K.M Mahmud ur Rahman :
“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)! (100). So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear(101). Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: “O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me if Allah so wills one practicing patience and constancy! (102)”. So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice) (103 ). We called out to him “O Ibrahim! (104). “Thou hast already fulfilled the dream!” – thus indeed do we reward those who do right. (105). For this was obviously a trial- (106). And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: (107). And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: (l08) “Peace and salutation to Ibrahim! (109)”. Thus indeed do We reward those who do right (110). (Surah As-Saaffat: Verses 100-110 )
In fact, to test the strength of faith of Allah’s mighty messenger – Prophet Ibrahim (As) was directed and inspired by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his most favorite possession and eventually it turned out to be his only son through dreams. Accordingly, a bewildered yet obedient Ibrahim (As) was fully ready to sacrifice his son – Isma’il, who also responded to the wish of the Almighty and prepared for his own sacrifice. At the precise point of time when Ibrahim (As) was about to put the knife on his son’s throat – Allah, in His infinite Mercy replaced Ismail with a Iamb and thus began the legacy of sacrificing an animal during Eid-ul-Azha.
The message and the spirit of sacrificing animals for the sake of Allah is quite often undermined, misunderstood and misconstrued. We do not realise the purpose behind such sacrifice. In the name of sacrifice, people tend to demonstrate their wealth and might in securing the sacrificial animals. They do so in total disregard of the underlying spirit that such occasion demands
Allah says, “Oh’ you believers, be conscious of the fact that the blood and flesh of your sacrificed animals can never move/touch me”. “What all matters to Me is your ‘Taqwa’ that is how consciously you remember me and act righteously in accordance with my prescribed way of life enumerated in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith with your clear conscience of My existence as your Creator”. (Surah Hajj, verse 36 – 37.)
“And as for the sacrifice of cattle, We have ordained it for you as one of the symbols set up by Allah, in which there is [much] good for you. Hence, extol the name of Allah over them when they are lined up [for sacrifice]; and after they have fallen lifeless to the ground, eat of their flesh, and feed the poor who is contented with his lot (and does not beg), as well, as him who is forced to beg. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might have cause to be grateful. (Surah Hajj, Verse 36 – 37)
(But bear in mind:) never does their flesh reach Allah, and neither their blood: it is only your Allah-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify Allah for all the guidance with which He has graced you. [Surah Hajj, verse 36-37]
In this regard the following relevant authentic Hadith may be studied for further understanding.
The Spirit of Qurbani – selected Hadiths from Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawud
Narrated AI-Bara:I heard the Prophet (Sm) delivering a Khutba saying, “The first thing to be done on this day (first day of ‘Eid ul-Azha) is to pray; and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah) and whoever does so, he acts according to our Sunnah (traditions).” (Bukhari, Book 2, Volume 15, Hadith 71)
Narrated AI-Bara: The Prophet went towards AI-Baqi (the grave-yard at Madina) on the day of Id-ul-Azha and offered a two-Rakat prayer (of ‘Eid-ul-Azha) and then faced us and said, “On this day of ours, our first act of worship is the offering of prayer and then we will return and slaughter the sacrifice, and whoever does this concords with our Sunnah; and whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before that (i.e. before the prayer) then that was a thing which he prepared earlier for his family and it would not be considered as a Nasuk (sacrifice.)” A man stood up and said, “O, Allah’s Apostle! I slaughtered (the animal before the prayer) but I have a young she-goat which is better than an older sheep. “The Prophet (S) said to him, “Slaughter it. But a similar sacrifice will not be sufficient for anybody else after you.” [Bukhari: Book 2: Volume 15: Hadith 93].
Abu Ubaid reported: I was with ‘Ali b. Abi Talib on the occasion of the ‘Id day. He started with the Eid prayer before delivering the sermon, and said: Allah’s Messenger (Sm) forbade us to eat the flesh of our sacrificial animals beyond three days. [Muslim: Book 22 Hadith 4850]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (S) having said: a people of Madina, do not eat the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three days. Ibn al-Muthanni said: Three days. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) complained to the Messenger of Allah (Sm) that they had children and servants of theirs (to feed), whereupon he said: Eat, and feed others, and store, and make it a provision of food. [Muslim :, Book 22, Hadith 4861]
Umme Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (Sm), reported Allah’s Messenger (Sm) to have said: He who has a sacrificial animal with him whom (he intends) to offer as sacrifice, and he enters the ‘month of Zhu’l-Hijja, he shouid not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal. [Muslim: Book 22, Hadith 4873].
Abu Tufail ‘Amir b. Withila reported: I was in the company of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib, when a person came to him, and said: What was it that Allah’s Apostle (Sm) told you in secret? Thereupon he (Hazrat ‘Ali) was enraged and said: Allah’s Apostle (Sm) did not tell me anything in secret that he hid from people, except that he told me four things. He said: Commander of Faithful, what are these? He said: Allah cursed him who cursed his father; Allah cursed him who sacrificed for anyone besides Allah; and Allah cursed him who accommodates an innovator (in religion); and Allah cursed him who changed the minarets (the boundary lines) of the land. [Muslim:: Book 22, Hadith 4876]
Narrated Nubayshah: The Prophet (Sm) said: We forbade you to eat their meat for more than three days in order that you might have abundance; now Allah has produced abundance, so you may eat, store up and seek reward. Beware, these days are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah, Most High. [Abu Dawud:, Book 15, Hadith 2807].
Prophet of Allah stated through the following authentic Hadith :
In order to render adequate background information the following Qur’anic verses and the Sahih Hadith are relevant to the story of sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A) and his son Ismail (A).
A man came before the Messenger with a carpet, and said, “0 Rasulullah I passed through a wood, and heard the voices of the young birds: and I took and put them into my carpet; and their mother came fluttering around my head, and I uncovered the hung, and the mother flew down after them: then I wrapped them up in my carpet: and here they are, “Then “the Rasul said,
“Put them down.” And when he said so, their mother joined them. And Prophet Muhammed (Sm) said, “do you wonder at the affection of the mother bird towards her young?
I swear by Him who has sent me. Verily Allah is more loving to His creatures than the mother to these young birds. Return them to the place from where you took them, and their mother be with them”. (Mishkat Vol-2, Hadith No 2267)
The above statement of the Prophet of Allah amply justifies that the love of Almighty Allah for his creation is by far more than what we can normally comprehend. Therefore, it is imperative and obligatory on our part to try to understand and acknowledge Allah’s great love for us and respond to same with much greater sense of gratitude and appreciation through all our actions. Keeping this teaching of Qurbani fresh in mind one has to perform his Qurbani rituals.
The Qurbani of Eid-ul-Azha clearly reveals a significant lesson for mankind – that by responding to the commandment of Allah to undertake the supreme sacrifice of his son Prophet Ibrahim (A) literally proved that the love for Allah was much greater than his most beloved son. This means that a man’s love for Allah must transcend above all material values and creatures including one’s own self and the underlying message of the yearly ritual of Eid-ul-Azha is to remember and emulate this sacrifice in our lives.
“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)! (100). So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear(101). Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: “O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me if Allah so wills one practicing patience and constancy! (102)”. So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice) (103 ). We called out to him “O Ibrahim! (104). “Thou hast already fulfilled the dream!” – thus indeed do we reward those who do right. (105). For this was obviously a trial- (106). And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: (107). And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: (l08) “Peace and salutation to Ibrahim! (109)”. Thus indeed do We reward those who do right (110). (Surah As-Saaffat: Verses 100-110 )
In fact, to test the strength of faith of Allah’s mighty messenger – Prophet Ibrahim (As) was directed and inspired by Almighty Allah to sacrifice his most favorite possession and eventually it turned out to be his only son through dreams. Accordingly, a bewildered yet obedient Ibrahim (As) was fully ready to sacrifice his son – Isma’il, who also responded to the wish of the Almighty and prepared for his own sacrifice. At the precise point of time when Ibrahim (As) was about to put the knife on his son’s throat – Allah, in His infinite Mercy replaced Ismail with a Iamb and thus began the legacy of sacrificing an animal during Eid-ul-Azha.
The message and the spirit of sacrificing animals for the sake of Allah is quite often undermined, misunderstood and misconstrued. We do not realise the purpose behind such sacrifice. In the name of sacrifice, people tend to demonstrate their wealth and might in securing the sacrificial animals. They do so in total disregard of the underlying spirit that such occasion demands
Allah says, “Oh’ you believers, be conscious of the fact that the blood and flesh of your sacrificed animals can never move/touch me”. “What all matters to Me is your ‘Taqwa’ that is how consciously you remember me and act righteously in accordance with my prescribed way of life enumerated in the Holy Qur’an and Hadith with your clear conscience of My existence as your Creator”. (Surah Hajj, verse 36 – 37.)
“And as for the sacrifice of cattle, We have ordained it for you as one of the symbols set up by Allah, in which there is [much] good for you. Hence, extol the name of Allah over them when they are lined up [for sacrifice]; and after they have fallen lifeless to the ground, eat of their flesh, and feed the poor who is contented with his lot (and does not beg), as well, as him who is forced to beg. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might have cause to be grateful. (Surah Hajj, Verse 36 – 37)
(But bear in mind:) never does their flesh reach Allah, and neither their blood: it is only your Allah-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that We have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify Allah for all the guidance with which He has graced you. [Surah Hajj, verse 36-37]
In this regard the following relevant authentic Hadith may be studied for further understanding.
The Spirit of Qurbani – selected Hadiths from Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawud
Narrated AI-Bara:I heard the Prophet (Sm) delivering a Khutba saying, “The first thing to be done on this day (first day of ‘Eid ul-Azha) is to pray; and after returning from the prayer we slaughter our sacrifices (in the name of Allah) and whoever does so, he acts according to our Sunnah (traditions).” (Bukhari, Book 2, Volume 15, Hadith 71)
Narrated AI-Bara: The Prophet went towards AI-Baqi (the grave-yard at Madina) on the day of Id-ul-Azha and offered a two-Rakat prayer (of ‘Eid-ul-Azha) and then faced us and said, “On this day of ours, our first act of worship is the offering of prayer and then we will return and slaughter the sacrifice, and whoever does this concords with our Sunnah; and whoever slaughtered his sacrifice before that (i.e. before the prayer) then that was a thing which he prepared earlier for his family and it would not be considered as a Nasuk (sacrifice.)” A man stood up and said, “O, Allah’s Apostle! I slaughtered (the animal before the prayer) but I have a young she-goat which is better than an older sheep. “The Prophet (S) said to him, “Slaughter it. But a similar sacrifice will not be sufficient for anybody else after you.” [Bukhari: Book 2: Volume 15: Hadith 93].
Abu Ubaid reported: I was with ‘Ali b. Abi Talib on the occasion of the ‘Id day. He started with the Eid prayer before delivering the sermon, and said: Allah’s Messenger (Sm) forbade us to eat the flesh of our sacrificial animals beyond three days. [Muslim: Book 22 Hadith 4850]
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported Allah’s Messenger (S) having said: a people of Madina, do not eat the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three days. Ibn al-Muthanni said: Three days. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) complained to the Messenger of Allah (Sm) that they had children and servants of theirs (to feed), whereupon he said: Eat, and feed others, and store, and make it a provision of food. [Muslim :, Book 22, Hadith 4861]
Umme Salama, the wife of Allah’s Apostle (Sm), reported Allah’s Messenger (Sm) to have said: He who has a sacrificial animal with him whom (he intends) to offer as sacrifice, and he enters the ‘month of Zhu’l-Hijja, he shouid not get his hair cut or nails trimmed until he has sacrificed the animal. [Muslim: Book 22, Hadith 4873].
Abu Tufail ‘Amir b. Withila reported: I was in the company of ‘Ali b. Abi Talib, when a person came to him, and said: What was it that Allah’s Apostle (Sm) told you in secret? Thereupon he (Hazrat ‘Ali) was enraged and said: Allah’s Apostle (Sm) did not tell me anything in secret that he hid from people, except that he told me four things. He said: Commander of Faithful, what are these? He said: Allah cursed him who cursed his father; Allah cursed him who sacrificed for anyone besides Allah; and Allah cursed him who accommodates an innovator (in religion); and Allah cursed him who changed the minarets (the boundary lines) of the land. [Muslim:: Book 22, Hadith 4876]
Narrated Nubayshah: The Prophet (Sm) said: We forbade you to eat their meat for more than three days in order that you might have abundance; now Allah has produced abundance, so you may eat, store up and seek reward. Beware, these days are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah, Most High. [Abu Dawud:, Book 15, Hadith 2807].
Prophet of Allah stated through the following authentic Hadith :
In order to render adequate background information the following Qur’anic verses and the Sahih Hadith are relevant to the story of sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A) and his son Ismail (A).
A man came before the Messenger with a carpet, and said, “0 Rasulullah I passed through a wood, and heard the voices of the young birds: and I took and put them into my carpet; and their mother came fluttering around my head, and I uncovered the hung, and the mother flew down after them: then I wrapped them up in my carpet: and here they are, “Then “the Rasul said,
“Put them down.” And when he said so, their mother joined them. And Prophet Muhammed (Sm) said, “do you wonder at the affection of the mother bird towards her young?
I swear by Him who has sent me. Verily Allah is more loving to His creatures than the mother to these young birds. Return them to the place from where you took them, and their mother be with them”. (Mishkat Vol-2, Hadith No 2267)
The above statement of the Prophet of Allah amply justifies that the love of Almighty Allah for his creation is by far more than what we can normally comprehend. Therefore, it is imperative and obligatory on our part to try to understand and acknowledge Allah’s great love for us and respond to same with much greater sense of gratitude and appreciation through all our actions. Keeping this teaching of Qurbani fresh in mind one has to perform his Qurbani rituals.
The Qurbani of Eid-ul-Azha clearly reveals a significant lesson for mankind – that by responding to the commandment of Allah to undertake the supreme sacrifice of his son Prophet Ibrahim (A) literally proved that the love for Allah was much greater than his most beloved son. This means that a man’s love for Allah must transcend above all material values and creatures including one’s own self and the underlying message of the yearly ritual of Eid-ul-Azha is to remember and emulate this sacrifice in our lives.
