cow sacrifice, there is an intention to slaughter on behalf of seven people. This is not the case for goat sacrifice.
The procedure for the intention is:
- Reciting basmalah
- Reciting selawat for the Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
- Reciting takbir 3 times and tahmid 1 time
- Recite the prayer for slaughtering sacrificial animals
3. Time of slaughter
Slaughtering is done after the Eid al-Adha prayer, from the 10th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. It is recommended to slaughter the animal in the morning until noon. Not in the evening, because the dark sky will make it difficult to slaughter and clean the meat.
4. Slaughtering Process:
- Preparation of tools, use a sharp knife to minimize pain to the cow.
- Facing the Qibla, the cow to be sacrificed should be faced towards the Qibla.
- Reciting the prayer, recite the prayer just before slaughtering the neck of the sacrificial cow.
- Slaughter, slaughter by cutting the three main channels in the neck (airway, feeding tube, and blood vessels).
- Recite the takbir during the slaughtering process.
5. Distribution of qurbani meat
The qurbani meat should be divided into three parts, one part for the family, one part for relatives and neighbors, and another part to be given to the poor and needy.
Read also: Sunnah of slaughtering qurbani animals: is it permissible to cut nails and hair?
Cow Sacrifice Prayer for Yourself
If you perform qurbani on your own, slaughtering your own qurbani animal, you can recite the following prayer:
اَللَّهُمَّ هَذِهِ مِنْكَ وَإِلَيْكَ فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّيْ يَا كَرِيْمُ
Allâhumma hâdzihî minka wa ilaika, fataqabbal minnî yâ karîm.
Prayer for Slaughtering Sacrificial Cows for Others
If you are a qurbani officer who is in charge of slaughtering someone else’s cow, then the prayer is as follows:
(….) بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَ إِلَيْكَ فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنْ
Bismillah wallahu akbar. Allahumma minka wa ilaika, fataqabbal min …(mention the name of the owner of the sacrificial animal).
Prayer for Sacrificing a Cow for Seven Other People
If you are in charge of slaughtering the cow sacrifice on behalf of seven people, then the cow sacrifice prayer that needs to be recited is as follows:
لَّهُمَّ هَذِهِ مِنْكَ وَإِلَيْكَ فَتَقَبَّلْ مِن… يَا كَرِيْمُ
Allâhumma hâdzihî minka wa ilaika, fataqabbal min (mention the names of the seven owners of the sacrificial animal) yâ karîm.
Meaning: “O my Lord, this animal is a favor from You. And with this we make taqarrub (draw near) to You. Therefore, O Most Gracious Lord, accept our taqarrub.”
Read also: How Many People Are the Cow Sacrifice for and How is the Law?
The Meaning and Wisdom of Cow Sacrifice
Friends, qurbani has many meanings and wisdoms. It is like practicing obedience to Allah, following His commands with sincerity. Qurbani also teaches us the meaning of sacrifice and sharing with others, especially the underprivileged who need help.
Qurbani strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and social care. It narrows the gap between the rich and the poor. Everyone enjoyed the same meat to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
Cattle sacrifice is one of the most highly recommended acts of worship in Islam. This act of worship also contains a lot of wisdom and goodness. By understanding the origins, procedures, and prayers of cow sacrifice, we can perform this act of worship better and more meaningfully. May Allah swt. accept our sacrificial deeds. Aameen.
Read also: Prayer for Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals for Yourself and Others
Save the Rewards of Qurbani through Dompet Dhuafa
Cows have great benefits for improving people’s nutrition. One cow can produce hundreds of bags of meat that can benefit many people. The high protein content of cows can help improve the quality of nutrition. Spread the benefits of qurbani meat to all corners of the country with Dompet Dhuafa. Click the image below to learn more.
