Understanding The Meaning Of Qurbani In The Quran And Hadith

Qurbani, derived from the word qurban, refers to the ritual sacrifice of an animal performed during the 10th and the 13th Dhulhijjah (twelfth, i.e., final month of the Islamic calendar). This sunnah muakkadah can be traced back to Hazrat Ibrahim, a prophet who obeyed Allah’s order and sacrificed his son Ismael. As a reward, the Almighty placed a lamb or a sheep in its place, which is why many Muslims perform this ritual to remember this day. It symbolises submission to Allah, charity, faith, and providing the needy with the meat of animals like camels and cows in order to show compassion and devotion to the Almighty's authorities. 

Prophet Muhammad said, "There is nothing dearer to Allah during the days of sacrifice than the sacrificing of animals" (Ibn Majah).

Qurbani meaning in Quran and Hadith, has been mentioned in verses that signify recognition of Allah's blessings and creating a sense of harmony. So, let's explore these verses mentioned in the holy book of Islam along with their meanings, and other important things for a better understanding of Qurbani.
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Qurbani in the Quran And Hadith

Quran

Being the sacred religious text of Islam, it guides Muslims towards their moral and spiritual growth through Qurbani, faith, charity, and other aspects of life. The word "Qurban" is associated with the feast of Eid al-Adha and has been used for slaughtered animals as a form of worship and sacrifice. 

Surah Al-Hajj (22:36) states, "And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols (of Allah); for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up (for sacrifice); then when they are down on their sides, eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful."

This verse emphasises animals designated for sacrifice, the importance of mentioning Allah's name during the sacrifice, and distributing the meat to the less fortunate, showing gratitude.

Al-‘An’am (6/162) mentions, “Say, Indeed, my prayer, my rights of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” 
It states to surrender yourself before Allah, where all your deeds and Qurbani are for the lord of the entire world.

Surah Al-Hajj (22:34) states, "And for every nation, We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your God is One God, so you must submit to Him Alone. And give glad tidings to the humble."

Emphasising that every nation is given a sacrificial ritual, the above-mentioned Quran verse points towards one God to whom you should completely submit yourself.  
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Hadith

Hadith refers to the acts and the sayings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, where the Qurban is viewed as a means of seeking closeness to Allah and purifying one's soul. 

Sahih Bukhari, Book 68, Hadith 476, says, "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said on the day of Eid, 'Whoever has slaughtered (his sacrifice) before the prayer, should repeat it (slaughter another animal)."

The above saying indicates the timing of the sacrifice, i.e., the act of Qurbani before the Eid prayer and the action of repeating it again after the prayer.

Sahih Muslim, Book 22, Hadith 4869 states. "I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on the day of sacrifice. When he finished (the prayer), he was brought two rams, and he sacrificed them. He said: 'In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. This is on behalf of me and anyone of my Ummah who has not offered a sacrifice." 

It shows that Prophet Muhammad himself is performing the sacrificing ritual while mentioning Allah's name. He is also offering it on behalf of those who have never sacrificed before. 

Sayedatuna Aisha (RadiAllahuanhu) narrates that Rasul Allah said, “There is no dearer deed of Ibne Adam in the days of Qurbani than flowing the blood (doing Qurbani), and that animal will come with his horns, hairs, and hooves on the day of Qayamt. The blood of the Qurbani reaches the stage of acceptance before it reaches the floor.” (Tirmizi, Ibnu Majah)

It highlights that the act of Qurbani is the most beloved deed, which gains acceptance by Allah before the blood of the animal touches the floor.
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Obligations And Rules

There are many rules and guidelines for Qurbani, which have been mentioned down below:
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Eligibility

​Any Adult Muslim who has excess wealth equal to or more than the following nisab value is eligible for performing Qurban: 

• 87.48 grams of gold 
• 612.36 grams of silver
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Qurbani Animals And Their Minimum Age

The Qurban requires the following animals with a minimum age to ensure they are suitable for the sacrifice:

• Goats and sheep should be at least 1 year old (equivalent to one person's Qurbani).
• Cows or buffalo must be at least 2 years old (equivalent to seven people's Qurbani).
• Camels should be 5 years old (equivalent to seven people's Qurbani).
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Quality Of Animals

The animals who are to be sacrificed must be healthy and free of diseases, which may include the mentioned below condition:

• They cannot be too lean or thin.
• The animals must be able to walk themselves to the slaughter site.
• Ensure that they are not missing half of their teeth or are toothless.
• They must not be blind or one-eyed.
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Method Of Slaughter

The slaughter will only be called Qurbani if it's carried out in a human way by mentioning Allah and following the below-mentioned rules:

• You must only use a sharp knife to carry out the Qurbani to avoid unnecessary suffering. 
• The knife should not be sharpened in front of the sacrificial animal.
• Do not slaughter the animal in front of another animal. 
• The words "Bismillahi Allahu Akbar" must be recited when the sacrifice is being made. 
• The slaughtered animal cannot be skinned until the body is entirely cold. 

The Messenger of Allah said, “Verily Allah has enjoined goodness to everything; so when you kill, kill in a good way, and when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his knife and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.” [Sahih Muslim]
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Distribution Of Qurbani Meat

As per the rules, it is always suggested to split meat equally into three parts where you can keep one part for yourself, the other for your friends and family and the last part should be given to the poor.
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Intention Behind Qurban

Your intention behind performing the sacrificing ritual should not be for selfish reasons. Rather, it should be to seek Allah's pleasure. 

A verse from the Quran states, "And recite to them the story of Adam’s two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah ], and it was accepted by one of them but was not accepted by the other. Said [the latter], “I will surely kill you.” Said [the former], “Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]."
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Qurbani Rules for the Married Couple

Both the husband and wife must donate a minimum of 1 Qurbani each as per the Hanafi school of thought if they are eligible and possess more wealth than they need.
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Pre-sacrifice Restrictions

If you are performing the sacrificing ritual, you must know the Hadiths on Qurbani Obligations, including not cutting your hair or nails from the start of the Dhul-Hijjah until the sacrifice is done.

Quran mentions, "And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ‘umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] – then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]."
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Benefits of Qurbani

The following are some social and spiritual benefits of Qurbani apart from submitting to Allah:

• Performing the Qurban can lead to the forgiveness of sins.
• It brings spiritual rewards and growth as narrated in Hadith, i.e. each hair of the sacrificed animal will reward the person performing Qurbani. 
• Promotes compassion and social equity through the distribution of meat to the needy and the less fortunate.
• It helps in strengthening community ties, creating a sense of unity and mutual support. 
• It brings peace of mind by fulfilling crucial religious obligations. 
• Works towards creating the spirit of sacrifice and selflessness in Muslims and reminding them to always prioritise Allah's commands over individual desires.

Quran describes, "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him" (22:37)
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Final Word!

Qurbani meaning in Quran is very significant, which encourages every eligible Muslim to perform this ritual as it is one of the greatest virtues followed by Hadith and the holy Islamic text. It truly promotes generosity, love, Islamic knowledge, submission to Allah, and an attempt to maintain societal balance.  ​