Allah (SWT) said:” But recite unto them with truth the tale of two sons of Adam, how they offered each a sacrifice, and it was accepted from one of them and it was not accepted from the other. (The one) said: I will surely kill you. (The other) answered: Allah accepts only from those who ward off (evil).” (Al-Maidah:27).
The above verse tells us that the first historical idea of Qurban (sacrifice) started from the days of the children of Adam: Qabil and Habil. The latter offered an animal sacrifice to Allah. He provided the best of what he had, and Allah accepted it from him. Qabil offered the worst, and Allah did not accept his sacrifice.
The second historical incident of sacrifice is the story of Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ismail. Ibrahim saw a vision three times to sacrifice Ismail, his only son. He tried to execute the vision with the approval of his son near Makkah. At the time of execution, Allah substituted his sacrifice with a lamb and saved his son.
Allah (SWT) said:” And when his son was old enough to walk with him, Ibrahim (AS) said,’ O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you. So, look, what do you think? He said, O my father! Do that which you are commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me among the steadfast. Then, when both had surrendered to Allah, he had flung him down upon his face. We called unto him: O Ibrahim! Thus, We reward the good. Lo! He is one of Our believing servants.”
(Al-Saffat: 101- 107).
Muslims all over the world are asked to sacrifice animals in the name of Allah and for His love. Muslims, during the pilgrimage feast, and if they can afford it, are to sacrifice an animal. They are to distribute their meat among themselves, their relatives, their friends, and those who are needy.
There is consensus among scholars that a sacrifice must be of one of the animals, and that the best of these are camel, then cow, then sheep, and so on, for a camel is more beneficial for the poor because of its great size, and similarly a cow is more useful than a sheep.
One may sacrifice any animal one chooses. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) offered a hundred camels. The minimum number of animals a person is obligated to sacrifice is one sheep or one-seventh portion of a camel or a cow. Jabir said:” We performed hajj with the Prophet and we slaughtered a camel for seven persons, and a cow for seven persons.” (Ahmad and Muslim)
Sacrifice is not limited only to slaughtering an animal. But, there are many types and varieties of sacrifices, some of which are the following: time, effort, money, wealth, property, knowledge, and life.
While sacrificing, a person should do it with the expectation that Allah will reward him in this world and the hereafter.
When discussing sacrifice, it is worth noting that we need time, and we share it with others. We need our money, and we give away part of it to those who are more in need than us. We need our wealth and property, and we share them with those who are less fortunate. We love ourselves, but we should be ready to sacrifice our lives for the love of Allah, and we love our family, and we should be ready to sacrifice our loved ones for Allah by defending the religion, land, property, and family.
Ahmad H. Sakr
