Sacrificing a specific animal within a specific time with the intention of attaining the proximity of Allāh Almighty is known as Qurbānī. Qurbānī is the blessed practice of Sayyiduna Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام, which has also been made to continue for this Ummah. In the Noble Qur’ān, Allāh Almighty has commanded His Beloved Messenger صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم to offer Qurbānī. Acting upon this Islamic ruling and offering Qurbānī wholeheartedly not only has many benefits in the Hereafter, but has many worldly benefits too.
Opportunities for earning
Many people raise animals in their homes, barns and cattle farms with the intention of selling their animals in livestock markets. Many people are employed in order to look after the animals, and their livelihood is maintained through the blessings of the Sunnah of Qurbānī. Many vehicles and containers are hired for the purpose of transporting these animals to the livestock markets, by virtue of which, thousands of people earn a living. The vehicles which transport the animals pay toll taxes at various places, and when they arrive at the livestock market, they also pay a fee in accordance to the amount of space they occupy, which proves to be beneficial to the country’s economy. The homes of hundreds of thousands of people are maintained by virtue of the livestock markets throughout the country. Many earn a living through the various food stalls and restaurants, and through selling tea, drinks, fodder, saddles, etc. due to the blessings of the Sunnah of Qurbānī. The owners of the vehicles which are used to transport the purchased animals back to the homes also earn a living from this. The operations of the petrol stations at which these vehicles are refuelled are also associated with this. During the days of Qurbānī, many stalls of fodder are set up at many places in cities, whereby thousands of people earn a livelihood. At many places, guards are also hired in order to protect the animals. If the animals fall ill, then veterinary doctors are called in. When the days of Qurbānī arrive, thousands of butchers are tasked with slaughtering the animals and cutting up their meat, etc. Special preparations are undertaken at restaurants, etc. to prepare various dishes from the Qurbānī meat. Different things are made from the skins of animals and they are also exported to other countries, which strengthens the country’s economy. In short, from the very birth of the animal all the way up until the time of Qurbānī, opportunities of livelihood are created for countless people and the country’s economy also benefits greatly due to the blessings of the Sunnah of Qurbānī.
Benefitting the poor
After offering Qurbānī, many fortunate individuals distribute the meat amongst their relatives, friends and the poor and needy, due to which, meat is also cooked in their homes.
Benefitting religious seminaries (Madaris)
Fortunate Muslims gift the skins of their Qurbānī to Dawat-e-Islami and other religious seminaries (Madaris) and universities (Jami`aat) of the devotees of the Prophet, and selling these skins enables them to gather funds to meet several months of expenditure. Thus, fulfilling the Sunnah of Qurbānī also proves beneficial for the propagation of religious knowledge.
O devotees of the Prophet! You have read a few worldly benefits of fulfilling the Sunnah of Qurbānī. Even if we are unaware of these worldly benefits, we should still fulfil the command of Allāh Almighty and His Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم by offering Qurbānī.
Three statements of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم regarding the importance of Qurbānī:
*Whoever has the means of performing Qurbānī and still does not perform it, he should not come near our place of Eid Salah. (Ibn Mājah, vol. 3, p. 529, Hadīth 3123)
*The Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم was requested in his blessed court, ‘O Messenger of Allāh صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ! What are these sacrifices?’ He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘The Sunnah of your father, Ibrāhīm.’ The people humbly asked, ‘O Messenger of Allāh صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ! What reward is there for us in it?’ He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘There is a good deed for every hair.’ They humbly asked, ‘What is the ruling of wool?’ He صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘For every hair of wool, there is one good deed.’ (Ibn Mājah, vol. 3, p. 531, Hadīth 3127)
*Whosoever performed Qurbānī wholeheartedly and with the hope of reward, the Qurbānī will become a barrier between him and the fire of Hell. (Mu’jam Kabīr, vol. 3, p. 84, Hadīth 2736)
I plead with all the devotees of the Prophet to sacrifice an animal wholeheartedly in the way of Allah Almighty and attain the blessings and benefits of this world and the Hereafter. May Allāh Almighty accept our sacrifices in His Majestic Court. اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
In order to learn the essential rulings regarding Qurbānī and for further information, refer to the booklet of Shaykh-e-Tareeqat Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ ‘Piebald Horse-rider’.
Comments