QURBAANI (1)
by Al-Jamiat Publications

THE FIRST SACRIFICE

The first sacrifice of an animal in the name of Allah was presented by Haabeel, the son of Adam (alaihis salaam). In Surah Maa'ida, the Qur'an describes the incident of Haabeel and Kaabeel. Both were asked to present a sacrifice. It is narrated that Haabeel's sacrificial offering was a lamb. (Ruhul Ma'ani vol. 6 p. 111).

From the above it is absolutely clear that sacrificing animals in the name of Allah, as an act of worship, is nothing new. Rather it is something that dates back to the time of the first man on earth, Hazrath Adam (alaihis salaam).

THE SUNNAH OF HADHRATH IBRAREEM (A.S.)

The sacrifice of animals annually on the occasion of Eidul Adha is linked to the sacrifice of Ibraheem (alaihis salaam). The following hadith explains this link to Hazrath Ibraheem (alaihis salaam):

Zaid bin Arqam (Radhiallahu anhu) narrates that the companions of Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) enquired; "O Prophet of Allah, what are these sacrifices (of animals)." He replied; "It is the Sunnah of your father Ibraheem (alaihis salaam)." The Sahaaba further enquired, "What benefit is there in it for us O Prophet of Allah." Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) replied; "You will be rewarded for every hair on it's (the sacrificed animals) body ... and for every fibre of wool." (Mishkaat Vol. 1 p. 129).

To understand how this Ibaadah is linked to Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) we will have to refer to the books of History. The incident regarding the "Qurbani" of Hadhrath Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) is a very lengthy one. We will merely discuss the main aspects of the astounding spirit of sacrifice displayed on this occasion.

Allah Ta'ala had granted Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) a son at a very old age. According to some narrations he was eighty six years old at the time. When this beloved son, Ismaeel (alaihis salaam), was a young boy, Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) saw in a dream that he was slaughtering his son. This dream was experienced on three consecutive nights. The dreams of the Ambiyaa being true and a source of revelation, Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) realised that this was a command of Allah Ta'ala. Hence he immediately undertook to fulfil this command. In order to prepare his son to submit to the order of Allah, Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) consulted with his son Ismaeel (alaihis salaam) regarding the said command. Ismail (alaihis salaam) unhesitatingly submitted to the order of Allah Ta'ala and assured his father that he would patiently undergo this sacrifice.

Ibraheem (alaihis salaam), together with his son, proceeded to the place of sacrifice. On three occasions Shaytaan attempted to divert them but these exemplary servants of Allah foisted his treacherous plans. Eventually Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) placed his son down and began to pass the knife over his throat. However, as much as he tried, the knife would not penetrate. Finally, a voice was heard from above saying: "O Ibraheem you have surely fulfilled the dream" (Sura 37 Aayah 108). Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) appeared with a sheep from Jannah and Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) was ordered to sacrifice it in place of his beloved son. (Extracted from Maariful Qur'an Vol. 7 pp. 457-46 1).

In commemoration of this astonishing and mind boggling spirit of sacrifice, Allah Ta'ala ordered the Ummah of Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) to sacrifice an animal on the occasion of Eidul Adha, hence Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) described it as "the Sunnah of your father Ibraheem" (Mishkaat vol. 1 p. 129).

THE COMMAND OF QURBAANI

The command of Qurbani is found both in the Quran and Ahaadith. In Surah Al-Kawthar. Allah Ta'ala says: "And perform Salaah for your Sustainer and sacrifice" (S. 108 V. 2)

Allama ibn Katheer (Rahmatullah Alaih) writes the following in the tafseer (commentary) of this Aayah: "The words of Allah 'and perform Salaah for your Sustainer and Sacrifice ...' (means) and sacrifice in the name of Allah alone who has no partner as Allah Ta'ala says in another verse: 'Say, verily my Salaah and sacrifice and living and dying is for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds. He has no partner ......' Ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu anhu), Ata, Mujahid, Ikrama and Hasan have stated that this refers to sacrificing camels and the like thereof. This is also the opinion of Qatada, Muhammad Bin Ka'ab .... and many of the pious predecessors. This (injunction) is in contradiction to the practice of the idolaters of prostrating to the graves and sacrificing in the name of other than Allah." (Ibn Katheer vol. 4 p. 558).

After having discussed the above aayah at length, Ibn Katheer (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) concludes his discussion in the following words: "The correct view is that "Nahr" (in the Aayah) refers to the slaughtering of Qurbani animals. It is for this reason that Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to (first) perform his Eid Salaah and then slaughter his animals (thus maintaining the sequence of the injunction in the aayah). Rasulullah (Saiallahu alaihi wasallam) would then say; "He who has performed our Salaah (i.e. in the manner that we perform it) and slaughtered the animals like us (i.e. after the Eid Salaah), he has indeed correctly discharged his Qurbani. However, he who has slaughtered his animals before the salaah, there is no Qurbani for him" (Bukhari and Muslim). (Ibn Katheer Vol. 4 p. 558).

From the above discussion it becomes apparent to the discerning reader that the aayah refers to the slaughtering of the Qurbani animals. Hence, it is proved beyond the slightest measure of doubt that the order of Qurbani is proven from the Quran itself.

In another Aayah Allah Ta'ala says: "And for every nation we have appointed rites of sacrifice so that they may take the name of Allah upon that which he has granted them from among the animals" (Surah Haj; V34).

Here we find that Allah Ta'ala had ordained the practice of Qurbani on every nation. If an injunction placed on this Ummah is of such a nature that it had been ordained on every nation, the minimum position that such an injunction would occupy is the position of Waajib. Furthermore, the word Mansak in the above aayah has been clearly defined by Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) in the following hadith: "Verily our first 'Nusuk' on this day is Salaah. Then (our second 'Nusuk' is slaughtering" (Ielaaus Sunnan Vol. 17 p. 221).

From this hadith it is clearly understood that Rasulullah (Salallahu alaihi wasallam) has defined the slaughtering of animals as the Nusuk, hence in the above Aayah too, since Mansak and "animals" have been mentioned together in a general sense of continuity, Mansak would mean the Qurbani that was performed.

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Qurbaani (2)

 

Source:  Jamiatul Ulama (Kwazulu-Natal)