Love and affection are basic elements for establishment of bond between two living beings. The strength of this bond is determined by the sensitivity the two have for each other. True love makes one feel strong and if put to test, he may go to any extent to prove it. Love between God and a man is measured by the attachment man, the creature, has for the Lord the Creator, in the form of obedience and submission. During these three days of festivities of sacrificing a permitted animal and distribution of its meat among the poor and needy is in remembrance of such a great event.
Prophet Ibrahim was the grandfather in hierarchy to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). He is commonly revered by the followers of all three religions of Semitic origin, others being Judaism and Christianity. He was blessed with a son at the age of about 84 years to his second wife after years of prayers. The boy quite naturally was cynosure of his eyes, most beloved and a source of immense pleasure in his old age. He used to take him always wherever he went. The child too, a symbol of submission to his father, used to keep attached to him all the time.
There is a separate chapter in the Qur’an named “Al-Ibrahim”. It narrates Prophet Ibrahim’s strong Faith, his way of preaching the oneness of Allah the Almighty to his people. We are informed that the Almighty, watchful of His Prophet’s attachment to his beloved son, desired to put him to test. Prophet Ibrahim had a dream for three consecutive nights, that he is slaughtering his only son Ismail. He had no doubt that it was the direction from Allah the Almighty. He sought the opinion of his son. The son readily agreed rather urged his father to comply with the divine command early.
The duo proceeded one day to Mina (near Makkah) to accomplish the task. The father laid the son down on earth and placed the knife on the son’s throat to complete the act. Allah rushed angel Jibrael who replaced the son with a ram from the Paradise. Sacrificing of an animal by the faithful on 10th, 11th and 12th of Zul-Hajjah, the twelfth month of lunar calendar every year is in remembrance of this incident. It is a symbol and pledge by every faithful to keep oneself ready always to sacrifice his desires, belongings and even life in compliance with a divine command any time.
The Festival of sacrifice or Qurbani (in Urdu) is celebrated all over the world by Muslims. The act of sacrificing a permitted animal is enjoined upon the Muslims who can afford it. While doing so, the faithful are directed by scholars to scrupulously observe the local laws in force. It is a major festival, a worship during these three days. A minimum of 2/3rd quantity of meat is ordered to be distributed among the poor, needy and the relatives. It also forms a part of Annual Hajj, which is the fifth and last pillar of Islam.
The entire episode of the sacrifice is narrated in Holy Qur’an in Chapter ‘al-Saaffaat’ thus:
“He (Ibrahim), said: I will go to my Lord. He surely will guide me. O my Lord! Grant me a righteous son. So we gave him the good news of a forbearing son. Then, when the son reached the age of serious work with him; he said: O my son! I have seen in a dream that I offer you in sacrifice. What do you say? The son said: O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast. So when they had both submitted to Allah and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), we called out to him: O Ibrahim! you have already fulfilled the dream. Thus indeed we reward those who do right for this was a clear trial. And we ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice and we left for him among generations to come in later times. Peace and salutations to Ibrahim. Thus indeed we reward those who do right.”
This act of sacrifice in compliance of the divine command is ordered to be remembered and renewed by offering sacrifice from permissible animals once a year. The following ayaat from the Qur’an vouch for its significance:
“To thee We have granted the abundance. Therefore, to your Lord turn in prayer and offer sacrifice.” (108:1-2).
“To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food). But your God is one God: submit then your wills to Him (in Islam) and give the good news to those who humble themselves.” (22:34)
“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him; He has thus made them (the animals) subject to you that you may glorify Allah for His guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do good.” (22:37)
The importance of ‘sacrifice’ has been conveyed by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) through the Ahadith (His sayings), observed during his lifetime, followed by his Companions and later all the followers.
In compliance with the divine injunctions referred to above, the scholars of Islam conclude that offering of animal’s sacrifice during these three days is compulsory for the faithful who can afford it financially. The symbolic act is a gesture by the faithful to express self-preparedness and readiness to sacrifice their wealth, desires and even life at any time on Allah’s command.
Some writers have put it wrongly that this act of animal sacrifice is mere part of tradition and a wasteful expenditure. They call it an occasion for fulfilling one’s desire for eating meat and a brazen display of money-power. The fact is ignorance or lack of proper knowledge has misled such persons. It is a compulsory act (wa’jib), a form of worship unanimously declared by all the learned scholars. It is an avid symbol of obedience and submission to divine command by the Almighty and observed by the Prophet and his Companions. It is more like a rehearsal for the faithful to prepare self for sacrificing his beloved belongings on Almighty’s commands. The event is made purpose-oriented for a large quantity of meat is distributed among the needy, poor, relatives and friends.