Women can slaughter their own cattle for Eid, Saudi scholar says

Women can slaughter their own cattle for Eid, Saudi scholar says
Women are allowed to slaughter their own cattle for Eid al-Adha, said Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Mutlaq.
2 min read
24 July, 2020
Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holiday [Getty]

A senior Saudi scholar announced it is permissible for Muslim women to carry out their own sacrifice for Eid al-Adha.

Muslims around the world are commemorating the end of the Hajj pilgrimage with Eid celebrations, which includes slaughtering cattle and distributing meat to the poor.

Member of the Saudi Senior Scholars Committee, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Mutlaq, said it is permissible for women to sacrifice their own cattle – a custom that has traditionally been assigned to men.

Earlier this week, he was asked about the role of women in sacrificing during a televised question and answer session.

“Yes, the woman undertakes the slaughter of her sacrifice, day or night the same way a man can,” he said.

“The time for slaughtering extends to the sacrifices from after the Eid prayer to sunset on the thirteenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah,” he added. 

Read also: Saudi officials: Scaled-down hajj pilgrimage to start July 29

He also said that divorced women who live in their own households and are financially capable of performing the sacrifice have a duty to do so.

If a divorced woman lives alone with her children in a separate house, with a job and a wealthy enough income, she must sacrifice,” al-Mutlaq explained.

“Because the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: ‘Whoever has capacity and does not sacrifice, so do not approach our prayers.’”

"But if the divorced woman lives with her father, mother, or brother, with her children, the household’s sacrifice is sufficient for the divorced woman and her children," he added.

Eid is known to be a time of celebration and heavy socialisation for Muslims across the world. The previous Eid al-Fitr was heavily affected by coronavirus, with religious authorities across the world urging Muslims to celebrate at home.

But, with many Muslim-majority countries having eased restrictions in a bid to kick-start their economies, it remains to be seen how the coronavirus pandemic will impact the Eid al-Adha holiday, also known as Eid Qurban or the "Festival of the Sacrifice".

The holiday is traditionally marked with the sacrifice of an animal, which is then shared equally between one's own household, relatives, and the poor, in an act that honours Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his own son.

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