How do we begin preparing for the actual slaughtering?

There are firstly two things which we need to emphasize here:
1. It is imperative and highly emphasised that we should perform our Wajib Qurbani personally, whether at the farm or in our backyard. Sending money away and worrying about feeding the poor is not the objective of Qurbani. We can send money away, but let that be for nafl Qurbani. We must keep this legacy of Qurbani in our lives so that our children grow up with the right understanding of Qurbani.

Hadhrat Aaisha (RA) reports that Rasulullah (SallallahuAlayhiWasallam) said:
“The son of Adam (Alayhis Salaam) does not perform any action on the day of Nahr (EidulAdha) which is more beloved to Allah Ta’ala than causing the blood (of the Qurbani animals) to flow” (MishkaatulMasaabih Vol.1 Pg.128).

2. As far as possible and together with maintaining all the laws of pardah and Hijab, we should endeavour to be part of the actual slaughtering of the animal. It is nothing to get your clothes and hands dirty and they can always be washed and cleaned.

Hadhrat Ali (R.A) reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said to Hadhrat Fatimah (RA):
“O Fatimah! Go and witness your Qurbani, because the first drop of blood that falls from it causes all your sins to be forgiven. On the Day of Qiyamah, this animal will be brought with its blood and flesh and will be placed on your scale increasing it seventy times more.

Hadhrat Abu Saeed (RA) after hearing of the great blessing asked Rasulullah ﷺ whether this great favour was only for the family of Rasulullah ﷺ because they are more worthy of this good action or is it for the family of Rasulullah ﷺ and the entire Muslim Ummat? Rasulullah ﷺ replied that it is for both the descendants of Rasulullah ﷺ and the entire Ummah.”

With regards to the actual slaughtering of the animal, we should keep the Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Abu Y’alaa Shaddad ibn Aws (RA) in mind:

“إنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذِّبْحَةَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ، وَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ”. [رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ].
“Verily, Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill in a good manner. If you slaughter, slaughter in a good manner. Each of you should sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he is slaughtering”. [Muslim]

The amount of stress an animal goes through prior to slaughtering affects the quality of the meat. If you have just one animal that is being slaughtered, seek out people in your neighbouring vicinity who are slaughtering as well. A lone animal becomes very scared in comparison to when it is in the company of a few other animals of its kind.

As far as possible do not let the one animal see the other animal being slaughtered. When you come down to the last animal, it is preferable to slaughter them as swiftly as possible. It makes it easier for the animal.