Qurbani, also known as Udhiya or Eid al-Adha sacrifice, is a religious practice in Islam where an animal (usually a goat, sheep, cow, or camel) is sacrificed as an act of worship during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This sacrifice is performed to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as a sign of submission to Allah's command.

The act of Qurbani is performed on the 10th, 11th, and 12th day of Dhul-Hijjah after the Eid al-Adha prayer. It is a mandatory ritual for Muslims who can afford it and have reached the age of puberty. The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts: one-third is kept for the person performing the sacrifice, one-third is distributed among relatives, friends, and neighbours, and the remaining one-third is given to the poor and needy.

In this book, we will explore the concept and significance of Qurbani in Islam, its historical background, the rules and regulations regarding Qurbani, the importance of intentions in Qurbani, the procedure for performing Qurbani, the distribution of meat, the benefits of Qurbani, and the misconceptions associated with this ritual.

• Importance of Qurbani in Islam

The act of Qurbani involves sacrificing a designated animal on a specific day with the intention of drawing closer to Allah. This animal is also referred to as Udhiy'ya or Qurbani. Qurbani is a practice established by the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and has been enjoined upon the Ummah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was also commanded to perform Qurbani.

In the Quran, Allah commands believers to establish Salah and perform Qurbani.

فصل لربك وانحر

So establish Salah for your Rabb and perform Qurbani.

This verse from the Quran is instructing Muslims to establish regular prayer (Salah) as an act of worship to Allah and also to perform Qurbani, which means sacrificing an animal on a specific day with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure. The verse emphasizes the importance of both Salah and Qurbani as acts of worship that Muslims are obligated to perform. Salah is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, while Qurbani is a recommended Sunnah of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) that has been established for the Muslim ummah to follow. By combining the performance of both Salah and Qurbani, Muslims can fulfil their duty to worship Allah and seek His pleasure.

Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, 'There is no
the action of the children of Adam on the 'Day of Nahr' (10th of Zil-Hijjah)
which is dearer to Allah, than the spilling of blood (i.e.
sacrificing an animal for the pleasure of Allah), On the day of
Qiyaamat that animal will come forth with its horns, hair (wool) and
hooves, and even before the blood of the sacrifice falls onto the
ground, it (the Qurbani) will be accepted, so perform it (Qurbani)
with a content heart.'

The mentioned Hadith highlights the importance and virtues of performing Qurbani or sacrificing an animal for the pleasure of Allah during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah. The Hadith, reported by Abu Dawud, Tirmizi, and Ibn Majah, mentions that the act of spilling blood by sacrificing an animal on the Day of Nahr (10th of Zil-Hijjah) is most dearer to Allah. The animal sacrificed will come forth on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves, and even before its blood falls onto the ground, the Qurbani will be accepted. Therefore, it is recommended to perform Qurbani with a content heart.

The second Hadith, reported by Tabrani from Hazrat Imam Hasan bin Ali, states that one who performs Qurbani willingly and for the sake of attaining Thawaab (reward from Allah) will have it serve as a veil or shield from the fire of Hell.