Virtues of Qurbani

We are just a few days away from the Blessed month of Dhul Hijjah which means that Qurbani is just days away, and thus much excitement has set in. Preparations are underway, knives are being sent for sharpening, butchers are readying themselves for the influx of meat, and families are setting themselves up for a day of sacrificial slaughtering.

The blood stained clothes, the stench-filled yard, the sight of children equally terrified and fascinated by having animals in their midst are all part of the Ibadah of Qurbani.

But there is more significance to it than it being a day of commemoration.

As Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quraan:

فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ

Hence, pray unto thy Sustainer [alone], and sacrifice [unto Him alone]. [Al Kawther:2]

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

Say: “Truly my prayer and my service of sacrifice my life and my death are (all) for Allah the Cherisher of the Worlds [Al Anaam: 162]

The word nusuk (translated here as sacrifice) means sacrifice; this is the view of Sa’eed ibn Jubayr RA. And it was said that it means all acts of worship, including sacrifice, which is more comprehensive.

Doing the Qurbani is a very virtuous act in the sight of Allah.

In this regard, Aisha رضي الله عنها says that Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم said:

مَا عَمِلَ ابْنُ آدَمَ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ عَمَلًا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، مِنْ اِهرَاقَةِ دَمٍ، وَإِنَّهُ لَيَأْتِيْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، بِقُرُوْنِهَا، وَأَظْلَافِهَا، وَأَشْعَارِهَا، وَإِنَّ الدَّمَ، لَيَقَعُ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، بِمَكَانٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ، فَطِيْبُوْا بِهَا نَفْسًا

“There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of sacrifice than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animals shall come on the day of Qiyaamah with its horns, hairs and hooves. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore, sacrifice with an open and happy heart.” [Ibn Majah, Pg.226, A similar narration is reported in Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1493]

It is also narrated that the person who sacrifices with a willing heart and with the intention of reward, that sacrifice will shield him from the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement.

About this, Ali رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم said:

‘O People! Sacrifice and expect a reward from its blood, for surely, although the blood falls on the ground, it falls under the protection of Allah.

Allah says in the Quraan:

لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ

“so that they might experience much that shall be of benefit to them,39 and that they might extol the name of God on the days appointed [for sacrifice], over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them40 [to this end]: eat, then, thereof, and feed the unfortunate poor.” [Al Hajj: 28]

In the very same Surah, Allah also says:

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لِّيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۗ فَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلِمُوا۟ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُخْبِتِينَ

“For every nation We prescribed a way of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which He has given them for food, but the object is one and the same: to remember that your God is one God; so submit yourselves to Him as a Muslim, and O Prophet, give good news to the humble.” [Al Hajj: 34]

There are various Ahadith that explain the Udhiyah or Qurbani of Nabi ﷺ as well as that of the Sahabah RA:

سَمِعْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ وَأَنَا أُضَحِّي بِكَبْشَيْنِ

Narrated Anas bin Malik RA: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer two rams as sacrifices, and I also used to offer two rams. [Bukhari 5553]

It is also narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim that Anas ibn Maalik RA said,

، قَالَ ضَحَّى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ، فَرَأَيْتُهُ وَاضِعًا قَدَمَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا يُسَمِّي وَيُكَبِّرُ، فَذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ

“The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two white rams speckled with black. He slaughtered them with his own hand, said ‘Allahu akbar’ and put his foot on their necks.”

The Hadith also prove that the Qurbani or slaughtering was a regular practise of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

It was narrated that ‘AbdAllah ibn ‘Umar RA said,

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْمَدِينَةِ عَشْرَ سِنِينَ يُضَحِّي ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ

“The Prophet ﷺ stayed in Madina for ten years, offering sacrifice (every year on Eid).” [At Tirmidhi 1507]