Author: M. Asim Ismail Zahi
Qurbani (Sacrifice), Its Importance, Virtues, Philosophy and Etiquette (Part One)
Abstract:
Sacrifice is one of the rituals that has been acknowledged in the history of divine religions and even before Islam. Animal sacrifice is one of the significant acts of worship. Although the acts of sacrifice and self-sacrifice have continued in every nation, this act gained special importance during the time of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) and has subsequently been called the “Abrahamic tradition.” Prophet Abraham (PBUH) offered his son, Prophet Ismail (PBUH), as a sacrifice solely for the pleasure of Allah, and Muslims commemorate this act every year. Obedient Muslims learn from this sacrifice that they must be ready for any form of sacrifice in obedience to Allah. They should abandon attachment to wealth and possessions and cultivate love and affection for Allah in their hearts. When performing the sacrifice, they should remember that the goal, like with other acts of worship, is to please Allah. Worshiping Allah must not be associated with anyone else, and the life of every Muslim should practically embody the verse: “قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيايَ وَمَماتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ” Translation: “Say, indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for the pleasure of Allah, who is the Creator and Owner of the entire world.”
The sweet-tongued sage sings:
“If you sacrifice your lives for the nearness of the friends, do not mention anything except the blade of His love before Him.”
Keywords: Slaughter, sheep, sacrificial ritual, Prophet Ismail, doubt, past religions.
Introduction:
The custom of sacrifice has been prevalent among ancient cultures and civilizations since the earliest times. This tradition has sometimes taken the form of collective human, animal, and temporal sacrifices, and has extended to plant and inanimate offerings. It is evident that the further back we go in history, encountering more uncivilized peoples, the more irrational the sacrifices become. Primitive peoples did not hesitate to offer human sacrifices to appease their self-made gods or as a means to ward off pests and disasters.
Sacrifice, as one of the prominent divine rituals, symbolizes servitude and closeness to Allah in Islam. This ritual, performed by slaughtering an animal for the pleasure of Allah Almighty, holds a long and special place among various religions and cultures. In Islam, sacrifice is introduced as a godly act and a symbol of submission and piety. Allah Almighty commands in the Holy Quran: “قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيايَ وَمَماتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ” Translation: “Say, indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for the pleasure of Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”
This verse illustrates the high status of sacrifice in the sight of Allah and its direct correlation with faith and heartfelt piety. Sacrifice symbolizes submission to the divine will and serves as a test of servitude according to the Sharia of Prophet Abraham (PBUH). The story of Prophet Ismail’s (PBUH) sacrifice is a clear example of this submission and profound faith, as mentioned in Surah Al-Saffat.
On Eid al-Adha, there is immense divine gratitude reflected in the actions of Allah’s chosen prophet, Prophet Abraham (PBUH), who made that sacrifice. Above simply sacrificing his own life, he was prepared to sacrifice a beloved one with his own hands for the sake of Allah—specifically, his young son whom Allah had granted him in his old age after years of waiting. As he expressed: “الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ” Translation: “All praise belongs to Allah, who gave me Ishmael and Isaac in my old age; surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayer.”
Allah Almighty granted these two sons to this father in his old age, likely after a lifetime of longing; he had given up hope for a child. This act of sacrifice serves as a symbol for believers striving to follow the path of truth, exaltation, and the quest for the highest levels of faith.
The Reason for Naming the Qurbani (Sacrifice): The term “Qurbani” is derived from the word “Qurban,” as noted in “Sirat”: “بالضم وهو ما يتقرب به إلى الله تعالى يقال قربة الله” Translation: “A person seeks to be closer to Allah Almighty by sacrificing an animal; therefore, this act is called ‘Qurbani.'”
What is Qurbani in essence? It is important to remember that Allah Almighty does not require sacrifices; rather, “هو يطعم ولا يطعم” Translation: “He feeds, and He does not need to be fed.” That pure and exalted being does not need the skin of the sacrifice nor its meat; instead, He instructs you to sacrifice in His presence, to strive, and to offer your beloved and valuable animals as a token in exchange for yourself.
Anyone who perceives sacrifice as illogical should realize that it has been a widespread tradition across the globe throughout the history of humanity! A simple examination of history indicates that the “lowly” have always been sacrificed for the “highly,” a custom that continues today in both large and small matters. For instance, when someone is bitten by a snake or scorpion, some cultures may resort to amputating a little finger to prevent the poison from spreading—symbolically sacrificing the little finger for the benefit of the whole body.
When a dear friend visits us, we readily prepare everything possible for their reception; even the most expensive items can be considered a form of “sacrifice” as we may even slaughter an animal for their honor.
In medicine, those who oppose animal slaughter may casually kill dozens of insects or animals to treat their ailments, using them as antidotes or medicines. If this isn’t “sacrificing the lowly” for the “highly,” what is?
In the military and law enforcement, lower-ranking personnel often serve and dedicate themselves to those of higher rank; hence, Allah Almighty aligns the sacrifice of the lowly with the highest part of human nature.
Sacrifice among Non-Islamic Nations in the Past:
Sacrifice has been common in various religions and sects since ancient times. Islamic law has corrected those customs and traditions that deviated from Islamic teachings and established the proper principles for sacrifice. The sacrifices made in the past to draw closer to Allah Almighty were influenced by the time and context in which they occurred.
The first recorded sacrifice made on earth, as described in the Holy Quran, was by Cain, the son of Adam, who offered a sacrifice to Allah, while his brother Abel also made a sacrifice. Allah accepted the offering of one but rejected the other. It is believed that Cain’s sacrifice came from the fruits of the earth, while Abel’s was from the best of his sheep. This account is conveyed to the Prophet in a manner filled with guidance, as depicted in the Quran: “وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَاءِ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الآخَرَ” Translation: “Recite to them the true story of the two sons of Adam when they both offered a sacrifice to Allah, and Allah accepted the sacrifice of one while rejecting that of the other.”
Prophet Noah (PBUH) designated a place where animals would be sacrificed, and a fire would consume them after the flood. Abraham (PBUH) regularly provided bread and other items in charity for the sake of Allah. It is documented that Allah instructed him to slaughter calves, goats, and sheep, as noted in the Book of Genesis, verses 9 and 17. The descendants of Prophet Abraham (PBUH) continued this practice after his death until Prophet Moses (PBUH) was sent and categorized sacrifices into bloody and non-bloody types. Over time, certain non-bloody sacrifices lost their original significance, with the name of the sacrifice used for Allah Almighty, while in reality, they began sacrificing to idols.
Islam arose to abolish these practices and restore the sanctity of true sacrifice. Blood sacrifices among the ancients were classified into three types: the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the peace offering. The burnt offering was entirely consumed by fire, with only its skin reserved for priests. The sin offering served as an atonement, some of which was burned while the rest was consumed by priests, and the peace offering allowed all to partake of its meat, provided it was free from any defect. In instances where a poor individual could not afford the slaughter of an animal, the sacrifice of a bird was accepted.
Throughout history, pagans and star worshippers have offered and burned various plants and grains to appease their gods. The ancient Greeks would salt their sacrifices as a sign of sincerity, preparing them with barley grains for presentation. The Romans offered sacrifices to their gods, with attendees receiving pieces of meat as a blessing. Furthermore, their priests would sprinkle honey and water on attendees during offerings, a practice that continued with rosewater in many religious gatherings.
In some ancient cultures, this practice extended to sacrificial human offerings. This was particularly prevalent among the Lebanese, Syrians, Persians, Romans, and Egyptians. The commitment to such inhumane practices persisted in Europe until the Romanian House of Lords issued a decree banning it in 657 AD. However, human sacrifice continued for some time in German cities. The King of Hira sacrificed a human to honor his god Uzzi during his reign, a practice likely adopted from Persian pagans. It is said that every year on the 11th day of Bunah, the Egyptians would purchase a young virgin girl from her parents, dress her in luxurious clothes and wedding jewelry, and drown her in the Nile—believed to be the wedding of the Nile and a sacrifice to one of their gods. This abhorrent custom persisted in Egypt until Amr ibn al-Aas (MABH) prohibited it with the permission of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (MABH). Some Egyptians deny these historical accounts, asserting a lack of evidence; however, human reason should indeed reject such grotesque actions. A closer study of history will provide further clarity.
Continues…
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