The importance and virtue of qurbani | Sacrifice
The Background of the Qurbani | Sacrifice
Eid-ul-Adha, one of the two important festivals in Islam. The Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with great enthusiasm across the world on the tenth day of Dhul-Hajjah. Before we talk about the Importance and Virtue of Qurbani, we must know the background of the Qurbani – Sacrifice.
Eid-ul-Adha is a very meaningful and memorable day. It is a sacrifice of life for Allah, which is offered as a substitute for an animal. It is very easy to run a knife on the neck of an animal on the day of Eid-ul-Adha formally and habitually, but if one considers and remembers the tests that Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) had to go through, then the one understand the importance of this worship well.
The First test of Ibrahim
Allah Almighty tested Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) many times and he passed the test each time. In one of His test, Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) was set on fire by king Namrood for expressing the doctrine of Tawhid and breaking the idol, so he remained steadfast for the greatness of the religion and the exaltation of the doctrine of Tawhid. At last Allah’s blessed command was issued. Allah commanded the fire O fire! Be cool and be safe on Ibrahim.
قُلْنَا یَا نَارُ کُوْنِیْ بَرْدًا وَ سَلَامًا عَلیٰ اِبْرَاھِیْمَ
Allah said, “O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim.” Surah Al-Anbiya: 69
The second Test of Ibrahim (علیہ السلام)
The desire and supplications of Ibrahim which He expressed to Allah in these words:
رَبِّ ھَبْ لِیْ مِنَ الصَّالِحِیْنَ
Allah My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous. Surah As-Saffat: 100
In old age Allah accepted prayer and Ismaeel (علیہ السلام) born.
Ibrahim's Obedience of his rabb
Imagine for a second. Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) spent his whole life without child, then in old age Allah Almighty gave Him Ismaeel. But now Allah commands to Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) to leave His dead liver Syidina Ismaeel and Hajrah in the desert of Faran. On land that was unhabited and surrounded by desert and jungle. This was the second and big test.
When Prophet Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) Leaves His wife Hajrah and son Ismaeel in desert of Makkah, He did not look back at his wife and son so that his father’s compassion would not soften his heart and these is an obstacle in obeying Allah’s command.
Hajrah followed Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and asked, “Whose responsibility are you leaving us?” The answer was: On Allah. then Hajra said: I am agree with Allah decision Allah will never let us lost. When they disappeared from the sight of Hazrat Ibrahim, He prayed to Allah with words that Allah mentioned in Quran:
رَبِّنَا اِنِّیْ اَسْکَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ بِوَادٍ غَیْرِ ذیْ زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَیْتِکَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِیُقِیْمُوا الصَّلَاۃَ فَاجْعَلْ اَفْئِدَۃً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَھْوِیْ اِلَیْھِمْ وَارْزُقْھُمْ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّھُمْ یَشْکُرُوْنَ
Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful. Surah Ibrahim: 37
What was the result of this Prayer? The result of this prayer when Ismaeel started crying due to the intensity of thirst. Hazrat Hajrah run to Safa mountain in search of water and sometimes to Marwa mountain. Ismaeel weeping with intense thirst, hit the ground and Allah Almighty released the spring the spring of ZamZam Water there.
What was the result of this prayer?
The result of this prayer when Ismaeel started crying due to the intensity of thirst. Hazrat Hajrah run to Safa mountain in search of water and sometimes to Marwa mountain. Ismaeel weeping with intense thirst, hit the ground and Allah Almighty released the spring the spring of ZamZam Water there.
Third test of Prophet ibrahim
This is our main topic here that I am going to cover it in details in the light of Quran and Hadith. The Prophet Abrahim (علیہ السلام) dreamed for three consecutive nights that He is sacrificing His Son Ismaeel. The prophet’s dream is also a kid of revelation. So Ibrahim considered it a divine revelation. So He immediately prepared for its fulfilment.
Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) asked for the opinion of his son Ismaeel. Ismaeel agreed to the command of Allah and told his father to fulfil the command of Allah. The Holy Quran described it as follows:
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.” Surah As-Saffat: 102
فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ ﴿١٠٣﴾ وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ ﴿١٠٤﴾ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا ۚ إِنَّا
كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاءُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١٠٦﴾ وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍAnd when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, (103) We called to him, “O Ibrahim, (104) You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (105) Indeed, this was the clear trial. (106) And we ransomed him with a great sacrifice, (107) Surah As-Saffat: 103-107
Prophet Ibrahim's monument
Allah said: Ibrahim! The exam is over. The memory of your sacrifice / Qurbani will be alive every year till the Day of Judgment. Your true followers will continue to shed the blood of fat fresh animals for the pleasure of Allah every year to refresh your memory.
This is a small scene of the determination of this great and glorious prophet. Allah Almighty has counted Him among the first and foremost messengers and gace Him a lovely address like Khalilullah.
Allah says:
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Ibrahim was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. Surah Al-Baqarah: 124
The Beauty of Ibrahim's Sacrifice
This human sacrifice was the first sacrifice in its nature and history, because it was only for Allah Almighty. Not in the name of any goddess or deity.
The father was willing to slaughter his son with his own hands, otherwise such kind of work is usually done by other people.
The son (sufferer) was ready himself, otherwise the sufferer would have been forcibly brought before the sacrifice.
This is the Ibrahimic Tradition in which Muslims offer sacrifices every year on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.
You can guess the importance and virtue of sacrifice by this courage and spirit of Prophet Ibrahim a.s.
the Lesson of Prophet Ibrahim's Sacrifice
The lesson we learn from the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim is to offer our most beloved thing in the way of Allah Almighty. The sole purpose of which is to gain His pleasure and contentment, and the important thing is that there should be no hypocrisy in it. One buys a very expensive animal so that people will appreciate it, then Allah Almighty will have no reward for it. The true spirit of sacrifice is piety and sincerity.
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Sacrifice in the light of the Hadith
There are several Hadiths about the sacrifice that explain it rulings, its virtue, the age considered in it, the defects that are not acceptable, what is eaten of its meat and what is saved, and how it is slaughtered, we collect them in one place divided according to their topics.
How many times Prophet Muhammad Sacrificed?
There are several Hadiths about the sacrifice that explain it rulings, its virtue, the age considered in it, the defects that are not acceptable, what is eaten of its meat and what is saved, and how it is slaughtered, we collect them in one place divided according to their topics.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) offered sacrifices every year after the migration and did not missed any year as in the narration of Ibn Umer:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ بنِ عُمرَ ، اَقَامَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَى اللّٰه عَليهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمَدِیْنَةِ عَشَرَ سِنِیْنَ یُضَحِّیْ
The Holy Prophet (sws) stayed in Madinah for ten years (during this stay) he continued to offer sacrifices. Mishkat Al-Masabeeh: 1475
The Prophet (peace be upon him) never missed a single sacrifice during his stay in Madinah, even though the stove did not burn in his house for many months due to lack of food.
This is a proof that the action which the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed continuously and did not stop for a year is obligatory.
What if one can offer Sacrifice but dose not offer?
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) used harsh words for those who can afford but do not offer Sacrifice. It is in narration of Abu Hurairah:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ “ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ سَعَةٌ وَلَمْ يُضَحِّ فَلاَ يَقْرَبَنَّ مُصَلاَّنَا ” .
Whoever can afford it, but does not offer a sacrifice, let him not come near our prayer place.” IbnMajah: 3123
The importance and Virtue of Qurbani Sacrifice In the Light of Hadith
The best deed in the day of Eid-ul-Adha is shedding the blood of the sacrificial animal. As Syeda Aysha (رضی اللّٰهُ عنھا) reported:
عَنْ عَن عائشَۃ رضی اللّٰهُ عنھا : اَنّ رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم قال : ” مَا عَمِلَ آدمِیٌّ مِنْ عَمَلٍ یَومَ النَّحْرِ ، اَحبَّ اِلَی اللّٰهِ عزّ و جَلّ مِنْ اِھْرَاقِ الدَّمِ انَّھَا لَتَاتِیْ یوَمْ َالقِیَامَۃِ بِقُرُونِھَا وَ اَشْعَارِھَا وَ اَظْلَافِھَا وَ اَنَّ الدَّمَ لَیَقَعُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ كَانَ لَهُ بِمَکَانٍ قَبْلَ اَنْ یَقَعَ مِنَ الاَرْضِ فَطِیْبُوْا بِھَا نَفْسًا ” .
“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.” Mishkat: 1470
What to recite before Sacrifice?
Jabir رضی اللّٰهُ عنہ 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,
Supplication of Sacrifice
إِنِّي وجهت وَجْهي للَّذي فطر السَّمَوَات وَالْأَرْضَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أَمَرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ مِنْكَ وَلَكَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأُمَّتِهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
”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 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-Quran: 6:161). O Allah, it comes from thee and is given to thee from Muhammad and his people. In the name of Allah and Allah is most great.” Mishkat: 1461
