Buraida said that the Prophet did not go out on the day of the breaking of the fast till he had some food, but that he did not take any food on the day of sacrifice till he had prayed. Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Kathir b. ‘Abdallah on his father’s authority quoted his grandfather as saying that at the two festivals the Prophet said “God is most great” seven times in the first rak'a before reciting from the Qur’an, and five times in the last one before reciting. Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Ja'far b. Muhammad told in mursal form that the Prophet, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar said “God is most great” at the two festivals and when praying for rain seven times in the first rak'a and five times in the second. They prayed before the sermon, and recited the Qur’an in a loud voice. Shafi‘i transmitted it.

Sa'id b. al-‘As said he asked Abu Musa and Hudhaifa how God’s Messenger said “God is most great” on the day of sacrifice and of the breaking of the fast. Abu Musa said he uttered it four times as he did at funerals and Hudhaifa said that that was correct. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Al-Bara’ said that the Prophet was handed a bow on the day of the breaking of the fast and delivered the sermon leaning on it. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘Ata’ told in mursal form that when the Prophet preached he would lean on his javelin. Shafi'i transmitted it.

On a festival day when I was present at the prayer along with the Prophet he first observed the prayer without adhan or iqama before the sermon. Then when he finished the prayer he stood up leaning on Bilal, praised and extolled God, gave the people an exhortation and an admonition and urged them to obey Him. He then went to the women, taking Bilal with him, commanded them to fear God and gave them an exhortation and an admonition. Nasa'i transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said that when the Prophet went out by one road on the festival day he returned by another. Tirmidhi and Darimi transmitted it.

He said that rain fell on a festival day and the Prophet led them in the festival prayer in the mosque. Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abul Huwairith said that God’s Messenger wrote to ‘Amr b. Hazm when he was in Najran telling him to observe the prayer early on the day of sacrifice and late on the day of the breaking of the fast, and to admonish the people. Shafi'i transmitted it.

Abu ‘Umair b. Anas told on the authority of some of his paternal uncles who were companions of the Prophet that some men came riding to the Prophet and testified that they had seen the new moon the previous day. He therefore commanded the people to break the fast and go out to their place of prayer in the morning. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘Ata’ informed me on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas and Jabir b. ‘Abdallah that the adhan was not called on the day of the breaking of the fast or on the day of sacrifice. I later asked him, i.e., ‘Ata’, about that, and he told me that Jabir b. ‘Abdallah told him there was no adhan for the prayer on the day of the breaking of the fast when the imam came out or after he came out, no iqama and no summons; there was nothing, no summons or iqama that day. Muslim transmitted it.

God's Messenger used to go out on the day of sacrifice and the day of the breaking of the fast, first of all pray, and when he had prayed stand up facing the people while they were seated in their place of prayer. If he had cause to send out an expedition he mentioned it to the people, or if he required anything else he gave them commands about it, and he would say, “Give alms, give alms, give alms." Those who gave most were the women. Then he would go away. This practice went on till the time of Marwan b. al-Hakam.* I went out hand in hand with Marwan, and when we came to the place of prayer we saw that Kathir b. as Salt had built a pulpit of clay and brick. Marwan began to tug me with his hand as though he were pulling me towards the pulpit, while I was pulling him towards the prayer. When I saw what he was doing I said, “What has happened to the practice of beginning with prayer?" He replied, “No, Abu Sa'id, what you are familiar with has been abandoned." I thereupon said three times, “By no means, by Him in whose hand my soul is, you are not doing something better than what I am familiar with." Then he went away. *Ummayyad Caliph, 64-65 A.H. Muslim transmitted it.

I saw him placing his foot on their sides and saying, "In the name of God. God is most great.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger ordered a horned ram with black legs, a black belly and black round the eyes, and it was brought for him to sacrifice. He told ‘A’isha to get the knife, and then told her to sharpen it with a stone. When she had done so he took it, then taking the ram he placed it on the ground and cut its throat. He then said, "In the name of God. O God, accept it from Muhammad, Muhammad’s family and Muhammad’s people.” Then he sacrificed it. Muslim transmitted it.

Jabir reported God's Messenger as saying, "Sacrifice only a full- grown animal unless it is difficult for you, in which case sacrifice a she-lamb.” Muslim transmitted it.

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said the Prophet gave him some goats to divide among his friends as sacrificial animals, and a yearling remained over. He mentioned it to God’s Messenger, and he said, "Sacrifice it yourself.” In a version he said he told God’s Messenger he had got a lamb, and he replied, "Sacrifice it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar said that the Prophet used to sacrifice and slaughter at the place of prayer. Bukhari transmitted it. (Cf. Chap. 48a)

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, "A cow serves for seven, and a camel serves for seven.” Muslim and Abu Dawud transmitted it, the wording being the latter’s.

Umm Salama reported God’s Messenger as saying, "When the ten days* come and one of you intends to make sacrifice, he must not touch any of its hair or skin.” A version says, “He must not take hairs or clip nails.” Another says, “If anyone sees the new moon of Dhul Hijja and intends to sacrifice, he must not take any of its hairs or nails.” * The period to which reference is made is the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. The day of sacrifice is the tenth. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God's Messenger as saying, “There are no days in which a good deed is more pleasing to God than these ten days.” On being asked whether not even jihad in God’s path were as pleasing, he replied, “Not even jihad in God’s path, except when a man goes out in person with his property and loses both life and property.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Jabir said that on the day of sacrifice the Prophet sacrificed two horned rams which were white with black markings and had been castrated. Then when he made them face the qibla he said, “I have turned my face towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, following Abraham’s religion as a hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists. My prayer, my religious rites, my life and my death belong to God, the Lord of the universe, who has no partner. That is what I was commanded to do, and I am one of the Muslims (Al-Qur’an; 6:161-163). O God, it comes from Thee and is given to Thee from Muhammad and his people. In the name of God, and God is most great.” Then he made sacrifice. Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. A version by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi says that he sacrificed with his own hand and said, “In the name of God, and God is most great. O God, this is from me and from those of my people who have not sacrificed.”

I saw Ali sacrificing two rams and asked him the meaning of it. He replied, “God’s Messenger enjoined me to sacrifice on his behalf, so that is what I am doing.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Tirmidhi transmitted something similar.

'Ali said, “God’s Messenger enjoined us to pay great attention to the eye and the ear, and not sacrifice an animal with a slit which leaves something hanging at the front or back of the ear, or with a lengthwise slit or a perforation in the ear." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but Ibn Majah's words ended with "and the ear.”

He said, "God’s Messenger forbade us to sacrifice an animal with a broken horn or a slit ear.” Ibn Majah transmitted it.

a lame animal which obviously limps, a one-eyed animal which has obviously lost the sight of one eye, a sick animal which is obviously sick, and a lean animal which has no marrow.” *i.e. his fingers. Malik, Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Abu Said said God’s Messenger used to sacrifice a choice, horned ram with black round the eyes, the mouth and the feet. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Mujashi', who belonged to the B. Sulaim, said that God’s Messenger used to say, "A lamb may be given as full payment for that for which a kid is full payment.” Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira said he heard God’s Messenger say, "A lamb is a good sacrifice.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said, "We were with God’s Messenger on a journey when the day of sacrifice came, and we shared with one another, seven for a cow and ten for a camel.” Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan gharib tradition.

‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, "On the day of sacrifice no one does a deed more pleasing to God than the shedding of blood. The sacrifice will come on the day of resurrection with its horns, its hairs and its hoofs, and the blood finds acceptance with God before it falls on the ground, so be glad about it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

I was present at the festival on the day of sacrifice along with God’s Messenger. He had done no more than finish his prayer and give the salutation when he saw the flesh of sacrificial animals which had been sacrificed before he finished his prayer. So he said, “Anyone who has sacrificed before he prayed (or, we prayed) must sacrifice another in place of it." In a version he said: The Prophet prayed on the day of sacrifice, then delivered a sermon, then sacrificed, and he said, “Anyone who has sacrificed before he prayed (or, we prayed) must sacrifice another in place of it, and if anyone has not sacrificed he should do so in God’s name." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Nafi‘ reported Ibn ‘Umar as saying, “The festival of sacrifice lasts two days after the day of sacrifice.” Malik transmitted it, and he said he had heard something similar from ‘Alib. Abu Talib.

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger stayed ten years in Medina, and that he used to observe the sacrifice. Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Zaid b. Arqam said the companions of God’s Messenger asked him the significance of these sacrifices and he replied, “It is a custom which has come down from your father Abraham." They asked what reward they would receive for them and he replied, “For every hair you will receive a blessing." They asked about wool, and he replied, “For every strand of wool you will receive a blessing." Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying, “There is no fara’ and no ‘atira.” He said that the fara’ was the first animal born to them which they sacrificed to their idols, and the ‘atira was observed in Rajab.* * These were practices of the idolatrous pre-Islamic Arabs. While the fara' sacrifice was abolished in Islam, it is said that the sacrifice of a sheep or goat in Rajab, known as the ‘atira, was continued in the early days of Islam and then abolished. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

We were standing with God’s Messenger at ‘Arafa, and I heard him say, “O people, every family must offer annually a sacrifice and an ‘atira. Do you know what the ‘atira is? It is what you call the Rajab sacrifice.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah transmitted it. Tirmidhi said this is a gharib tradition with a weak isnad, and Abu Dawud said the ‘atira has been abrogated.

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I have been commanded to observe the day of sacrifice as a festival which God has appointed for this people.” A man asked, “Tell me, Messenger of God, if I can get only a female camel lent for milking, am I to sacrifice it?” He replied, “No, but take some of your hair and nails, clip your moustache and shave the hair over your pubes, and that will be a complete sacrifice for you in God’s sight.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

‘A’isha said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger, and he sent one to summon the people to congregational prayer. He then went forward and prayed two rak'as in which he bowed four times and prostrated himself four times. ‘A’isha said, “I never performed a bow or a prostration which was longer than it.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

She said that the Prophet recited the Qur’an in a loud voice in the prayer at an eclipse. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

There was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger and he prayed accompanied by the people. He stood for a long time, about as long as it would take to recite Sura al- Baqara;(Al-Qur’an; 1) then he bowed for a long time; then he raised his head and stood for a long time; but it was less than the first time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time ; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first time; then he bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing; then he raised his head; then he prostrated himself; then he departed, and the sun had become bright. He said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone’s birth; 1 so when you see that, make mention of God.” The people said, “Messenger of God, we saw you reach out to something while you were standing here, then we saw you move back.” He replied, “I saw paradise and reached out to a bunch of its grapes; and had I taken it you would have eaten of it as long as the world endures. I also saw hell. No such abominable sight have I ever seen as that which I saw today; and I observed that most of its inhabitants were women." They asked why that was and he replied that it was for their ingratitude (bi-kufrihinna). He was asked whether they disbelieved in God2 and replied, “They are ungrateful to their husbands and they are ungrateful for kindness. If you were to treat one of them kindly for ever and she later saw some defect in you, she would say she had never seen any good in you." 1. Literally, life. 2. The word kufr means both ingratitude and unbelief, which explains why the remark was misunderstood. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Then he prostrated himself for a long time, then departed and the sun had become clear. He preached to the people, and after praising and extolling God he said, “The sun and the moon are two of God’s signs; they are not eclipsed on account of anyone’s death or on account of anyone's birth, so when you see that supplicate God, declare His greatness, pray and give alms." He then said, “O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that no one is more indignant than God when His servant or handmaiden commits fornication. O people of Muhammad, I swear by God that if you knew what I know you would laugh little and weep much." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

There was an eclipse of the sun, and the Prophet got up in trepidation fearing that the last hour fiad come. He then went to the mosque and prayed, standing, bowing and prostrating himself longer than I had ever seen him do. He then said, “These signs which God sends do not come on account of anyone’s death or on account of his birth, but God produces dread in His servants by means of them. So when you see anything of that nature, apply yourselves to making mention of Him, supplication of Him and asking pardon of Him." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir said there was an eclipse of the sun in the time of God’s Messenger on the day his son Ibrahim died. He led the people in prayer, performing six bowings and four prostrations. Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when an eclipse of the sun took place, God’s Messenger prayed performing eight bowings and four prostrations. There is a similar tradition from 'Ali. Muslim transmitted it.

During the lifetime of God’s Messenger was shooting some of my arrows in Medina when an eclipse of the sun took place. I therefore threw them away and said, “I swear by God that I must see how God’s Messenger acts in a solar eclipse.” When I came to him he was standing in prayer raising his hands. He then began to glorify God, to acknowledge that He is the only God, to declare His greatness, to express His praise and make supplication till the eclipse came to an end. When the eclipse was over he recited two suras and prayed two rak'as. Muslim transmitted it in his Sahih from 'Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura, and the same occurs in Sharh as-sunna, on his authority, but in the copies of al-Masabih it is given on the authority of Jabir b. Samura.

Asma’ daughter of Abu Bakr said that during a solar eclipse the Prophet gave command that slaves should be set free. Bukhari transmitted it.

Samura b. Jundub said that God’s Messenger led them in prayer during an eclipse, but that they did not hear what he said. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

'Ikrima said that when Ibn ‘Abbas was told that a certain wife of the Prophet had died, he prostrated himself. Someone asked him why he made prostration at such a time, and he replied, “God’s Messenger told us to prostrate ourselves when we saw a sign, and what sign is greater than the departure of the Prophet's wives?” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Ubayy b. Ka'b said that when an eclipse of the sun took place in the time of God’s Messenger he led them in prayer, reciting one of the long suras, bowing five times and prostrating himself twice. He then stood up for the second rak'a, recited one of the long suras, bowed five times, prostrated himself twice, then sat where he was facing the qibla and made supplication till the eclipse passed. Abu Dawud transmitted it.