Aaisha (Allah be pleased with her) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“The son of Adam does not perform any action on the day of Nahr (Eid al-Adha) which is more beloved to Allah than causing the blood (of the Qurbani animals) to flow.” (Mishkaat)
Allah says:
“Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).” (al-Kawthar: 108:2)
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (al-An‘aam 6:162)
There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of Qurbani than the sacrificing of animals. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Qiyamah with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed on a person’s scale of good deeds). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. (Tirmidhi)
This is a fiqh issue. Scholars from the Hanafi school of thought consider it to be an obligation upon every adult who can afford it. However, according to Shafi’i or other schools of thought, Qurbani is considered as Sunnah Mu’aqadah. Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) never missed Qurbani. Therefore, every Muslim adult who can afford to perform Qurbani should take part and fulfil this great Sunnah of the three prophets.
Some people might say, why can’t I just give cash to charity rather than slaughtering an animal for Qurbani. The best answer to this doubt would be…
In every religion, there is prayer and sacrifice and no other acts of worship could take their place. Hence if you give charity equivalent to many times the price of the sacrifice, it can never take the place of performing udhiyah (Qurbani). This is a great sunnah. Prophet Ibrahim, Ismail & Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon them) performed Qurbani, companions performed Qurbani, and century after century Muslim generations performed Qurbani. Therefore, it is a duty upon us to keep this Sunnah alive and encourage everyone around us to fulfil this Sunnah as well.
Give your Qurbani with Dabbagh Welfare Trust and help provide food for poor & needy Muslim families across the world.
