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Virtues and Details of Qurbani by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman

The importance of sacrifice

Qurbani is a major form of worship. It began from the era of Sayyiduna Adam (AS) and has continued until this last Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It was prescribed for all nations of all eras. It is mentioned in the Quran:

وَلِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنْسَکاً لِیَذْکُرُوا اسْمَ اللّٰہ عَلٰی مَا رَزَقَہُمْ مِنْ بَہِیْمَۃِ الْاَنْعَامِ الآیۃ. (سورۃ الحج:34)

Translation: And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremony [of sacrifice], that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.

Even though the religious ceremony of sacrifice [qurbani] has been continuously practiced by all nations, it held a greater importance during the time of Ibrahim (AS). And this is why qurbani is also called “the Sunnah of Ibrahim (AS)” because Ibrahim (AS) offered his son Ismail (AS) as sacrifice only for the pleasure of Allah. And the muslims all over the world offer qurbani in remembrance of Ibrahim’s (AS) noble act. Through this qurbani, a muslim learns to be ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of Allah, to abandon the love of all worldy things and to fill his heart with love for Allah only. So while offering qurbani, one must also remember that just like this qurbani, the main goal of every act of worship is the pleasure of Allah. The thought of pleasing anyone else must never pass through our mind, so that a muslim’s life becomes the very embodiment of this verse:

اِنَّ صَلاَتِی وَنُسُکِیْ وَمَحْیَایَ وَمَمَاتِیْ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ. (سورۃ الانعام:162)

Translation: Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.

Allah Taala commands us in the Holy Quraan: “When the Quraan is read, listen to it with attention and hold your peace: that ye may receive mercy.” (Verse 204, Surah Al-A’araaf)

Many commentators like of Mujaahid, Ibn Juraij and Saeed ibnul Musayib (R.A) are of the opinion that the above verse also refers to the period of the Jumuah Khutba and Salaat. ( Tafseer Ibn Katheer – vol 2)

Rasulullah Sallallaahu-alaihi-wasallam has also mentioned: “When one of you enters the masjid whilst the imaam is on the pulpit (delivering the khutba) then he should not perform any salaat nor should he speak until the imam completes (the sermon).” (Tabrani)

“There is no new born child who is not born on fitra (the natural disposition and inclination to Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or Christian or Magian.”

(Hadith-e-Nabwi sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

Some people are lucky enough to be born into Muslim households and brought up according to the principles of Islam. Azan and Iqamah is whispered into their ears, thus right from their birth they are taught Allah’s name, that He is one and has no partners. No concept of Kufr and Shirk contaminates their pure souls, poisons their young minds. There is nothing to hamper their spiritual progress as they were presented with the invaluable gift of Islam from the very first day of their lives. And maybe the reason why so many of them choose to waste this precious asset is that they fail to realize the value thereof, as they had acquired it so effortlessly.

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