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Hadiths about qurbani
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
Whoever made a sacrifice with all sincerity, the act of sacrifice will protect him from hell-fire”
(narrated by Tabrani)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said: “There is no deed that Allah s.w.t. loves most during Eid ul Adha other than the slaughter of a sacrificial animal. The sacrificial animal will appear during the day of judgement with it’s horns, hair and nails as witness to the deed in the name of Allah. The blood of the sacrificed animal is placed near Allah s.w.t. before it flows to the earth. Glad tidings to those who sacrifice”.
(Meanings of the Hadith from Tirmidzi, Ibn Majah & Hakim)
Zulhijjah
Zulhijjah is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, it means “hajj.” Obviously, this name of the month indicates that the great annual worship of “hajj” is performed in this month, which gives it special significance. Some specific merits and rules relevant to this month are mentioned below:
First Ten Days:
The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Holy Prophet( PBUH)has said, “One day fasting during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the “Lailatul-Qadr”. Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as much Iba’dah (acts of worship) to Allah as he or she can.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH), said “No days are as important with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zil Hijjah. So in these days increasingly read:
TASBEEH (Subhanallah)
TAHLEEL (LailahaIllallah)
TAHMEED (Alhamdulillah)
TAKBEER (Allahu Akbar).
(Tabrani)
Hajj
The most important way of worship performed in the month of Zulhijjah is “Hajj”, one of the five pillars of Islam. The Muslims from every part of the world assemble in Arabia to perform this unique way of worship. Hajj is a worship, which requires at least five days to be performed in its proper way. There are detailed rules for different acts of hajj for which separate books are available, and the present article does not aim at explaining all these details. However, some basic information about its obligation is being given here:
1. Hajj is obligatory on every adult Muslim who can afford to go to Makkah during the hajj season, whether on foot or by any other carriage.
2. If a person can travel to Makkah to perform hajj, but he cannot travel to Madinah, hajj is obligatory on him also. He can perform hajj without visiting Madinah.
3. A Muslim woman cannot travel for hajj unless she is accompanied by a mahram (i.e. husband or relative of a prohibited degree like son, father, brother etc.) If she does not find any mahram to accompany her, hajj is not obligatory on her until she finds one. However, she must make a will that in case she dies before performing hajj, his heirs should arrange for her hajj-e-badal out of her left over property.
Hajj is obligated only once in one’s life. After performing the obligatory hajj; one is not required to perform it again. However, he can perform the nafl (optional hajj as many times as he or she wishes.)
Eid-ul-Azha
Introduction
Eid-ul-Adha is the second most important festival of Muslims across the world. Today’s celebration comes almost two and a half months after Eid-ul-Fitr, the culmination of the holy month of Ramadan. The spirit of Eid-ul-Adha is incorporated in Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah. The underlying flavour is the spirit of sacrifice or qurbani, commemorating Abraham’s great act of faith many centuries ago.
Significance of Qurbani
“It is not their meat, nor their blood that reaches Allah. It is your piety that reaches Him.”
(Quran)
According to Tirmizi Shareef and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hazrat Ayesha (radi Allahu anha) stated that Rasoolullah (PBUH) said, “The son of Adam does not do any action on the day of Qurbani which is more pleasing to Allah than the sacrifice of animals; and he will come on the day of Qiyamah with it’s hairs, horns and hooves (for reward); and the blood (of the sacrificed animal) certainly reaches Allah before it falls down to the ground. So make yourselves purified therewith.”
Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and Rules
The Urdu and Persian word Qurbani (Sacrificial slaughter) is derived from the Arabic word Qurban. Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah’s pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah’s pleasure. But, in precise religious terminology, the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah.
The sacrifice of an animal has always been treated as a recognized form of worship in all religious orders originating from a divine book. Even in pagan societies, the sacrifice of an animal is recognized as a form of worship, but it is done in the name of some idols and not in the name of Allah, a practice totally rejected by Islam. Qurbani is one of the fundamental rituals of Islam performed on the occasion of ‘Eid ul-Adha, and is prescribed not only for the pilgrims performing Hajj, but for all able Muslims. Although the practice of Qurbani began in the time of Prophet Adam (AS), particular significance is brought to the practice through a specific act of Prophet Ibrahim.
Qurbani is Mandatory
It is Waajib for every Muslim male and Muslim female who:-
1. has attained puberty (Baaligh)
2. is of sound mind (not insane)
3. possesses Nisaab for that moment in time, not necessarily for one Islamic calendar year (Nisaab is the value of excess wealth which makes a Muslim liable for Zakaah i.e. The possession of, or equivalent capital value of seven and half tolas gold (87.48 grams ) or fifty two tolas of silver (612.32 grams )
To make sacrifice in the Name of Allah
The Time of Qurbani
It is necessary to perform Qurbani at the time of Qurbani, therefore, if that much money or the same amount of goods to the value of an animal is given then the responsibility of Qurbani will not be fulfilled [Alamgiri etc.].
Qurbani can only be performed during the three days of Eid, namely the 10th, Ilth and 12th of Zulhijjah. It is only in these days that slaughtering of an animal is recognized as an act of worship. No Qurbani can be performed in any other days of the year. Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three aforesaid days, yet it is preferable to perform it on the first day i.e. the 10th of Zulhijjah.
No Alternate for Qurbani
Some people think that instead of offering a Qurbani they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform salah instead of fasting in Ramadan, nor is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity. However, if somebody, out of his ignorance or negligence, could not offer Qurbani on the three prescribed days (10th, 1lth and 12th Zulhijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of a Qurbani as sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Qurbani no Sadaqah can discharge the obligation.
Qurbani on behalf of others
Many people make Qurbani on behalf of their parents, grandparents, Prophets and Saints, and not on their behalf. By doing so, they are neglecting their Waajib and thus become sinners through this action.
Every Muslim must first make Qurbani on their behalf so that their Waajib is fulfilled. Only after the Waajib is completed and if one is able to do so, can Qurbani be made on behalf of others. It is preferable to make Qurbani on behalf of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as it is virtuous and beneficial and has his blessings.
Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) made Qurbani on behalf of all the poor people of his Ummah. This shows the love that he possessed for his Ummah. Therefore, every Muslim who is capable of making Qurbani on behalf of others should make Qurbani on behalf of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Qurbani Animals
1. It is permissible to slaughter a goat, sheep, cow, bull, buffalo or camel, male or female for Qurbani. the minimum age of
2. A goat, sheep, or ram, either male or female, is one full year
3. A cow, bull or buffalo, either male or female, is two years old, and
4. A camel, either male or female, is five years
5. Animals that are younger than the prescribed age are not suitable for Qurbani. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)
6. If a sheep is more than six months old but less than a year, and physically appears to be one year old it will suffice for Qurbani. (Fataawa Hindiyyah)
How to Perform Qurbani
It is Mustahab (preferable) that the person to whom the Qurbani animal belongs slaughters it personally, provided he is able to slaughter (make Zabah) properly.
If the owner is unable to slaughter, it is better to delegate the Zabah to another Muslim who is acquainted with the requirements of proper Islaamic Zabah.
A Muslim woman, who knows how to make Zabah, is also permitted to slaughter.
The animal that is going to be sacrificed should be fed and given water. The knife that is going to be used should be sharpened beforehand, but not in front of the animal. The animal should be laid on it’s left side with it’s face pointing towards the Qibla and the person slaughtering the animal should put their right foot on the animal and quickly slaughter the animal using a sharp knife. Before slaughtering the animal, this Dua should be prayed;
Meat and the Skin
If the animal is bought jointly then the meat should be weighed and equally distributed. It should not be divided roughly because if it is divided un-equally then even if the person receiving less, forgives them it will not be forgiven as the right is as per Shariat [Radd-ul-Mohtar, Bahar].
However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each share necessarily contains meat from all parts.
It is allowed for a person who performs Qurbani (Waajib or Nafl), to either eat the flesh or to give it to whomsoever he pleases, rich or poor, Muslim or non-Muslim. Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption.
