Total information of Qurbani

Bismillah’l-Raḥmān’l-Raḥīm

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Udhiyah is an Arabic term which means ‘sacrificing an animal’, and Qurbani is an Urdu and Persian word derived from the Arabic word Qurban which literally means an act performed to seek Allāh’s pleasure. It is technically used for the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allāh.

Virtues of Udhiyah

Allāh Most High Says:

‘So turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals).’ (Qur’an 108:2)

There is nothing dearer to Allāh during the days of Udhiyah than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgment with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allāh before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. (Sunan Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Mājah)

Sayyiduna Zayd ibn Arqam (may Allāh be pleased with him) relates that the Companions asked, ‘O Messenger of Allāh! What is Udhiyah?’ He replied, ‘It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him).’ They asked again, ‘What benefit do we get from it?’ He answered, ‘A reward for every hair (of the sacrificed animal).’ ‘And [what reward is there for animals with] wool, O Messenger of Allāh?’ they asked. ‘A reward’, he said, ‘for every fiber of the wool.’ (Sunan Ibn Mājah)

When a person slaughters an Udhiyah animal, he is forgiven at the fall of the first drop of blood, and verily, the animal shall be brought forward on the Day Of Judgment with its blood, meat etc., and shall be increased in weight seventy times more than its own weight, and thereafter it will be placed on the scale of deeds. (See: Kanz al-Ummal)

Story of Ibrahim AS

During Eid ul Adha, when we order our Qurbani, it is useful to remember what happened all those years ago and why it continues to be relevant for us today.

Ibrahim (AS) did not have children and throughout his prophethood, he desperately longed for a son. After much prayer, Allah (SWT) granted him a baby boy named Isma’eel and the joy was overwhelming.

Some years passed and Isma’eel had grown into a wonderful young boy whom his father was very fond of. But Ibrahim (AS) was plagued by a repeat vision in which he was commanded by Allah (SWT) to sacrifice his only son.

The magnitude of his anguish cannot be fathomed. It stirred fear and trembling in his heart. What would Ibrahim (AS) choose? Love of God or love of his only son?

Clearly troubled, he decided to consult his son.

"O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am offering you in sacrifice to Allah (SWT), so what do you think?" The ever obedient Isma’eel replied "O my father! Do that which you are commanded Insha’Allah, you shall find me of the patient." (As-Saffat: 102)

When both father and son proceeded to the place of sacrifice, on three occasions the devil attempted to divert them. However, Ibrahim (AS) threw stones at the devil and remained steadfast.

When they had both submitted themselves to the Will of Allah (SWT) the Quran recounts how the story then unfolded: “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision!" Verily! Thus do We reward those who perform good deeds, totally for Allah's sake. Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial and We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (a ram) and left him thus to be remembered among later generations.” (As-Saffat: 104-108)

So Isma’eel was replaced by a ram due to the firm faith of both father and son. In this story we must therefore remember that our Eid ul Adha is not just a celebration but the remembrance of one of human history’s greatest sacrifices.