The Meaning of Qurbani
Islam came as a guideline for all Muslims in the world. A divine approach that tells Muslims how to lead their lives in the best way there is – The way to grant the pleasure of Allah Almighty and His Paradise “Jannah.”.
The meaning of Qurbani comes from the word “Qurb,” which means “Closeness to a loved one.”. The word Qurbani reflects the love and devotion that the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) had shown Allah Almighty when Allah SWT asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his only child.
Through the story of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), Allah Almighty wanted to teach us Muslims two lessons;
- Qurbani’s ethical lesson is to feed the hungry.
- Qurbani’s spiritual lesson is to become closer to Allah Almighty.
Allah (SWT) wants to teach us Muslims how to help one another in this Ummah, to learn that no Muslim is left behind and that we need to feed the hungry and help the needy. To do all good deeds there is, just for the sake of Allah Almighty, an act of pure devotion and love towards Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.
“Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you so that you may proclaim the greatness of Allah for what He has guided you to, and give good news to the good-doers.”. — Surah Al-Hajj – Verse 37.
The Story of Qurbani
Ibrahim has turned very old, with no children of his own. He prayed for Allah Almighty to grant him a child. And at a very old age, Allah (SWT) has answered his prayers and blessed him with a son from Hajera, his second wife.
Ibrahim (PBUH) was over joyed with his son and he named him “Isma’il” as a thanks giving to Allah Almighty for answering his prayers _ Isma’il means “Allah listened and answered my prayer”.
Ibrahim loved his son Isma’il greatly, he was the joy of his life and the blessing of his days.
As Isma’il grows and become able to walk and reason, Allah SWT wanted to test how deep and great Ibrahim’s love was for Him Subhanah, and there came the massive test from Allah SWT through a vision!
Ibrahim saw a vision of him sacrificing his only beloved son, Isma’il! At the beginning, he – Ibrahim – couldn’t tell if it was a vision from Allah or just a dream? He was deeply confused whether it was a reality or just a dream.
Then Ibrahim knew in his heart, there was no confusion, it is a clear true vision of Allah telling him to sacrifice his beloved sone, Isma’il.
Santan tries to create doubts in Ibrahim’s mind, not once or twice, but three time! And in everytime Ibrahim was overcoming Satan’s evil whisperings. Finally, Ibrahim went to tell his son Isma’il about the vision, asking him about his opinion. Isma’il gently replied;
“Then when the boy reached the age to work with him, Abraham said, “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I ˹must˺ sacrifice you. So tell me what you think.” He replied, “O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.” – Surah As-Saffat – verse 102.
When Allah Almighty found Ibrahim and his son Isma’il both surrendered with absolute obedience and devotion to Him Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, Allah called Ibrahim;
“Then when they submitted ˹to Allah’s Will˺, and Abraham laid him on the side of his forehead ˹for sacrifice˺, We called out to him, “O Abraham! You have already fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, this is how We reward the good-doers. That was truly a revealing test. And We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice, and blessed Abraham ˹with honourable mention˺ among later generations: “Peace be upon Abraham.” This is how We reward the good-doers. He was truly one of Our faithful servants.” — Surah As-Saffat – verses 104-111.
Obligatory of Qurbani
According to Hanafi Madhab; giving Qurbani is obligatory one every Muslim male or female who has wealth in excess of his/her needs. Qurbani is obligatory only on Muslims;
- Who are sane and adult (reach puberty) .
- Who own wealth beyond their needs (equal to or more than) the current level of Nisab (87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver).
Performance of Qurbani
When Muslims give Qurbani or sacrifice an animal, they must say (Bismillah, Allah Akbar). And they must be gentle with the animal, not torture it or scare it. They must calm the animal down and slowly put it to the ground with the word of Basmalah, and they must sharpen the knife extremely, so it doesn’t cause the animal any pain.
Time of Perform Qurbani
The best time to perform Qurbani is on the first day of Eid, right after Eid al-Adha’s prayer, which falls on the days of (10-11-12) of Dhul Hijjah. Be aware that sacrifices made before the Eid prayer are not considered Qurbani. Therefore, please don’t rush the sacrifice process and wait for its due time
Performing and Distributing the Qurbani
As we mentioned before, whoever will be responsible for slaughtering the animal must follow these strict rules:
- No animal should see another animal being sacrificed.
- No animal should see the slaughter knife sharpened in front of them.
- No animal should be slaughtered with a blunt knife.
- No animal should be skinned until they’re completely cold.
- The phrase “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” should be said at the time of slaughter.
Qurbani (the sacrificed animal) is split into three shares; one for the donor, one for the donor’s friends, and one for the poor and needy.
Eligible People for Qurbani
People who are eligible for Qurbani are:
- The person who has made the Qurbani donation.
- The donor’s friends and family.
- The final portion is given to the less fortunate of those who are needy and poor.
Donate Your Qurbani With SEMA
There are millions of oppressed Muslims residing in refugee camps in poor areas, impatiently awaiting the advent of the blessed Eid Al-Adha, for donations and sacrifices to arrive, as most of them have not tasted meat all year long.
Allah (SWT): [That is so. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart.] [22:32]. So, Our responsibility in the “SEMA” Organization is to deliver sacrifices to those truly deserving.
Don’t hesitate to donate to make hungry children happy; always remember; your Qurbani could be a lifeline for someone in need!
FAQ
Can the Meat of Qurbani be Given to non-Muslims?
Yes. You can.
What are The Rules that Must be Followed when Performing Qurbani?
No animal should see another animal being sacrificed.
No animal should see the slaughter knife sharpened in front of them.
No animal should be slaughtered with a blunt knife.
No animal should be skinned until they’re completely cold.
The phrase “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” should be said at the time of slaughter.
Who is Eligible for Qurbani?
The person who has made the Qurbani donation.
The donor’s friends and family.
The less fortunate of those who are needy and poor.
Can husband and wife do Qurbani together?
Yes. husband and wife can do Qurbani together.
Can I Give Qurbani for my Daughter?
Yes. You can Give Qurbani for your Daughter.
