A lot of people misunderstand Qurbani, better known as Udhiya in Arabic. People usually think of it as the simple slaughtering of animals. But this is not just it. Qurbani is an important ritual that is specifically practiced and centered around the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).
In literal words, the word Qurbani is derived from the Arabic word Qurban. It has roots in the Arabic word “Qurb”, which means nearness. The major purpose of offering Qurbani is to draw near to Allah. Before Qurbani ki dua, let us first understand its benefits.
Benefits Of Offering Qurbani
1. Provides You With A Choice
It is your choice where you want to offer your Qurbani at. When living in developed nations like the US or UK, you can choose to offer the Qurbani in developing countries like Mali, Nigeria, and India. Even in emergency zones like Yemen, you can offer your Qurbani to help the poor. The major purpose of doing Qurbani is to help the poor.
2. Increases Your Role In Decreasing World Hunger
Meat has become a big luxury to afford these days. In these increasing hunger crises, people cannot even afford simple bread. Thus, if you do Qurbani and give it in the name of Allah, you can contribute to decreasing hunger crises.
3. You Get Fresh Meat Instead of Frozen Or Tinned.
Qurbani meat is completely fresh. This is extremely important for the people who cannot afford meat in daily life. When compared to frozen or tinned meat, Fresh meat is healthier, and more filling and you can prepare your local favorite dish, be it Biryani in the Subcontinent, or mutton mandi in Arabia.
4. Is Done After Eid Prayers
All the sacrifices that are made, no matter where you are in the world, are done after the Eid Al Adha prayers. This way you can fulfill the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as well. As verified in the hadith:
‘Whoever offers a sacrifice after the prayer has completed his rituals (of Eid) and has followed the way of the Muslims.’ (Bukhari).
This way, poor and immigrant Muslim families can also enjoy their eid with their loved ones via a home-cooked and protein-packed meal.
5. Provides Support To The Local Farmers As Well
By sourcing everything locally we can easily help more and more people, not just beneficiaries. We can also help local farmers as well. All the animals that you buy, you can buy from local farmers. Until the day of Eid, you can employ local herders or caretakers for their care. This aids as you can create several jobs in the weeks leading to Eid Al-Adha.
Qurbani Ki Dua
When you do Qurbani, there are two Duas that you need to focus on. One before sacrificing the Animal and one after sacrificing the animal.
Dua For Qurbani Before Sacrificing The Animal
Inni waz jahtu wajahi ya lillazi fa ta rassamawati wal arz hanifauv wa ma ana minal mushriqi na in na salaati wa nusuki wa mahya ya wa mamaati lillahi rabbil aalmin. La shariq lahu wa bizali ka uriratu wa ana minal muslimin. Allahumma ma la ka wa min ka bismillahi Allahu Akbar.
Meaning of Qurbani ki Dua before sacrificing
“For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him Who created the heavens and the Earth. And never shall I give partners to Allah. Verily my Worship and my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah. Lord of the Worlds, O Allah, this sacrifice is from you and is for you.”
Dua For Qurbani After Sacrificing The Animal
Allahumma ta Kabbal minni kama ta kabbal ta min khalili ka Ibrahim Alayhi Wa Salatu salam wa Habeebi ka Muhammadin Saallalahu Ta’ala Alayhi Wasallam.
Meaning of Qurbani ki Dua after sacrificing
“O Allah accept from me this sacrifice as you have accepted from your beloved Muhammad and your Friend Hazrat Ibrahim. Peace be Upon Him”.
Below are two stories that Illustrate how you can draw closer to Allah through Qurbani:
Also Read: La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illa Billah: Meaning and Benefits
1. The Story Of Adam (AS) And His Sons.
Adams’s sons Habil and Qabil have differences from each other. To resolve the difference, The Prophet Adam asked them both to offer a sacrifice. Whoever’s sacrifice was accepted would become the winner.
As Habil himself was a shepherd, he offered his best and most beautiful ram to be sacrificed. Qabil tilled the land, so he offered some produce grown from the land. But the land that Qabil offered as a sacrifice was not the best of his land.
Therefore, his sacrifice was not accepted while Allah accepted Hablis’ sacrifice. Due to their jealousy toward his brother, Qabil murdered him.
Therefore, to draw closer to Allah through Qurbani is not only to offer just anything, you need to be sincere in what you are offering and you should have taqwa.
To Allah, the sacrifice of the Animal is not important, what truly is important is the intention behind it.
The Quran says:
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.”
(Qur’an, 22:37)
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2. The Story Of Ibrahim (AS)
The story of Ibrahim explains why we offer Qurbani to Allah (AzzaWa Jal). When Ibrahim (AS) ‘s son Ismail (AS) was old enough to walk and participate along with his father, Allah revealed to him that he must sacrifice his Son. Ibrahim (AS) nor did his son Ismail (AS) question this command from Allah.
Ismail said as mentioned in the Quran:
‘O my father! Do as you are commanded. If Allah wills, you shall find me of the patient.’”
(Qur’an, 37:102)
Although both the father and son were completely prepared for this daunting task, the Shaytaan still wanted to dissuade them.
The Shaytaan appeared to Ibrahim and tried to stop him by saying that he was committing a great crime. Thus, Ibrahim stoned him.
For us it seems an impossible task to sacrifice our own child. But Ibrahim (AS) was ready to do it from the beginning. But as he was about to sacrifice his son, the moment he put the knife on his son’s neck, he immediately heard a voice calling him to stop.
“And when they had both submitted and he (Ibrahim) had laid him on his forehead, We called to him, ‘O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision’. Indeed, in this way, We reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was certainly a clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, and We left for him (favorable mention) among later generations: ‘Peace upon Ibrahim.’”
(Qur’an, 37:103-109)
Thus, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) sacrificed a white rammed goat. Our Qurbani every year represents the devotion of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), who was even ready to sacrifice his own child for the sake of Allah.
