EID-AL-ADHA AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Eid-al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice) is the three-day festival that marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and Qurbani is offered for the pleasure of Allah and to commemorate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (alaihis salaam), who was willing to perform Qurbani of his own son Ismail (alaihis salaam) to show submission to Allah’s command. Just when Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah spared Ismail by putting a sheep in his place.
Muslims use Eid-al-Adha to celebrate Ibrahim’s complete obedience to the will of God and is a reminder of their own willingness to sacrifice anything to follow God.
The celebration of Eid-al-Adha is one of the holiest celebrations in the Islamic religion. Eid-al-Adha is a public holiday in Muslim countries and a time for Muslims to thank Allah for the blessings they have received, and to celebrate with their families, friends and relatives. It is also a time to remember the less fortunate and well-off through the act of Qurbani, donations and gifts, so they can also celebrate the occasion.
Meaning ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, Eid-al-Adha lasts four days and the dates of the holy celebration are determined each year by the Islamic lunar calendar. This celebration is considered even more sacred than Eid-al-Fitr which is the breaking of the fast at the end of Ramadan. This holy festival also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Eid-al-Adha will be celebrated worldwide among Muslim communities. Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha are the only celebrations in the Islamic religion that command such widespread worship and celebration.
WHAT IS QURBANI AND HOW IT IS PERFORMED?
The word sacrifice is known as “Qurbani” which is a religious obligation that every Muslim partakes in every year after Eid-al-Adha. It is a time when the entire Muslim Ummah comes together to aid their fellow brothers and sisters and a perfect opportunity to reach out to those who need help.
The qurbani meat is divided into three parts; one for the family; one for the neighbor; and one for the poor. Muslims actively donate the portion to the poor to different charities, relief organizations and other institutions around the world. This act of donation either by giving away meat or through pledges is not only an act worth countless blessings from Allah (SWT), it is also a great deed for humanity that shows how much Muslims value the importance of life.
“Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: ‘There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha’. (Bukhari)”
DONATION APPEAL FOR TRANSPARENT HANDS
Transparent Hands is a largest crowdfunding platform in healthcare sector of Pakistan. It conducts the surgeries of poor people of Pakistan free of cost with the help of donations received from donors across the world. This year, Transparent Hands is saving lives of hundreds of patients who are suffering from various diseases. They are in dire need of your donations and support. Like us, they too want to take part in Eid celebrations but due to their health condition, they are unable to do so. These are the people that we Muslims should reach out to.
This Eid, you can contribute to improving the health of the needy patients by donating for their surgeries and allowing them the opportunity to join in the festive celebrations.
FAQs
What is Qurbani?
Qurbani, or Udhiyah as it is known in Arabic, is the word that describes the sacrifice of an animal during the period of Eid-al-Adha for the pleasure of Allah (swt). The qurbani takes place on Eid-al-Adha, which marks the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage We celebrate by honoring the tradition of the Prophet Ibrahim (Alaihis salaam), by sacrificing an animal and distributing the meat to those in need.
Who Should Perform Qurbani?
Qurbani should be performed by adults of sane mind who are financially sound, able to afford it and have the means to do so. The Hanafi ulema say it is obligatory to perform qurbani whilst the other schools of jurisprudence say it is Sunnah. Qurbani is given purely for the pleasure of Allah and there is great blessing in doing so.
What animals are sacrificed at Qurbani?
The animals to be slaughtered at qurbani usually are goats, sheep, cattle (cows or bulls), buffalo or camels. Under the rules of qurbani, the animals can be male or female, but should be in good health, free from any handicap, illness, disease and above a certain age. Goats and sheep must be at least one year old, while cattle must be two years, and camels five years.
How many Qurbani animals do I have to sacrifice?
All qurbani animals have shares. One qurbani or sacrifice is required by each person and different animals have varying shares. Small livestock such as sheep and goats have one share each, so one sheep would equal one qurbani. Larger animals such as camels and cattle each have seven shares. These large animals can be divided into seven parts, so for a single person, qurbani is fulfilled with one share of the large animal eg. one seventh of a camel or cow.
1 small animal (Sheep or Goat) = 1 Qurbani
1 large animal (Cattle) = 7 Qurbanis
You can make as many qurbanis as you want – for example two or three shares in a cow – and on behalf of as many individuals as you like, including those who have passed away.
Can I give Qurbani on behalf of someone else?
Yes, qurbani can be given on behalf of friends, family, loved ones and those who have passed away.
When should Qurbani be performed?
Qurbani can be performed from the 10th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah until the sun sets on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. The best time is to perform the act of qurbani is immediately after the completion of the Eid-al-Adha prayers.
How is the meat from Qurbani distributed?
According to Islamic teaching the meat from qurbani should be divided into three equal parts, one part for the family, one part for relatives / friends and one part for the poor and needy. The meat from qurbani can be distributed to the poor or rich, Muslim or non-Muslim.
