Allah. By giving their lives, they expiate our sins. We should acknowledge their favour upon us and treat them admirably.

May Allah guide us, and grant us the ability to treat His creation with kindness!

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّیْن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

Qurbani – a purposeful obligation

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! Remember, qurbani is not merely a festival or a ritual. It is an obligation with a purpose. In it, there is much for us to learn. It informs of the very reason we are living. It teaches us to be selfless and compassionate. Most importantly, it instructs us in how we can display manners, decorum, and etiquette in our servitude to Allah.

In this regard, let’s look at a verse of the Quran and relate its meaning to ourselves. Let’s try to understand this verse together. Allah declares:

وَ لِکُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ جَعَلۡنَا مَنۡسَکًا لِّیَذۡکُرُوا اسۡمَ اللہِ عَلٰی مَا رَزَقَہُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَہِیۡمَۃِ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ؕ فَاِلٰـہُکُمۡ اِلٰہٌ  وَّاحِدٌ فَلَہٗۤ اَسۡلِمُوۡا ؕ وَ  بَشِّرِ  الۡمُخۡبِتِیۡنَ (ۙ۳۴)

 And for every nation, we have appointed a sacrifice; that they should mention the Name of Allah over the mute animals which He has provided them. So (remember), your God is One God, submit therefore only in His Majestic Court. And give glad tidings, O Beloved, to those humble ones.^[1]

In Tafsīr Ṣirāt al-Jinān, the following is written about this verse: “Allah prescribed a qurbani for every previous believing nation, so they may mention His name upon the animals they slaughtered."^[2]