Excellence of sacrificing an animal

The word “Qurbani” means achieving the closeness of Allah Most High.  Everything that supports a bondsman slave in achieving this comes under the category of sacrifice.  If a person spends his hours and seconds, his capabilities, wealth and empire and his life too, for the sake of obtaining approval and pleasure of Allah Most High, even then the duty of worship is not fulfilled.  We get the above lesson from the auspicious lives of the virtuous bondsmen of Allah Most High.  Especially unique lessons of sacrifice appear in the entire life of Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon Him).

Sacrifice of an animal is commanded and liked by Allah Most High.  Without this, a bondsman cannot acquire piety.  Allah Most High says in the Holy Quran:

 You can never attain piety unless you spend (in the cause of Allah) out of that which you like the most; and Allah surely knows well whatever you give away.  Surah Al Imran (3:92). So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice (a token of gratitude).  Surah Al Kauthar (108:2)

The aim and purpose of sacrifice is servitude and obedience to Allah Most High.  The meat, blood, etc. does not reach the Lord Almighty, He sees the piety and sincerity of the bondsman.

It is neither the meat (of slaughtered animals) nor their blood that reaches Allah at all but it is the Godwariness that reaches Him from you. Thus has Allah subjected them to you so that you may proclaim Allah’s greatness (while sacrificing) the way He has guided you. And give glad tidings to those who practice spiritual excellence.  Surah Hajj (22:37)

The excellence of sacrificing an animal

There are many Hadith which describe the excellence of sacrificing an animal and its rules.  On the day of Eid Ul Azha, the deed most loved by Allah Most High is sacrificing the animal.  The blood of the animal is accepted by Allah Most High before it falls on the ground.  Thus, we should perform this act wholeheartedly with a good intention.  There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

The mother of the believers, Hadhrat Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) narrates that Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  On the day of sacrifice, no other deed of a man is more liked by Allah Most High than the shedding the blood in sacrificing the animal and undoubtedly, on the Day of Judgment, the animal will come along with the horns, hairs and hooves.  The blood of the sacrificed animal is accepted in the court of Allah Most High before it falls on the earth.  Thus you should sacrifice an animal wholeheartedly.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1572)

Reward in lieu of every hair of the animal

There is a Hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the reward of sacrificing an animal:

Hadhrat Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates, a companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked Him:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  What is sacrifice?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied:  It is the practice of your father Ibrahim (May peace be upon him).  Then he asked: What is there for us in it O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?  The Holy Prophet replied: There is a reward for every hair.  Again he asked:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)! Then what is the wool for? The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: There is a reward for every little strand of wool.  (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3247)

On the day of Eid Ul Azha, there is no money better than the one which is spent for sacrificing an animal, as mentioned in this Hadith of Shu‘abul Iman:

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah Bin Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: On the day of Eid, the best Dirham is the one spent on the animal being slaughtered.  (Shu‘abul Iman, Hadith No. 7084)

Excellence of sacrificing an expensive animal

The prices of animals are skyrocketing.  The expenses are increasing each year.  What we have to see is whether it is enough to sacrifice a cheap animal or should we sacrifice an expensive animal?   It is necessary that the animal should be plump, healthy and perfect in every way.  If there is a difference of price in animals of this kind, then it is correct to sacrifice a cheap animal as well.  However, there is greater reward on sacrificing an expensive animal.  There is a Hadith in Kanz Ul Ummal about this:

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Verily, the best sacrifice in the sight of Allah Most High is the one which is the most expensive and the most excellent.  (Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 12693)

Sacrificing an animal – A means of seeking Allah’s pleasure

Sacrificing an animal on the day of Eid gains one the approval and pleasure of Allah Most High.  There is a Hadith in Shu‘abul Iman to this effect:

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with Him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  By virtue of slaughtering a sheep (or any other permissible animal) on the day of your Eid, your Lord will be pleased.  (Shu‘abul Iman, Hadith No. 7085)

Warning on not sacrificing an animal

Allah Most High has decreed sacrifice of an animal for those who can afford it and has given glad tidings of reward on doing so, as we have seen.  On the other hand, for the person who does not do so in spite of having the ability, there are severe warnings in Hadith:

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet said:  The one who is able to sacrifice an animal, but does not do so, should never come near our Eidgah (place where Salaat Ul Eid is offered).  (Shu‘abul Iman, Hadith No. 7083)

Glad tidings of reward of sacrificing an animal for those who don’t have the capacity to do so

For those who don’t have the means to sacrifice of an animal, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has benevolently given the glad tidings that if that person has a hair cut, trims the nails, the moustache and removes pubic hair, then that person will be given the reward of a complete sacrifice.  There is a Hadith in Sunan Abu Dawood:

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin ‘Amr (May Allah be well pleased with them) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  I have been ordered to celebrate ‘Eid on the day of sacrifice.  Allah Most High has declared it as Eid for the whole Ummah.  One Companion said:  I don’t have the means to perform sacrifice but I have a borrowed milch goat.  Shall I sacrifice that goat?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  No, but you cut your hair, trim your nails, your moustache and remove your pubic hair.  This itself is a complete sacrifice for you before Allah Most High.  (Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith No. 2791)