On Hari Raya Haji,why do people give qurbani by slaughtering the goats?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
On Hari
Raya Haji,why do people give qurbani by slaughtering the goats?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Why people give sacrifice on hajj
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
We assume you wish to inquire why do people perform the
sacrifice or slaughter of an animal during the Hajj.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah
Saafaat verses 100-110:
100 (Ibraheem (a.s.) prayed): "O my Lord!
grant me a righteous (son)!"
101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.
102 Then when (the son, Ismail (a.s.)) reached (the age of) (serious)
work with him he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in
sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (Ismail (a.s.)) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills,
one practicing Patience and Constancy!"
103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had
laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice)
104 We called out to him "O Ibraheem!
105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" thus indeed do
We reward those who do right.
106 For this was obviously a trial
107 And We ransomed him with a momentous
sacrifice (of a ram):
108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in
later times:
109 "Peace and salutation to
Ibraheem!"
110 Thus indeed do We reward those who do
right.
The Noble Prophet and Best Friend of the Most Gracious,
Ibraheem (a.s.) so loved and worshipped Allah Subhanah, that he was willing to
sacrifice even his own son at the command of Allah Subhanah. When Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) lay his son
Prophet Ismail (a.s.) on his side just about to slaughter him as per the command
of Allah, the Lord informed Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) that this was only a trial
and a test to see if Ibraheem (a.s.) was true to his word.
Allah Subhanah ransomed the life of Prophet Ismail (a.s.)
and commanded Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) to slaughter and sacrifice a ram instead
of his son. Such was the nature of this
Great and Momentous Sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.), and so loved and
appreciated was this act of Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) and Prophet Ismail (a.s.)
to Allah Subhanah, that The Lord Most Gracious honored these great Prophets,
and made their act an obligatory rite for the Hajj pilgrimage, a remembrance
and a commemoration of their momentous sacrifice amongst the generations to
come until the end of time!
When the believers offer the sacrifice during the Hajj
days, with their act they too imply that just as they are ready to sacrifice
and slaughter an animal at the command of their Lord, if commanded by their
Lord Creator, they too are willing, just like the Noble Prophets Ibraheem and
Ismail, to sacrifice everything they own and love for the Pleasure of Allah
Subhanah.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in
Islam,
Burhan