Qurban - The Sacrifice of Abraham

The Sacrifice of Abraham

In Islam, the sacrifice of an animal is legal from the morning of the 10th to sunset of the 12th Dhu l-Hijjah, the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar. On these days Muslims all over the world offer Qurbani which means a sacrifice/ slaughter of an animal on specific days for the pleasure of Allah. It is understood as a symbolic repetition of Abraham's sacrifice of a ram in place of his son, a crucial notion in Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike. Islamic preachers would use the occasion to comment on the fact that Islam is a religion of sacrifice and use this opportunity to remind Muslims of their duty of serving mankind with their time, effort and wealth.

Most schools of fiqh accept that the animal must be killed according to the prohibitions of halal sacrifice and that the animal in question must be a domesticated goat, sheep, cow or camel.

Allah says in the Qur'aan: 'It is not their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches him.' 22:37

Muhammad said: The son of Adam does not do any action of the day of sacrifice which is more pleasing to Allah than the sacrifice of animals; the animal will come on the Day of Resurrection with its' hair, horns and hooves (for reward). The blood certainly reaches Allah before it falls to the ground. So make yourselves purified therewith.(Tirmizi and Sunan ibn Majah)

Qurbani (sacrifice) is thus the only deed which is assured of acceptance before it is completed.