Islam Guidance

HOW TO USE THE MEAT OF A SACRIFICED ANIMAL ACCORDING TO THE HOLY QURAN AND TRADITIONS

HOW TO USE THE MEAT OF A SACRIFICED ANIMAL ACCORDING TO
THE HOLY QURAN AND TRADITIONS
وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُمْ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللهِ، لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ، فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ، فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ، كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرْنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونِ.
?And (as for) the camels, We have made them of the signs of the religion of Allah for you; for you therein is much good; therefore mention the name of Allah on them as they stand in a row, then when they fall down eat of them and feed the poor man who is contented and the beggar; thus have We made them subservient to you, that you may be grateful. (The Holy Quran; 22:36)? فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْبَائِسَ الْفَقِيرَ
?Then eat of them and feed the distressed one, the needy. (The Holy Quran; 22:28)?
Abu-Sabbah Kanani says: I asked the opinion of Imam Sadiq (a.s) about the meat of sacrifice animal, he (a.s) said: كانَ عَلِيُّ بنَ الحُسينِ وأبو جَعفَرٍ عليهِما السلامُ يَتَصَدَّقانِ بِثُلُثٍ عَلى جيرانِهِم وثُلُثٍ على السُّؤّالِ وثُلُثٍ يُمسِكونَهُ لأهلِ البيتِ.

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?Imam Sajjad and Imam Baqir (a.s) used to give a third of it to neighbors, another third to beggars, and the remaining third was for the family members.?
It is therefore incumbent upon the heads of the Islamic nations to create well-equipped organizations for distributing the meat of sacrificed animals among the needy on an international level, by getting permission from the religious authorities in order to realize both the Quranic ruling and to display to the world people an example of the sublime Islamic teachings.
Mohammad ibn Muslim says: I asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) whether it is permissible to take the meat of the sacrificed animals out of Mina. He (a.s) answered: كُنّا نقولُ لا يخرُجُ مِنها شيءٌ لِحاجَةِ الناسِ إليهِ، فأمّا اليومَ فَقَد كَثُرَ الناسُ فَلا بأسَ بِإخراجِهِ
?Formerly, people of Mecca were in need for them, but today because of too many pilgrims and sacrifices, their being taken out of Mina is no problem.?1
Under the present circumstances and due to lack of well-equipped organizations, part of the sacrificed animals is unfortunately buried. Nevertheless, this loss has to be tolerated, for the sublime goal of presenting the socio-political aspect of Hajj will be ensured. That is to say, the financial aspect of the event has to be sacrificed for its socio-political aspect.

HALQ AND TAQSIR IN MINA AND THE PHILOSOPHY
Following the completion of sacrifice, a pilgrim's duty is Halq and Taqsir. Halq means to shave one's head, and Taqsir is to shorten the nail or hair. Women must clip their nails and cut some locks of their hair while men have the choice to shave their heads or shorten. According to certain religious decrees, Halq is obligatory for men. The Quranic Verse on this religious duty is, ?Then let them accomplish their needful acts of shaving and cleansing. (22:29)?
Imam Reza says: التَّفَثُ تَقليمُ الأظافِرِ وطَرحُ الوسَخِ وطَرحُ الإحرامِ عنه
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1 See al-Kafi; vol. 4 p. 500 hadith 7

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?The Arabic word 'tafath ?mentioned in the Holy Quran-' means to clip the nails, to remove dirt, and to come out of the state of Ihram.?1
Evidently, this is the surface meaning, but the in-depth meaning is purification of soul from filth of vices.
Imam Sadiq (a.s) says: واحلِقِ العُيوبَ الظّاهِرةَ والباطِنةَ بحَلقِ شَعرِكَ
?By shaving your head, remove all inward and outward flaws.?2
Imam Sajjad (a.s) posed the following questions to a man who had returned from Mecca: فَعِندَما حَلقْتَ رَأسَكَ، نَوَيتَ أنكَ تَطَهّرتَ مِن الأدناسِ ومِن تَبِعَةِ بني آدمَ وخَرَجتَ مِن الذّنوبِ كما وَلدتكَ أُمُّكَ
?Did you have the intention to cleanse yourself from all pollutions and violations of rights of people and do without wrongdoings as if you were born of your mother when shaving your head in Mina??3
According to other hadiths, the word 'tafath' means to meet the Imam.
Thareeh asked Imam Sadiq (a.s) about the meaning of the above-mentioned Quranic Verse to which the Imam said: التّفَثُ لِقاءُ الإمامِ
?'tafath' means to meet the Imam.?4
By meeting Imam Mahdi (a.s), darkness of ignorance turns into light of knowledge, virtues replace vices, and an inner purification comes about. About such people the Holy Quran says: اَلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الْصَّاِلحَاتِ طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ
?(As for) those who believe and do good, a good final state shall be theirs and a goodly return. (The Holy Quran; 13:29)?
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Kitab al-Hajj
2 See Misbah ush-Shari'a; chapter 21.
3 See Mustadrak ul-Wasaail; vol. 2
4 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Ziyarat

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مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَو أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طّيَِبَةً
?Whoever does good whether male or female and he is a believer, We will most certainly make him live a happy life. (The Holy Quran; 16:97)?
Hence, the Imam (a.s) drew people's attention to their duties by saying: اِبدَؤوا بمَكَّةَ واخْتِموا بِنا
?Begin your Hajj from Mecca and complete it with our visitation.?1
By visitation, it is meant to renew one's pledge with the Imam and to follow him. Failing to feel the presence of the Imam, they will look like a flock without shepherd, dispersed and exposed to wolves' attack. Hence, the only benefit to Halq and Taqsir in Mina is a physical purification and nothing more. Even their Eid will lost its true meaning and the sorrows of men of understanding will increase. In this relation, Abdullah ibn Dinar quotes Imam Baqir (a.s) as saying: ما مِنْ عيدٍ للمُسلمِينَ أضحى ولا فِطْرٍ إلاّ وهُو يَتَجدّدُ فيهِ لآلِ محَمَّدٍ صلّى الله عليهِ وآلهِ حُزنٌ... لأِنّهم يَرَونَ حَقَّهم في يدِ غيرِهِم.
?There is no single Eid ul-Fitr or Eid ul-Adha in which Muslims do not renew their sorrows for the household of the Holy Prophet ?the Ahl ul-Bayt (a.s)? because they see their rights in the hands of others.?2
On the Eid days when Muslims congregate, the Imam (a.s) as an 'axis' round whom all should turn must be present. The worshippers must perform prayer under his leadership, sermons have to be delivered, and the boundaries of the religion have to be defended by him. Nevertheless, regrettably, they miss the Imam in all these positions. To whatever direction they go, they do not see any sign of their guardian. When they go for Ramy al-Jamarat, they do not have a commander; when they go to the place of sacrifice, they have no leader; when they perform Halq and Taqsir, there is no sign of the true Reformer and Purifier. The Imam, too, is sad about the disorderly situation of his followers. The Shiite Muslims who miss their master start lamenting. It is for this reason that one of the recommended
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 Ziyarat
2 See Ilal ush-Shara'ie; vol. 2

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duties or Shiite Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Eid ul-Ghadir, and Fridays is to read Duaa an-Nudba. 'Nudba' means lamenting in separation from an endeared one, relating a beloved's description, and shedding tears for his absence. Hence, as long as the Shiites are separate from their Imam, they keep on lamenting especially on the said occasions when their sorrows are renewed. A part of Duaa un-Nudba says: فَعَلى الأطائِبِ مِن أهلِ بيتِ محمَّدٍوعَلِيٍّ (صَلى اللهُ عَليهِما وآلهِما) فَليَبْكِ الباكونَ، وإيّاهُم فَلينْدِبِ النّادِبونَ، ولِمِثلِهِم فَلتُذرَفِ الدّموعُ ولْيصْرَخِ الصّارِخونَ ويضِجَّ الضّاجُّونَ ويعِجَّ العاجّونَ. أينَ الحسنُ أينَ الحُسينِ، أين أبناءُ الحُسينِ صالحٌ بعدَ صالحٍ وصادِقٌ بعدَ صادِقٍ. أينَ السبيلُ بعدَ السبيل،ِ أين الخِيَرَةُ بعدَ الخِيَرَةِ، أين الشّموسُ الطّالِعَةُ، أين الأقمارُ المُنيرةُ، أين الأنجُمُ الزّاهِرةُ، أين أعلامُ الدّينِ وقَواعِدُ العلمِ، أين بقِيّة ُاللهِ التي لا تخَلو مِن العترة الهادية.
For the purified ones of the progeny of Mohammad and Ali (may peace be upon both of them and their progeny); the bewailers should cry and the wailers should wail. And for their likes tears should be shed and clamorers should clamor and mourners should mourn in a heart-rending manner: where is Hasan? Where is Hussein? Where are the children of Hussein? the whole righteous and whole truthful? Where is the path after the path of righteousness? Where are the virtuous people after virtuous people? Where are the rising suns? Where are the luminous moons? Where are the emblems of faith and basis of knowledge? Where is Baqiyyatullah that the world cannot be devoid from the presence of guided progeny??
The Eid of Shiite Muslims will come a day when they see on their heads the shade of the Imam (a.s) who will hoist the banner of monotheism, will put the world on the path of God under the light of his guidance, and will fill the world with security. اَللّهُمَ أرِني الطّلعَةَ الرّشيدَةَ والغِرَّةَ الحَميدَةَ وأَكْحِل ناظِري بِنظرَةٍ مِني إلَيهِ وعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُ وَسَهِّلْ مَخْرَجَهُ وَأَوْسِعْ مَنْهَجَهُ وَاسْلُكْ بي مَحَجَّتَهُ وأَنفِذْ أَمْرَهُ وَاشْدُدْ أَزْرَهُ
?O Allah, show me that illustrious countenance, and that illuminated forehead, enlighten my eyes with his visit, hasten his reappearance, facilitate his exit, widen his path,

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take me on his path, make his influence pervasive, and support him.?1

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