What should one say when slaughtering the Udhhiyah?

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Question: What should one say when slaughtering the Udhhiyah?

Answer: It is obligatory at the time of slaughtering the Udhhiyah that one should say: (( بسم الله )) “Bismillaah”, In the of Allaah.

It is Mustahab (preferable) that one should also add to it: (( والله أكبر ، اللهم هذا منك ولك فتقبله مني )) “Wa-llaahu Akbar, Allaahumma haadhaa minka wa laka, faa taqabbalhu minnee”, And Allaah is the Greatest! O Allaah! This is from You and to You. So accept it from me.

[ بسم الله ، والله أكبر ، اللهم هذا منك ولك ، فتقبله مني ]

If it is on behalf of someone else then one should say: (( فتقبله عن [فلان] )) “faa taqabbalhu `an [fulaan]”, So accept it on behalf of so-and-so [one should mention the name of that person]

What is obligatory here is to say Bismillaah; the rest is Mustahab and is not obligatory.

Anas Ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه said: ❝The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sacrificed two horned rams that were white with black markings. He slaughtered them with his own hand, saying: Bismillaah and Allaahu akbar, and put his foot on their necks.❞

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5558, 5565) and Saheeh Muslim (4841, 4842)]

`Aaishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered that a horned ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes be brought to him so that he could sacrifice it. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝O `Aaishah! Give me the knife.❞ Then he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝Sharpen it on a stone.❞ So she did that, then he صلى الله عليه وسلم took it and took the ram, and he lay it down and then sacrificed it, saying: ❝Bismillaah, Allaahumma Taqabbal min Muhammadin wa `Aali-Muhammadin, wa min Ummati Muhammadin “In the name of Allaah. O Allaah! Accept (this sacrifice) from Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and the Ummah of Muhammad”❞.

[Saheeh Muslim (4845)]

Jaabir ibn `Abdallaah رضي الله عنهما said: I was present with the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم on the day of al-Adhha at the prayer place. When he had finished his Khutbah (sermon) he came down from his Minbar and a ram was brought which the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم slaughtered with his own hand. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ❝“In the name of Allaah, Allaah is Most Great. This is on behalf of myself and on behalf of those of my Ummah who have not offered a sacrifice.❞

[Sunan Abu Dawood (2810) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (1521) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]