Alhamdulillah!. All praises belong to Allah, and we ask Him to make us witness a lot of Eid Al Adha on earth and accept our worship. As we all know that the greatest act of worship on the day of Eid AL Adha is slaughtering an Animal for Allah and it is a worship that entails mentioning the dua for slaughtering an Animal on it. We have a lot of authentic duas for you today, which you can choose from.
Some of us don’t even know what to say before slaughtering an animal. This is a great error because the dua for slaughtering an Animal is obligatory for us to mention it before slaughtering the animal. Once again, reciting the Dua for slaughtering an Animal is necessary before slaughtering it. Without it, the meat may become haram (prohibited) to eat. Allah says in the following verse below..
“And for every nation, We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] so that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided them of [sacrificial] animals. So your God is One God, so to Him submit. And give good tidings to the humble.” —(Qur’an 22:34)
Allah also says…
And do not eat of that upon which the name of Allah has not been mentioned, for indeed, it is grave disobedience. (Q 6:121)
The above verses clearly link the act of slaughter with the remembrance of Allah’s name. Slaughtering the animal is not complete without mentioning Allah’s name on it because it is an obligatory act. This is what distinguishes a believer’s sacrifice from mere killing or consumption. It is an act of obedience and mindfulness. Our Prophet ﷺ further explained and was very specific about this. He said:
“If the blood is spilled and Allah’s name is mentioned, then eat.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Either you don’t know what to say before slaughtering an animal or you don’t know the correct dua, don’t worry. You will learn everything in this article today, in shaa Allah. We are going to mention each authentic dua for slaughtering an Animal one after the other. Let’s go.
#1 Dua for slaughtering an animal
Arabic: بِسْمِ اللهِ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Bismillāhi, Allāhu Akbar
English: In the Name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.
This is the simplest dua for slaughtering an animal. It is reported in numerous hadiths that every time the Prophet ﷺ slaughtered an animal, he would say this dua… Bismillāhi, Allāhu Akbar. For those that doesn’t know what to say before slaughtering an Animal, this is the easiest dua you can memorize and act on it when slaughtering an animal. Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه)…
Anas reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) sacrificed with his own hands two horned rams which were white with black markings, reciting the name of Allah (Bismillah) and glorifying Him (saying Allah-o-Akbar). He placed his foot on their sides (while sacrificing). (Sahih Muslim, 1966 a)
#2 Dua for slaughtering an animal
Arabic: بِسْمِ اللهِ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا مِنْكَ وَلَكَ
Transliteration: Bismillahi wallahu akbar, Allahumma hadha minka wa laka
English: In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, this is from You and for You.
This beautiful dua was recited by the Prophet ﷺ when slaughtering the sacrificial animal (Qurbani) on Eid. It is recorded in some books of hadith like Sunan Abi Dawood, Ibn Maajah, and others, and was authenticated by Imam Albaani. This dua for slaughtering an animal is like an extended version of the first one mentioned above.
This shows the Prophet’s awareness of Allah during every act, even when holding a knife to kill an animal. It’s a declaration that the life of this animal is a trust from Allah, killing it is an act of obedience to Him, and its return is a submission to Him.
#3 Dua for slaughtering an animal
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ [اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ] اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي
Bismillāh wallāhu Akbar [Allāhumma minka wa lak] Allāhumma taqabbal minnī.
In the Name of Allah, Allah is the Most Great! [O Allah, from You and to You.] O Allah, accept it from me.
Reference:Muslim 3/ 1557, Al-Bayhaqi 9/287.
For those who don’t know what to say before slaughtering an animal on the day of Eid or any other sacrifice, you can go to your DeenMinder App or Hisnu Mulsim on dua 246, you will find this dua for slaughtering an animal there in relation to a narration from Imam Muslim too.
This dua was specifically narrated to say when slaughtering the sacrificial animal. It shows that the sacrifice is not just about performing the act only, but also seeking Allah’s acceptance, just like Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام made the dua of acceptance after he built the Masjidul Haram that Allah instructed him to build. Just as Allah says that He doesn’t need the blood or meat, but the piety only.
Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good. (Q 22:37)
#4 Dua for slaughtering an animal
Arabic: إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ، عَنِّي وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِي
Transliteration: Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fatara as-samāwāti wal-arda hanīfan wa mā ana minal-mushrikīn, inna ṣalātī wa nusukī wa maḥyāya wa mamātī lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn, lā sharīka lahu, wa bidhālika umirtu wa anā awwalu al-muslimīn, Allāhumma minka wa laka, ʿannī wa ahli baytī.
English Translation: “Indeed, I have turned my face toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, as a true believer, and I am not among those who associate others with Allah. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. He has no partner. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims. O Allah, this is from You and for You, on behalf of me and my family.
This dua for slaughtering an animal was reported by Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه in Sahih Muslim. This comprehensive dua combines Tawheed, obedience, submission, and deep sincerity. It reflects the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام, who first uttered similar words in complete surrender. It’s a reminder that slaughter is not about meat, it’s about doing everything for the sake of Allah with sincerity.
#5 Dua for slaughtering an animal
Arabic: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِي
Transliteration: Bismillāh, Allāhumma taqabbal minnī wa ahli baytī
English Translation: “In the Name of Allah, O Allah, accept from me and from my family.”
This dua is a good and short comprehensive dua for those who don’t know the correct dua or what to say before slaughtering an animal. This dua for slaughtering an animal was rooted in an authentic narration reported in Sahih Muslim, in the Hadith of A’ishah (رضي الله عنها). She said…
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) commanded that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) around the eyes should be brought to him, so that he should sacrifice it. He said to ‘A’isha: Give me the large knife, and then said: Sharpen it on a stone. She did that. He then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on the ground and then sacrificed it, saying:
Bismillah, Allah-humma Taqabbal min Muhammadin wa Al-i-Muhammadin, wa min Ummati Muhammadin (In the name of Allah,” O Allah, accept [this sacrifice] on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and the Umma of Muhammad” ). (Sahih Muslim, 1967)
Don’t forget that saying any of this dua, especially Bismillah, Allahu Akbar at least before slaughtering the animal. You don’t have any excuse now for saying you don’t know what to say before slaughtering an animal. It is important to say any of this Dua, as we have mentioned at the beginning of this article, that it is compulsory in order to make the meat Halal and make the sacrifice an act of accepted worship. Allah says..
“Eat not of that (meat) over which Allah’s name has not been pronounced, for it is indeed Fisq (sinful).” Surah Al-An’am 6:121
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) also commanded…
“If the blood is spilled and Allah’s name is mentioned, then eat.” (Sahih Bukhari)
We ask Allah to make us witness a lot of Eid Al Adha on earth and accept it as an act of worship from us. We ask Him for total guidance in all our affairs and make us firm upon the straight path to Paradise. Aameen
