Sacrificial animal will become a barrier against Hell

Allah’s Messenger صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said:

مَنْ ضَحَّی طِیْبَۃَ نَفْسِہٖ مُحْتَسِبًا لِاُضْحِیَتِہٖ کَانَتْ لَہٗ حِجَابًا مِّنَ النَّار

Whoever performs qurbani whilst seeking reward and with a willing heart, it will become a barrier for him against the Hellfire.^[1]

Qurbani is an expiation for sins

In summary, another blessed hadith explains how as reward for the first drop of blood spilt from a sacrificial animal, Allah forgives the previous sins of the person performing qurbani.^[2]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! This is an amazing point to think about. Who commits sins, humans or animals? Without any doubt, it is humans who commit sins, as animals are not legally accountable for this. So in essence, animals do not sin, but it is they who become a means of expiating the sins of humans. Sinless animals become expiation for the sins of humankind. If we look at things from this perspective, we realise how great a favour these animals have upon us. They expiate our sins by sacrificing their innocent lives.   

There is a lesson in this for those who gather around when qurbani takes place. Some become happy when they see the animal dying or making sounds as it passes away. Others even clap - مَعاذَ الـلّٰـه. This is not a time to be entertained. We should instead feel shame upon our sins and recognise how big a favour that animal has had upon us.  

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! We should all fear Allah and take heed from this. These animals are sacrificing their lives in the name of