Qurban

For the 1980 film, see Qurbani (1980 film). For the 2008 remake of the film, see Qurbani (2008 film).

Qurbān (Arabic: قربان‎) is the sacrifice of a livestock animal during Eid-ul-Adha. The word is related to the Hebrew qorbān "offering" and Syriac qurbānā "sacrifice", etymologised through the cognate Arabic triliteral as "a way or means of approaching someone".

The sacrifice of Abraham

In Islam, the sacrifice of an animal is legal from the morning of the 10th to sunset of the 12th Dhu l-Hijjah, the 12th lunar month of the Islamic calendar. It is understood as a symbolic repetition of Abraham's sacrifice of a ram in place of his son, a crucial notion in Judaism, Christianity and Islam alike.

Most schools of fiqh accept that the animal must be killed according to the prohibitions of halal sacrifice and that the animal in question must be a goat, sheep, cow or camel.

On whom is sacrifice compulsory

• Every sane adult Muslim male and female
• A person owns 613.35g silver (19.71 troy ounces silver) and/ or 87.48g of gold or its value in cash or kind
• Is resident in his home town and not on journey

On whom is sacrifice not compulsory

• Children
• The very poor
• The traveller

The animals of sacrifice

• Domesticated goat, either male or female, of at least one year of age
• Domesticated sheep, either male or female, if six months old and over, the animal must look like one year old. Sheep that are one year old and over are preferred for sacrifice
• Domesticated cow, ox or buffalo, of at least two years old
• Domesticated camel, male or female, of at least five years of age

Animals not allowed for sacrifice

• Sheep aged six months to a year, but do not resemble a year old sheep
• Undomesticated, wild animals
• Animals of sacrifice are domesticated goat, sheep, cattle and camel, male or female. No other type of animal is allowed for sacrifice
• A blind animal
• A frail weak animal
• An animal born without ears
• An animal with more than one-third of its ear cut off
• An animal that does not have any teeth and is unable to graze. However if it is able to graze it will suffice for sacrifice.
• An animal with the horns broken at the root and the brain is visible
• An animal that walks on three legs and does not take support from the lame leg. However if it takes support from the lame leg, it will suffice for sacrifice
• More than one-third of the tail is cut off
• An animal with skin disease such as scabies or mange

Animals acceptable for sacrifice

• An animal which has two-third vision
• An animal that has no horns, or its horns are broken
• An animals that gets injured during the actual slaughter process is acceptable for sacrifice

Animals preferred for sacrifice

• Castrated animals

Time of sacrifice

Sacrifice commences aftr the prayer of Eid-ul-Adha. In rural areas where no Eid prayer is held, sacrifice commences at the break of dawn (Fajr)

Duration of sacrifice

Sacrifice commences from the morning of the 10th Zul Hijja to sunset of the 12th Zul Hijja. The duration of sacrifice is three days (10th, 11th and 12th) and two nights (11th and 12th). Sacrifice at night is permitted if carried out in a place which is well lit and there is no fear of error.

Important considerations before sacrifice

• The hair and milk of a living sacrificial animal may not be used before sacrifice
• The animal be treated humanly
• A spacious enclosure be provided for the animal
• The animal must be given adequate feed
• All animals must be kept out of view of the slaughtering area
• Dragging the animal is not allowed
• The knife for sacrifice has to be sharpened to the optimum, and the slaughter should be carried out quickly and effectively to minimise the suffering sustained by the animal. Sharpening is not allowed in front of the sacrificial animal

The actual sacrifice

• The animal has to be placed down very gently on its left side
• It is essential to recite: Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest)
• The throat of the animal should be cut in a manner to ensure that the gullet, the wind pipe and the two external jugular/ arterial veins are severed

Considerations after sacrifice

• Skinning of the animal is only permitted once the animals calms down and the animal has stopped kicking

Distribution of the meat and skin of the animal

Muslims may consume the meat and utilize the skin of their sacrificial animals and/ or give it away as charity. Consumption of this meat is considered a great favour of Allah as previous nations of the past were not able to consume their sacrificial animals. The meat and skin may not be used be used for economic activity such as for re-sale or the payment of wages

See also

• Qorban

References

• http://alhaadi.org.za/articles/qurbani/670-the-animals-of-qurbani.html
• http://www.darulihsan.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=778&Itemid=126
• http://ihyaauddeen.co.za/category/seasonal-masaail/qurbani/
• http://ihyaauddeen.co.za/category/seasonal-masaail/qurbani/page/2/
• http://ihyaauddeen.co.za/series/qurbani-masaail/page/3/