Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The months of haj have already commenced from Shawwaal and we are moving towards the occasion of haj and qurbaani. Just as the days of haj are extremely significant for those who have set out on the journey of haj, similarly for those of us who are not performing haj, Allah Ta‘ala has made these days significant and commanded us to fulfil the obligation of qurbaani.
With the grace of Allah Ta‘ala, to a great extent, the atmosphere of qurbaani is widely experienced in our country and in many other countries. People are seen purchasing animals and looking forward to slaughtering them in the yards of their homes. The children also express great happiness and enthusiasm to feed the sheep and goats and participate in the activities of qurbaani.
Immense Virtues of Qurbaani:
There are great rewards mentioned in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for upholding this great injunction of qurbaani:
- Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:
ما عمل آدمي من عمل يوم النحر أحب إلى الله من إهراق الدمَ إنه ليأتي يوم القيامة بقرونها وأشعارها وأظلافها وأن الدم ليقع من الله بمكان قبل أن يقع من الأرض فطيبوا بها نفسا
There is no action that a servant carries out during the days of qurbaani which is dearer and more beloved to Allah Ta‘ala than the spilling of blood (i.e. the sacrificing of animals). The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Qiyaamah with its horns, hair and hooves. The sacrifice is accepted by Allah Ta‘ala even before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore, happily carry out the qurbaani (i.e. with your heart being pleased and happy to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala.) (Sunan Tirmizi #1493)
- On one occasion, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) asked Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
ما هذه الأضاحي يا رسول الله
“O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), what is the significance of this action of qurbaani?”
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied:
سنة أبيكم إبراهيم عليه السلام
“It is the practice of your forefather, Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam).”
The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) then asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! What reward will we receive through carrying it out?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “For every strand of hair (on the back of the animal), you will receive a reward.”
The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) then asked, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), what about wool?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “For every fibre of wool (on the back of the animal), you will receive a reward.” (Ibnu Maajah #3127)
- It is reported that Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once told Hazrat Faatimah (radhiyallahu ‘anha):
يا فاطمة قومي فاشهدي أضحيتك فإن لك بأول قطرة تقطر من دمها مغفرة لكل ذنب أما إنه يجاء بلحمها ودمها توضع في ميزانك سبعين ضعفا
O Faatimah! Witness your qurbaani animal being sacrificed. With the first drop of blood that falls, your sins will be forgiven. Its meat and blood will be placed in your scale of good deeds and multiplied seventy times.”
Hazrat Abu Sa’eed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), “O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! Is this reward exclusively reserved for your family, as they are entitled to special grace or is this reward for all Muslims?” Hazrat Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “It has specifically been revealed in regard to my family but it (the virtue and reward) is also for my ummah in general.” (Targheeb #1662)
Spirit of Qurbaani:
While there are great rewards promised in the Mubaarak Ahaadith for those who carry out the obligation of qurbaani, it is extremely important to understand that in order for us to acquire these great rewards, it is essential for us to uphold the spirit of qurbaani.
Just as upholding the external form of qurbaani is important, upholding the spirit of qurbaani is equally important. Many a time, those who carry out the qurbaani neglect fulfilling the spirit of the qurbaani, and as a result, they lose out the desired reward of the qurbaani.
Hence, on the day of qurbaani, in many places, it is seen that while the animals are being slaughtered and the qurbaani atmosphere is being enjoyed, there are people videoing the qurbaani and taking selfies and photos of the animals and other people.
Men and women freely intermingle and the laws of purdah are violated. Many a time, people even make their salaah qadha because they do not want to miss their turn to slaughter their animal.
In all these cases, the spirit of qurbaani is compromised, and as a result, the action of qurbaani also does not earn one the reward one is desirous of receiving.
How to Acquire the Spirit of Qurbaani?
The spirit of qurbaani will be acquired when one brings taqwa (the fear of Allah Ta‘ala) in his life. This is the thing which Allah Ta‘ala wishes to see in a person, and this is the actual lesson which we should take from the occasion of qurbaani. Allah Ta‘ala says:
لَنۡ یَّنَالَ اللّٰہَ لُحُوۡمُہَا وَ لَا دِمَآؤُہَا وَ لٰکِنۡ یَّنَالُہُ التَّقۡوٰی مِنۡکُمۡ
It is neither the meat nor the blood (of the animal) that reaches Allah Ta‘ala, instead it is the piety of your heart that reaches Him. (Surah Haj v. 37)
In this verse, Allah Ta‘ala states that the actual thing that reaches Allah Ta‘ala through the qurbaani animal being slaughtered is the taqwa of the heart.
In other words, Allah Ta‘ala is looking at the level of submission and obedience with which one carries out the qurbaani. This obedience and submission should be in every department of a person’s life, whether in his domestic, social, or economic life, whether he is in the musjid of out of the musjid, whether he is in his hometown or out of his hometown on safar – at all times he should be cognizant of the fact that Allah Ta‘ala is watching him and he will be taken to account on the Day of Qiyaamah for the deeds he carries out.
The Submission of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam)
Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) was tested by Allah Ta‘ala throughout his life and he passed all the tests with flying colours. It was then that Allah Ta‘ala posted him to the position of imaamat and leadership. Allah Ta‘ala says in the Qur’aan Majeed:
وَ اِذِ ابۡتَلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہٖمَ رَبُّہٗ بِکَلِمٰتٍ فَاَتَمَّہُنَّ ؕ قَالَ اِنِّیۡ جَاعِلُکَ لِلنَّاسِ اِمَامًا ؕ
And (remember the time) when your Rabb tested Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) with certain commands, then he fulfilled them. He (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) said, “I will make you a leader for the people.” (Surah Baqarah v. 124)
In this world, each person will face four different types of tests. He will face tests relating to his family, tests relating to his community, tests relating to the country he is living in, and tests relating to his personal self.
When one examines the various tests of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam), then one sees that he was also tested with these four types of tests. He was tested with his family, he was tested with his people and community, he was tested with the government, and finally, he was tested with the love that he had for his child when Allah Ta‘ala wanted to see whether his love for Allah Ta‘ala was greater or his love for his child was greater.
Growing up in a home where his parents and family were worshiping idols, Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) was tested by Allah Ta‘ala, and after advising them and seeing that they were not prepared to accept, he moved away from that environment.
Then when he had seen his people worshiping idols, he invited them to the oneness of Allah Ta‘ala. However, his people were not prepared to listen, therefore he moved away from his people.
Thereafter, when the king Namrood learnt that Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) worshiped Allah Ta‘ala and did not worship him, he called Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) and commanded him to worship him. However, when Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) did not accept him as god, he commanded that a huge fire be lit and Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) be thrown into it. Allah Ta‘ala commanded the fire to be cool for Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) and not to harm him in any way.
When Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) came out from the fire safe and sound, he left the country of Iraq he was living in and moved to Shaam. In this way, Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) taught us the lesson of submission and obedience to Allah Ta‘ala at all times, that when he was tested with his family, his people and the government, he did not compromise, but remained loyal to Allah Ta‘ala.
Then came the ultimate test which Allah Ta‘ala put him through to see whether his love for Allah Ta‘ala was greater or his love for his son. Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) did not have any children and continued to make dua to Allah Ta‘ala to be blessed with a child. At the age of 87, Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with a child, Nabi Ismail (‘alaihis salaam).
When Nabi Ismail (‘alaihis salaam) reached the age where he could walk and move about with his father, Allah Ta‘ala commanded Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) to slaughter his one and only son. Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) passed this test as well, and Allah Ta‘ala sent a ram from Jannah to be slaughtered in place of Nabi Ismail (‘alaihis salaam). Allah Ta‘ala describes this test saying:
اِنَّ ہٰذَا لَہُوَ الۡبَلٰٓـؤُا الۡمُبِیۡنُ ﴿۱۰۶﴾
Indeed, this was definitely a great test (which clearly demonstrated the submission of Nabi Ebrahim [‘alaihis salaam] to the command of Allah Ta‘ala). (Surah Saaffaat v. 106)
This action and sacrifice of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) was so beloved to Allah Ta‘ala that Allah Ta‘ala made it part of our shariah – the shariah of Nabi Muhammed (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) – to remain until the Day of Qiyaamah.
Therefore, on this mubaarak occasion of qurbaani, just as we slaughter the animal as this is the sunnah of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam), similarly we will also remember the actual lesson of qurbaani which is also the sunnah of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) – and that is to show submission and obedience to the command of Allah Ta‘ala throughout one’s life.
