While the Quran is the final word of Allah (SWT) for believers, following the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) is integral to the Islamic way of life. Following the Sunnah, believers follow a template for success in both this life and the hereafter. It is also a way of expressing love and appreciation for the Prophet (ﷺ) and of commemorating his efforts in spreading the word of Allah (SWT). The Prophet (ﷺ) was very generous, and believers are also expected to follow his Sunnah of generously spending in the way of Allah (SWT). In this article, we will discuss the tradition of giving Prophetic Qurbani and its significance in Islam.

Significance of Following the Sunnah

The following Hadith clearly tells us that the faith of a believing Muslim depends on their love and reverence for the Prophet (ﷺ). According to the Hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children and all mankind.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 15)

Therefore, following the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) is necessary for all believers. The Quran also instructs believers to follow the Prophet (ﷺ), if they love Allah (SWT):

“Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Surat ‘Āli `Imrān, 3:31)

What is Qurbani?

The term Qurbani comes from ‘Qurb’, which means closeness. It refers to the practice of sacrificing animals on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to commemorate the commitment and faith of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), who was willing to give the sacrifice of his dearest son, Hazrat Ismael (AS). Sacrificing animals on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (10 Zul Hijjah) is obligatory on Muslims who can afford it, according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Conducting Qurbani is a sunnah, and all Muslim scholars encourage this great tradition.

What is Prophetic Qurbani?

Prophetic Qurbani is the extra voluntary Qurbani that can be performed on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) sacrificed two rams: one as an obligation for himself and his family, and the other on behalf of the Ummah.

We learn about the details of the Prophetic tradition from the following hadith:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer as sacrifices, two horned rams, black and white in color, and used to put his foot on their sides and slaughter them with his own hands.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5564)

The Prophet (ﷺ) slaughtered the animals himself according to the following Hadith:

“The Prophet (ﷺ) slaughtered two rams, black and white in color (as sacrifices), and I saw him putting his foot on their sides and mentioning Allah’s Name and Takbir (Allahu Akbar). Then he slaughtered them with his own hands.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5558)

We further learn about the prophetic tradition in the following Hadith:

“Hazrat ‘A’isha reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) commanded that a ram with black legs, black belly and black (circles) round the eyes should be brought to him, so that he should sacrifice it. He said to ‘A’isha: Give me the large knife, and then said: Sharpen it on a stone. She did that. He then took it (the knife) and then the ram; he placed it on the ground and then sacrificed it, saying: Bismillah, Allah-humma Taqabbal min Muhammadin wa Al-i-Muhammadin, wa min Ummati Muhammadin (In the name of Allah,” O Allah, accept [this sacrifice] on behalf of Muhammad and the family of Muhammad and the Umma of Muhammad” ).” (Sahih Muslim, 1967)

Moreover, sacrificing more than the obligatory share of Qurbani is a practice followed by Hazrat Ali (R.A), one of his closest companions. According to a Hadith:

“Narrated Hanash: That ‘Ali used to slaughter two male sheep, one for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the other for himself. When this was mentioned to him, he said: “He ordered me to” – meaning the Prophet (ﷺ) – “So I will never leave it.””(Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 1495)

Why Give Prophetic Qurbani?

There are many benefits of giving Prophetic Qurbani. We genuinely express our love for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Ummah by following this tradition. This is the spirit of sacrifice that Eid al-Adha teaches us. The following Hadith clearly defines the spirit of harmony and love:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6011)

By giving extra Qurbani, you also go the extra mile, sending your Qurbani meat packages to those in need. Many people who suffer from malnutrition only get an opportunity to eat meat once a year. By performing an additional Qurbani, we can reach more deserving people.

Why Donate Qurbani to Transparent Hands?

Transparent Hands is a Shariah-compliant organization. We are an online crowdfunding platform that has provided medical assistance to thousands of Pakistani patients. We have a very effective maternal and child program that has saved many lives. We also support a range of medical surgeries. We also arranged regular medical camps and preventive healthcare sessions in low-income areas all across Pakistan to benefit the most deserving patients.

We have been conducting Qurbani for the last two years, reaching out to the most overlooked and deserving segments of society, including families living in slums, elderly residents of nursing homes, transgender community, madrassa students, orphans, widows, and people with disabilities. Many of these people lack access to proper food. Eid al-Adha brings a rare opportunity for them to eat meat. Make your Qurbani donations so we can reach many more deserving families and individuals than we did last year. Donate your Qurbani now!

Reviewed by

Mufti M Zubair Nadeem

Shariah Consultant