'Qurbani' in Islam

  

What is 'Qurbani' ?

 

Qurbani means to sacrifice a special animal on a special day, i.e., Eid-ul-Adha (Bakr Eid) with the intention of obtaining the blessings of Allah.

 

One such sacrifice in Islam commemorates the event where Hazrat Ibrahim (as) offered the life of his son at the command of Allah (swt) but which afterwards Allah (swt) replaced with a sheep [ram]. This manifestation of love from Hazrat Ibrahim (as) to Allah (twt) has marked an unprecedented event in the history of Islam. This gave rise to a rite called Qurbani or Udhiya which has been perpetuated in Islam. This practice has been followed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Allah (twt) has made it mandatory (Waajib) for Muslims who have the means to do so. This kind of sacrifice is not only prescribed for us, the spiritual people of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but it was also applied to the past peoples before us, as mentioned in the Holy Quran:

 

“For every community We have appointed a rite of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the Name of Allah over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them.” (Al-Hajj 22: 35)

Objections against Animal Sacrifice

  

We, human beings, share this world with so many other breathing beings. Animals and birds are communities like us, reminds the Holy Qur’an. It is our duty to live responsibly, in fairness and justice, recognizing the interests of collective life and common good on earth, for the natural environment and living beings are among the favours and signs of God on earth. Indeed, Islam teaches Muslims to treat all living beings with kindness and compassion, and not to cause harm, nor inflict pain on animals and birds unnecessarily. Even for slaughtering them as rites of sacrifice, a believer has to abide by rules and regulations, means and methods of Islam that reduce the pain and suffering of the animal concerned. 

While the Holy Qur’an and the teachings of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) as well as his practical guidance on the prescriptions relating to animal slaughter are rooted in wider concern for the fair treatment of these breathing beings, the reality of everyday life show that these foundational rules are frequently violated as not fully implemented, resulting in cruel treatment to animals and birds during the transportation and handling of the animals at various stages and levels of the cattle-transportation and meat market practices. Many people who believe in fair treatment of animals, criticise and object to the ‘Muslim’ practice of animal slaughter as they see it- without understanding the Islamic teachings and guidance on the pertinent issue. 

Reproduced below are two related questions- objections on Islamic ways of slaughtering animals and on meat eating in general- put forward to Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius and the prescient observations made therein by Hazrat Saheb (aba) on the wisdom of Islamic procedures of slaughtering animals as well as the need for respecting the life-balance in this ecosystem by catering to needs while avoiding excesses on all sides of the debate.  

‘How to share a Qurbani ?’

  

Allah (swt) appointed acts of devotion to every community, for them to celebrate God’s name over the livestock He provided for them. Muslims are ordained by God to mention His name, on specified days during the Hajj pilgrimage season, over the livestock He has provided for them. Indeed, Qurbani is a sacred rite of Islam binding upon devout Muslims everywhere: those who honour God’s rites show the piety of their hearts, and anyone who honours the sacred ordinances of God will have good rewards from his Lord, Insha Allah.

As the Holy Qur’an notes concerning sacrificial animals such as Ox or Camel, ‘There is much good in them for you, so invoke God’s name over them as they are lined up for sacrifice, then, when they have fallen down dead, feed yourselves and those who do not ask, as well as those who do. We have subjected them to you in this way so that you may be thankful. It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches God but your piety. He has subjected them to you in this way so that you may glorify God for having guided you. Give good news to those who do good.’ (22:37-38)    

 

In this context, devout Muslims who plan to perform Qurbani may have related questions to clarify and understand. ‘How to share a Qurbani ? In case a poor man is giving a Qurbani and a rich one is giving a Qurbani, how to share the Qurbani?’

 

Recently, this question was put forth in front of our Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius by Khwaja Muhyiuddin Saheb of Chennai, a disciple. The considered response given by Hazrat Saheb (aba) on the occasion would be of educative value for everyone who is to perform the Qurbani as part of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Adha rites.  

Hajj: Pathway to Salvation

 

[In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As the world of Islam enters the Month of Hajj [Dhul Hijjah], Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly explains the larger, inner meaning and spiritual significance of this ultimate voyage to the House of God in Makkah that the Muslim pilgrim undertakes in quest of Divine pleasure and salvation]. 

 

The pathway to salvation 

 

‘The Hajj, being the fifth and last of the five pillars of Islam, it represents the readiness of the Muslim pilgrim to let go of all worldly attractions and desires, and to make the firm intention for a purified reform in his self and soul, to tread the pathway to Salvation, like a submitted soul offering his whole life and being to Allah, promising a complete reform within himself and seeking the help of Allah to achieve it.’

On Jama'ah Prayer & 'Women' Angels

 

As an inspired servant of God with a mandate to correct the doctrinal mistakes and religious practices of the Muslims of today, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius is in a unique position to clarify the right perspective to be adopted on religious beliefs and everyday practices of the believers in this era, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah; from time to time, Hazrat Muhyiuddin (aba) offers illuminating guidance on spiritual questions brought before him by people from around the world. By the Grace of Allah, these Question and Answer sessions reveal much insight into issues that confuse and confound people, and the guiding light of a servant of God steeped in the spiritual Way is indeed very useful for truth seekers. For instance, in a recent interactive session with the Sahih Al Islam YouTube Channel, Hazrat Saheb (aba) shares his perspective on the need for balance and prudence in the performance of religious duties while explaining the importance of congrégational prayer. Likewise, in the same Interview in response to another question, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) explains the nature of appearance of angels in the spiritual visions of human beings. 

Read the Text of the Discourse Below : 

 

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakaatuhu. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, we are here again for another session of Questions & Answers with the Khalifatullah Al-Mahdi of this era, Hazrat Munir A. Azim (atba).

'Hajj' in Islam

  

Hajj is more than a get-together of Muslims from all over the world; it is akin to a training camp to prepare the Muslims for the afterlife. Pilgrims leave behind their busy world, dress in simple white sheets of cloth not unlike the ones they (all of us Muslims) will later be buried in, and concentrate on the concept of sacrifice - recalling Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son Hazrat Ismail (as) for Allah.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and is accomplished every year in the last month of the Islamic Calendar, Dhul-Hijjah (or The Month of Hajj). All Muslims from around the world now converge to the Sacred Spot [called Al-Masjid Al-Haram] found in Mecca [Makkah], in Arabia [Saudi Arabia] to accomplish their pilgrimage. There, a number of ritual are carried out which reflect the efforts of Hazrat Ibrahim (as), who had left his second wife Hazrat Hajra (ra) and their young son Hazrat Isma’il (as) in its vicinity in the arid desert, and Allah rewarded Hajra’s struggle to find water with the well of Zamzam, a spring which made the region prosperous and a religious focal point after  Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Isma’il (as) built, or rather rebuilt, the Ka’aba (which existed since the time of Hazrat Adam (as) but which with time was neglected and forgotten by the people when they forgot Allah - the worship of one God). Among the rites and gatherings during the Hajj, there is also the gathering at the plain of Arafat, which reminiscences of the even larger gathering to come of the Day of Judgement.

The 'Sword' of Dhul Qarnayn

  

The Holy Qur’an mentions a great historic figure ‘Dhul Qarnayn’, under whose sovereign, royal authority all the known lands of the ancient world submitted. A wise and devout servant of God, Dhul Qarnayn was an impartial and just ruler who administered the territories under his suzerainty with wisdom and tolerance, with a view for social peace, tranquillity, and people’s welfare. Beyond confirming the identity and veracity of a servant of God and ‘ideal ruler’ from the ancient era as a matter of history and collective memory, the Book of God also relates the description in this regard with great events of the future when a Protective Shield of God would appear in turbulent times to set things right.    

 

Consider these Qur’anic verses:

 

‘On that Day, We shall let them surge against each other like waves and then the Trumpet will be blown and We shall gather them all together. We shall show Hell to the disbelievers, those whose eyes were blind to My signs, those who were unable to hear. Did they think that they could take My servants as masters instead of Me? We have prepared Hell as the disbelievers’ resting place.’ [18: 100-103]

Divine Punishments & Rewards

  

The System of Divine Punishments & Rewards

 عَسٰی رَبُّکُمۡ اَنۡ یَّرۡحَمَکُمۡ ۚ وَاِنۡ عُدۡتُّمۡ عُدۡنَا ۘ وَجَعَلۡنَا جَہَنَّمَ لِلۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ حَصِیۡرًا ﴿۹

 

“It may be that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if you repeat (your crime) We shall repeat (the punishment), and remember that We have made hell a prison for the disbelievers.” (Bani Isra’il 17: 9).

 

There is disgrace, humiliation for those who cause trouble in this temporal life and in the Hereafter; this humiliation as well as the punishment that Allah will give to these types of people will be much more humiliating and painful than all the earthly punishments that you can ever think of.

 

The Message of the Holy Quran is addressed to all of you. Those who have faith and demonstrate this faith in their intentions and actions, they will surely get their spiritual reward which is a reward that is beyond any earthly reward that a person can ever conceive.

An 'Imam' guided by Allah

 

The Divinely-Elected Imam & True Guidance (Part 2)

“One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams; those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure), and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.” (Al-Isra 17: 72) 

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue today the second part of my subject on the explanation of the verse which I have just recited before you.

 

Allah says: “those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure)” – This is the Quranic metaphor for passing the test of faith and for undergoing all trials successfully. The right hand is a symbol of blessing while the left is that of punishment. Also in the human body the right side enjoys superiority over the left since the tissues of the right side are generally stronger than those of the left.

Patience and Prayer

 

The Holy Qur’an is a depository of perennial wisdom; through its prescient guidance, the holy Book seeks to raise the human soul from the depths of darkness into light. Through explicit verses of clear commands as well as subtle hints of allusive wisdom, the Book of God defines what is right and what is prudent in exigent circumstances of everyday life. Indeed, the Qur’an is an appeal to the human heart and higher consciousness: to realize and recognize the station of the Divine in our human settings; to be grateful for His favours and blessings; to seek His guidance, protection and help under all circumstances; to plead forgiveness and repentance for all our sins in the quest for salvation, and the gardens of Divine pleasure in the life to come. Those who critically examine their own public conduct as well as private counsel; those who are true to their own inner voices; they will find much merit in the Qur’anic commands and exhortations.

Consider the Qur’anic advice on the effectiveness of patience and prayer. In numerous verses, the Holy Book defines and describes in detail fine qualities of the true believers, the truly good in the eyes of God. The distinguishing characteristics; the profound attributes of a true servant of God invariably point to his or her pure beliefs, righteous deeds and patience and steadfastness under difficult circumstances. The Book of God states:    

‘Goodness does not consist in turning your face towards East or West. The truly good are those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets; who give away some of their wealth, however much they cherish it, to their relatives, to orphans, the needy, travellers and beggars, and to liberate those in bondage; those who keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms; who keep pledges whenever they make them; who are steadfast in misfortune, adversity, and times of danger. These are the ones who are true, and it is they who are aware of God.’ (2:178)

Poem: 'The Humbled Questioner'

 

Of what avail is my life, if You [Allah] in there I don’t find?

The mysteries of Your Love have driven me to Your door,

I hold many universes in my Whole,

Some say, it is mere pretence,

Some say these are but the Imprint of Your Name the High

Which sizzles my very existence with Your Glorious Presence!