Chapter VII: Secrets of Pilgrimage
(8) Show kindness to the riding animals and don't take anything on them beyond their strength. Sleeping over their backs gives them trouble and gives a sense of heaviness to them.
The friends of God did not sleep on the backs of animals. The Prophet said : Don't make the backs of your animals seats, and to descent from their backs morning and evening is commendable as it gives rest to the animals. Abu Darda'a said to his camel at the time of his death : O camel, don't dispute with me near your Lord, as I did not burden you with load beyond your strength.
Once a man said to the sage Ibnul Mobarak : I am giving this letter of mine with you. You will take it to the destination.' He said : I will ask the owner of the camel about it, as I took hire of this camel. Thus he feared to carry it on account of God fear and piety.
(9) Seek nearness of God by sacrificing an animal. Try to sacrifice an animal which is strong and strout. If sacrifice is compulsory, don't eat its meat and if optional, you may eat its meat. God says : 'Whose honour the signs of God'. This is explained by saying to sacrifice stout and strong animal. The ancient people did not press for price of three things-animals of pilgrimage, setting free of slaves and animals of sacrifice, as the best of three things is that which is best in price and most valuable to the seller. The object is not the increase in meat but to purify from the guilt of miserliness and to adorn it for God with honour as its flesh and blood will not reach God but He will accept from you God fear. The Prophet was asked : How is Haj accepted ? He said : By A'z and Sa'z. To proclaim Talbiah loudly is called A'z and to sacrifice a camel is called Sa'z. The Prophet said : Nothing is dearer to God on the day of sacrifice out of the actions of men than the sacrifice of an animal. It will come on the Resurrection Day with its hoof and horns and its blood falls in a place near God before it falls on the ground. So purify your soul by sacrifice. There is in Hadis : There is reward for every hair of
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the sacrificed animal and for every drop of blood and it will be weighed near God. So give good news. The Prophet said :
Sacrifice a good animal, as it will be your carrier on the Resurrection Day.