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“ There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani than sacrificing animals…the sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore, sacrifice with an open and happy heart.“
Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him); Tirmidhi
The Season of Sacrifice
The first ten days of the month of Dhul Hijjah are a special and spiritual time. On the tenth day, we celebrate Eid Al Adha, a time of both joy and reflection.
These ten days of Dhul Hijjah carry great importance and lesson for us to learn and live by. During this blessed time, there are many ways in which you can do good and earn reward. This includes fasting on the day of Arafah, sincere dhikr and prayer, giving sadaqah and completing Udhiyya/Qurbani.
This Eid al Adha, we ask you to remember our brothers and sisters of around the world when celebrating or completing religious rites.
What is Qurbani/Udhiyya?
Qurbani means sacrifice. Both Qurbani and Udhiyya are used to refer to the ritual sacrifice performed during Eid al Adha.
Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the globe sacrifice an animal – a goat, sheep, cow or camel – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh)’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.
In accordance to Shariah, at least one third of the meat from the animal must go to poor or vulnerable people. Traditionally, a Muslim would keep one third of the meat for their family and give the final third to their neighbors, friends and family.
Do I have to give Qurbani and how many do I need?
The general rule is that Qurbani should be performed by adults of sane mind and affordable means. Some Islamic Schools of Thought class the act as wajib (obligatory), while others say it is a sunnah (optional). However, it is generally agreed that if a person can afford Qurbani, they should perform it.
Qurbani animals have ‘shares’. Sheep and goats have one share each, camels and cattle each have seven shares. So for a single person, Qurbani is fulfilled with a sheep or a goat.
Up to seven people can share in the purchase of a cow or a camel, and the sacrifice will be made for the seven.
What is Qurbani/Udhiyya?
Qurbani means sacrifice. Both Qurbani and Udhiyya are used to refer to the ritual sacrifice performed during Eid al Adha.
Every year during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, Muslims around the globe sacrifice an animal – a goat, sheep, cow or camel – to reflect the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH)’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail, for the sake of God.
In accordance to Shariah, at least one third of the meat from the animal must go to poor or vulnerable people. Traditionally, a Muslim would keep one third of the meat for their family and give the final third to their neighbors, friends and family.
What is the significance of Qurbani?
The practice of Qurbani can be traced back to the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH).
The Prophet had dreamed that God ordered him to sacrifice his only son, Ismail. In his devotion to God, Ibrahim agreed to follow his dream and perform the sacrifice. Prophet Ibrahim told his son about the dream, and Ismail himself was ready and willing to be sacrificed.
But before anything happened, God intervened and sent a sheep/ram to be sacrificed in Ismail’s place.
Ismail was spared because Ibrahim proved he would sacrifice his son as an act of piety, despite the loss it would have caused him. The continued practice of sacrifice acts as a reminder of Ibrahim’s obedience to God.
The month of Dhul Hijjah is an especially holy time and good deeds have extra reward during the first ten days of the month. Eid is the 10th Day of the month.
Is Qurbani Compulsory on me?
The general rule is that Qurbani should be performed by adults of sane mind and affordable means. Some Islamic Schools of Thought class the act as wajib (obligatory), while others say it is a sunnah (optional)..
However, it is generally agreed that if a person can afford Qurbani, they should perform it.
If you have any questions or doubts about this aspect of Qurbani, please consult your local shaykh, imam or mosque.
How many Qurbanis do I need to do?
Qurbani animals have ‘shares’. Sheep and goats have one share each, camels and cattle each have seven shares.
So for a single person, Qurbani is fulfilled with a sheep or a goat.
Up to seven people can share in the purchase of a cow or a camel, and the sacrifice will be made for the seven.
1 small animal (Sheep or Goat) = 1 Qurbani
1 large animal (Cattle) = 7 Qurbanis
What is Eid Al Adha?
Eid Al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as Dhul Hijjah.
It is enjoined upon every Muslim who has the financial means to perform Qurbani to commemorate the sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim (as) was prepared to carry out in the name of Allah (swt). Animals that can be sacrificed are goats, cows and camels. This occurs during the days of Eid Al Adha and people celebrate the meaning and completion of this action.
What is the difference between Qurbani and Udhiyyah?
There is no difference between the two terms. Udhiyyah is an Arabic word meaning “blood sacrifice”, and ‘Qurbani’ is an Urdu and Persian word derived from the Arabic word “Qurban” which literally means an act performed to seek Allah’s pleasure.
Qurbani is far more popular among the Muslims of UK, but Udhiyyah is also used commonly.
When should you do Qurbani?
The days of Qurbani are the 10-12th of Dhul Hijjah. Performing Qurbani on the first day is better than the second and the second better than the last.
In towns, cities and villages where Jumaah (Friday prayers) and Eid prayers are performed, Qurbani is not permissible before the Eid salah.
You can order your Qurbani with us anytime before Eid Al Adha, up till the second day of Eid. Interpal will ensure your Qurbani is performed on Eid Day itself (and before the end of the third day for late orders).
What is Zakat?
Zakat is a pillar of Islam and its reward, along with all other good acts, is multiplied during the blessed month of Ramadan. You are eligible to pay Zakat if the amount of wealth that you have earned is more than the Nisaab (the amount of wealth a person must earn in order for the payment of Zakat to become obligatory). In this case, 2.5% must be given to charity in the form of Zakat.
Qurbanī (Arabic: قربانى), Qurban, or uḍḥiyah (أضحية) as referred to in Islamic law, is the ritual animal sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid al-Adha. The word is related to Hebrew: קרבן, romanized: qorbān “offering” and Classical Syriac: ܩܘܪܒܐ, romanized: qurbānā “sacrifice”, etymologised through the cognate Arabic triliteral as “a way or means of approaching someone” or “nearness”. In Islamic law, udhiyyah would refer to the sacrifice of a specific animal, offered by a specific person, on specific days to seek God’s pleasure and reward. The word qurban appears thrice in the Quran: once in reference to animal sacrifice and twice referring to sacrifice in the general sense of any act which may bring one closer to God. In contrast, dhabīḥah refers to normal Islamic slaughter outside the day of udhiyyah.
Origins:
Islam traces the history of sacrifice back to Abel and Cain (Habil and Qabil), whose story is mentioned in the Qur’an. Abel was the first human being to sacrifice an animal for God. Ibn Kathir narrates that Abel had offered a sheep whilst his brother Cain offered part of the crops of his land. The ordained procedure of God was that a fire would descend from the heavens and consume the accepted sacrifice. Accordingly, fire came down and enveloped the animal slaughtered by Abel thus accepting the sacrifice of Abel while Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. This led to jealousy on the part of Cain resulting in the first human death when he murdered his brother Abel. After not seeking repentance for his actions, Cain was not forgiven by God.
Ibrahim’s Sacrifice:
The practice of qurbani can be traced back to Ibrahim, who dreamt that God ordered him to sacrifice his most precious thing. Ibrahim was in a dilemma as he couldn’t determine what was his most precious thing. Then he realized it was his son’s life. He had faith in God’s command. He let his son know the purpose why he was taking his son out of their home. His son Ismail agreed to follow God’s command, however, God intervened and informed him that his sacrifice had been accepted, and replaced his son with a sheep. This replacement seems to point to either the religious institutionalization of sacrifice itself, or to the future self-sacrifices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his companions (who were destined to emerge from the progeny of Ishmael) in the cause of their faith. From that day onward, every Eid al-Adha once a year, Muslims around the world slaughter an animal to commemorate Ibrahim’s sacrifice and to remind themselves of abnegation.
Wisdom of Sacrifice:
The philosophy behind udhiyyah is that it is a demonstration of submission to God, complete obedience to God’s will or command and sacrificing belonging for him. Ibrahim demonstrated this spirit of submission and sacrifice in the best possible manner. When confronted with the challenge of love and allegiance, he chose to submit unconditionally to God and suppressed personal desire and love for his family and child. Qurbani calls for the slaughter of one’s innate desires by placing the knife of courage and resistance on hatred, jealousy, pride, greed, animosity, love for the world and other such maladies of the heart.
Ritual Sacrifice:
In Islam, the sacrifice of an animal is legal from the morning of the 10th to the sunset of the 13th Dhu l-Hijjah, the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar. On these days Muslims all over the world offer Qurbani which means a sacrifice or slaughter of an animal on specific days. It is understood as a symbolic repetition of Ibrahim’s sacrifice of a ram in place of his son, a crucial notion in Judaism, and Islam alike. Islamic preachers would use the occasion to comment on the fact that Islam is a religion of sacrifice and use this opportunity to remind Muslims of their duty of serving mankind with their time, effort and wealth.
Most schools of fiqh accept that the animal must be slaughtered according to the laws of dhabihah and that the animal in question must be a domesticated goat, sheep, cow or camel.
Martyred:
The term Qurbanī is also used for those who have been martyred.
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