Qurbani - Excellence and rules

Not only the animal, but every base desire has to be slaughtered

Qurbani (sacrifice) is a means of gaining the closeness ( Qurb ) and pleasure ( Raza ) of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala). In Surah Kauthar, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) says in Surah Kauthar, verse number 2

One opinion about this verse is that it means the Salaat of Eid Ul Azha.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given glad tidings of great reward for those who perform Qurbani and has expressed His anger at those who can but do not perform Qurbani. There is a Hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah, that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The person who is affluent and well-to-do and still does not perform Qurbani should not come near our Eid Gah

Qurbani not for showing off

Qurbani should never be performed for showing off, but should be done only for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) in accordance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) says:

Neither the meat of the Qurbani reaches Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) nor the blood, but Your Taqwa (piety)……..Surah Haj-37

The slaughtering of the animal by the Momin signifies that for the sake of the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Momin has slaughtered not only the animal, but has knifed every base desire of the self ( Nafs ).

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said: The person who has an animal for slaughtering, on seeing the moon of Dhul Hijjah, should neither remove/cut hair nor cut nails until he performs the Qurbani (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, Pg No. 160)

This Hadith shows that avoiding removing/cutting hair and nails is Mustahab for those on whose behalf Qurbani is being performed.

From the Fajr of the 9th Dhul Hijjah to the 'Asr of 13th, the Muslim men and women should observe "Takbir Tashriq" also.

Fast in the starting days of Dhul Hijjah; at least on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah as this fast has much excellence.

Those people on whom Qurbani is Wajib should compulsorily perform Qurbani.

Those who cannot perform Qurbani, if they cut their hair and nails on the day of Qurbani, then as per the Hadith of Sunan Abu Dawood, Vol. 2, Pg No. 386, they will also get the reward of the full Qurbani.

Meaning of Qurbani

Qurbani means to acquire closeness. Everything through which a Momin gains closeness of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) is included in this meaning.

If a human being sacrifices his/her time, abilities, wealth and even dear life for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), even then the debt of slavery to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) can never be fulfilled. We get this very lesson from the lives of pious servants of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), especially each and every aspect of the life of Hadhrat Ibrahim (Peace be upon him) is full of this lesson.

Rules of Qurbani

Qurbani is Wajib (compulsory) on sane, adult Muslim whose wealth reaches the limit of Nisab (Sahab-e-Nisaab) and who is not under any debt. For Qurbani to be Wajib it is not necessary that wealth should not be of increasing nature nor that a year should have passed on that wealth. However, this is necessary for Zakaat.

Sahab-e-Nisaab means that the person should have, apart from the basic necessities of life, 60 gm 755 mg of gold or 425 gm 285 mg of silver or its equivalent amount or other things whose worth reaches that limit. House, means of conveyance, clothes and other necessary things of the house are included in "Hajat Asliya" (necessities of life).

Online Qurbani

Nowadays, even through the internet, Qurbani can be arranged. If we give the order of Qurbani through any such website, will our Qurbani be considered done? Online Qurbani is actually a case of performing Qurbani through a representative. It is permissible when you are completely sure that the management of the website will sacrifice only those animal/s which are acceptable in light of the Shariah. This is also necessary that Qurbani should be performed on the days of 10, 11, 12 Dhul Hijjah of that place. If there these days have passed or there is a danger that the animals used are not acceptable, then online Qurbani is not valid.

Final words

For Qurbani, a handicapped animal should not be used. Qurbani is an act of worship and a means of gaining closeness to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and as such it should be performed gladly and with a good intention. For Qurbani, a healthy, plump animal should be selected. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Select healthy animals for Qurbani as they are your mounts on the Qiyamah.

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) performed the Qurbani of 2 healthy, horned and castrated goats and prayed: Lord! One among these is on behalf of all My Ummah (Ummati) till the Qiyamah and another is no behalf of Me, My relatives and My Ahle Bait.