Author: M. Asem Ismail Zahi
Sacrifice (Qurbani) and its importance (2nd part)
Sacrifice is one of the important rites and worships of Islam, it was known as worship even in the time of Jahiliyyah, the only difference was that they sacrificed for their statues. While the Muslim sacrifice is special for Allah’s pleasure. Even today, non-Islamic religions sacrifice to revive their religious customs as some sacrifice in the name of the God and some in the name of Jesus Christ.
In Surah Kausar, Allah Almighty addresses the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and says: “O Prophet, so pray for your Lord and make your camels grunt.” Just as prayer is not permissible for other than Allah, sacrifice is also not permissible for other than Allah.
The Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, says: “The most acceptable act in the eyes of Allah Almighty is the slaughter of the sacrificial animal on the days of Eid al-Adha.” This act is better than all other good deeds in the days of sacrifice before Allah Almighty. Before the blood of the victim falls on the ground, it is accepted before Allah; Therefore, sacrifice with a big heart.”
The Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, says: “As much hair as there is on the body of the sacrificial animal, the same amount of goodness is recorded for its owner.” Subhan Allah, let’s think a little, what action is more rewarding than this? Slaughtering an animal brings good to its owner as much as its hairs, but if a person spends a long time counting the hairs of a sheep, he still cannot count them, so see for yourself how much reward he has.
It is appropriate that every Muslim, even though sacrifice is not obligatory on him, should not ignore this amount of reward and sacrifice; Because if this opportunity is missed, it will not be available again, and no one can earn this amount of goodness so easily. It is suitable for wealthy people, just as they sacrifice for themselves, they should also sacrifice for their deceased relatives, such as mother, father, etc., so that they too are not deprived of this great reward.
They should also sacrifice their elders (and by this act, make their souls happy). If they are not able to do this, at least they should sacrifice for themselves; Because it is obligatory for the wealthy to slaughter the sacrifice during Eid. For someone who has the ability to sacrifice and still does not take action to perform this act, it is complete deprivation and regret, and in addition, such people also become sinners due to not slaughtering the sacrifice.
The virtues of sacrifice
a. The virtues of sacrifice in the Qur’an:
sacrifice has many virtues that are mentioned in many verses of the Holy Quran.
In the blessed chapter of Hajj, Allah Almighty has considered the sacrifice as one of the divine rites and said that performing it is “good” which is a source of blessing for the sacrificer and cooperation and arrest for the recipient of the meat of the sacrifice.«وَالْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَاهَا لَكُمْ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ فَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا الْقَانِعَ وَالْمُعْتَرَّ كَذَلِكَ سَخَّرُنَاهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ» “And We have made (sacrifices of) camels for you from (among) the rituals of Allah; It is good for you in them, so take the name of Allah over them while they are standing, and when they are rolling on their sides, eat from them and feed to the needy and the poor people. This is how We tamed them for you, so that you may be grateful.”
In verse 32 of Surah Mubaraka Hajj, honoring divine rituals is considered a sign of purity and piety of the heart. «وَمَنْ يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهُ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ» “Whoever considers divine rituals as great, without a doubt, that honoring is due to the purity and piety of the hearts.”
In verse 37 of the same surah, the existential philosophy of the sacrifice has been expressed by Allah Almighty to achieve piety and piety. «لَنْ يَنَالَ اللَهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَكنْ يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَى مِنْكُمْ كَذَلِک سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمْ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُحْسِنِينَ». “; “Never (neither) their flesh nor their blood will reach Allah; But it is your piety that reaches him. This has how (Allah) tamed them for you so that you may remember Allah as the one who guided you and give glad tidings to the righteous.”
In Surah Kausar, the sacrifice is placed in the row of prayers:
«إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ * فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ» “(O Prophet) without a doubt that we have given you the Kausar, so you pray to your Allah and sacrifice.”
In the blessed Surah An’am, the sacrifice is placed next to the prayer and the believer is asked to offer all his affairs to Allah with sincerity and single-mindedness and not to engage in shirk and disobedience in any worship. «قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * لا شَرِیک لَهُ وَ بِذلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَ أَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ» “Say that my prayer, sacrifice, life and death belong only to Allah, who is the nurturer of the worlds, and I have been ordered to do this, and I obey before everyone else.”
Continues…
