Chapter on al-Hady

Al-hady is whatever is offered to the Sacred House, whether camels, cattle, sheep, or the like. The purpose in sending it to the House is to widen the circle of charity and benevolence for its neighbors and visitors among the poor and needy. It ranks among the finest acts of devotion before Allah, for giving in charity and spending in His cause are among the most excellent forms of worship—especially when performed in the Sacred Precinct and for the benefit of those who devote themselves there to Allah’s worship or reside near His House.

First Ḥadith

ʿĀʾishah (Allah be pleased with her) said: “I twisted the garlands of the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ sacrificial animals with my own hands. He then marked them and placed the garlands on them—or I placed the garlands on them—after which he dispatched them to the House, while he himself remained in Madinah. Nothing that is forbidden to a pilgrim became forbidden to him.”

Lexical Notes

• al-qalāʾid (garlands): the plural of qalādah, a band placed around the neck, usually of cord or metal. Here it refers to the garlands put on the sacrificial animals in an unusual way. The people would fashion them from water-skins, sandals, or strands of wool so that the animals would be recognized as hady and thus respected.

• ashʿarahā: ishʿār means “to make known.” Acts of worship are called shaʿāʾir (rites) because they are signs of obedience. The specific rite here is to mark the animal offered to the House by shaving the hair on one side of the hump of a camel or cow and scraping it until blood flows, making it clear to everyone that it has been dedicated to the House so they must not tamper with it.

• fataltu: I twisted or braided.

Overall Meaning

The Prophet ﷺ held the Ancient House in the highest veneration. When he was unable to reach it in person, he would nonetheless send sacrificial animals to it as an expression of reverence for the House and generosity toward its neighbors. Whenever he dispatched hady, he would mark and garland the animals so that people would recognize them as destined for the Sacred House, treat them with due respect, and refrain from harming them. ʿĀʾishah (Allah be pleased with her) emphasizes the authenticity of the report by noting that she herself braided their garlands. When the Prophet sent the animals while remaining in Madinah, he did not refrain from anything that is ordinarily prohibited to someone in a state of iḥrām, such as marital relations, perfume, or wearing stitched garments; rather, everything that had been lawful for him remained lawful.