Eid ul Adha | Great Symbol of Sacrifice

Qurbani means sacrifice. Every year Muslims around the world slaughter a halal domestic animal like a goat, sheep, cow, and camel to reflect the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for the sake of GOD during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.

Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Adha on the 10th of Zil Hajj. There are specific requirements for who can offer Qurbani. He/she must be a mature Muslim of sound mind and must possess a profession of 52.5 tolas of silver or its equivalent in wealth. 

Origin

Qurbani is referred to in Islamic law as the sacrifice of a specific animal offered by a specific person on specific days to seek GOD’s pleasure and reward. It honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) as an act of obedience to GOD’s command. But before Ibrahim (AS) could sacrifice his son Ismail (AS), GOD provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. God ordered him to sacrifice his most precious thing.

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) realized that the precious thing was his son’s life. He had faith in GOD’s command, and Ismail (AS) also agreed to follow it. GOD the almighty honored both Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS), was pleased with their manner, and replaced their sacrifice with a sheep.

From that day onward, every year Muslims around the world celebrate Eid ul Adha by slaughtering a halal domestic animal to commemorate Ibrahim’s sacrifice and to remind themselves of abnegation. 

Qurbani and Eid Prayer

Eid ul Adha is also called the “Festival of the Sacrifice.” Every year Muslims all over the world celebrate this festival by attending Eid ul-Adha prayer and slaughtering a halal domestic animal like a goat, sheep, cow, or camel. The purpose of Qurbani is to satisfy ALLAH.

It is about sacrificing something devotees love the most to show Muslims devotion to ALLAH. It is obligatory to share the meat of the sacrificed animal in three equivalent parts: one is for family, one is for relatives and friends, and one is for poor people who are unable to do Qurbani. 

Wisdom of Sacrifice  

This celebration has a profound message of devotion, kindness, and equality. The sacrificed meat and blood of animals will not reach Allah, but the devotion of the devotees will reach Allah. Eid ul-Adha ends the period of Hajj.

Muslims attend Hajj to pray to ALLAH and glorify his/her name in an act of remembrance of his favors. On this occasion, Muslims remember the poor by extending a helping hand to them and also by distributing the meat among them.

The act of sacrificing and then distributing is a symbol of Muslims’ willingness to give up their bounties in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those in need.