The Spirit of Qurbaani

Thousands of animals will once again be slaughtered worldwide on the occasion of 'Eidul Adha to commemorate the astounding spirit of sacrifice of Sayyiduna Ebrahim ('alaihis salaam).Indeed, the entire life of Sayyiduna Ebrahim ('alaihis salaam) is filled with incidents of self-sacrifice. He embodied sacrifice by totally surrendering himself to the command of Allah Ta'ala to fulfil whatever was demanded of him on every occasion.

He sacrificed the company of his father and his community to pursue the road to the recognition of his Creator. His wife and infant child were left in a barren land with no apparent means of survival and he eventually placed the sharpened knife on the throat of his beloved son in an attempt to slaughter him to fulfil the command of Allah Ta'ala, his Sustainer and Nourisher. These incidents speak volumes of the extent to which Sayyiduna Ebrahim ('alaihis salaam) had surrendered himself to the divine law.

Hence to kindle within ourselves this spirit of self-sacrifice, we have been ordered to follow this "sunnah" of Ebrahim ('alaihis salaam) by sacrificing an animal on the occasion of 'Eidul Adha. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu 'anhum) once inquired as to what was the significance of sacrificing an animal. "It is the sunnah of your father Ebrahim ('alaihis salaam)" answered Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam). (Sunan Ibni Maajah #3127)

Great rewards have also been promised to that person who performs qurbaani. It is reported in a hadeeth that the one who performs qurbaani will be rewarded for every hair on the body of the animal or for every fibre of wool in the case of sheep. (Sunan Ibni Maajah #3127)