A PERCEPTIVE GLIMPSE OF QURBANI

We celebrate Qurbani on 10^th of Zil-Hijja according to Islamic calendar every year. It is the biggest festival of Islam which is celebrated all around the globe where Muslims are present.  Sometimes, we as a Muslim think of Eid-ul-Azha just as an Islamic ritual to slaughter Halal animals for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.) and distribute the meat among unprivileged people.

Qurbani is a sacred ritual. Muslims buy healthier Halal animals, feed them, take care of them and protect them from every calamity. Thus they treat the animals as equals and when the day of Qurbani arrives they slaughter their beloved animal in the name of Allah Almighty. Allah loves His beings who obediently follow His commandments and spend their lives according to the Sunnah of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (P.B.U.H.).

Islam is the most splendid religion on earth. Its every ritual is not indeed aims at fulfilling religion hood but it has deep meanings and thus when we understand those deep meanings it has great impact in our lives as well. When Muslims fulfill every obligation of Allah (S.W.T.) they prove that they believe in the sanctity of Allah Almighty.

When Muslims perform Qurbani they actually understand that the blessings which Allah has bestowed upon them owe their existence to Allah (S.W.T.). These blessings are given by Allah (S.W.T.) and not a single human being can claim his ownership over them. It is the Allah Almighty who holds rest powers. By performing the obligation of Qurbani, Muslim revises the concept of Aqida Tauheed i.e. there is no such God but Allah.

The Qurbani obligation is mandatory to our every Muslim brothers and sisters who are wealthier enough to carry out such mission. The second, purposeful thought behind the concept of Islamic Qurbani is about accepting the crucial reality that our every possession our wealth and kids are a challenge to us. It means that Muslim shouldn’t forget Allah by indulging themselves in carrying out worldly tasks such as accumulating wealth and taking care of kids.

The third fact is that nothing should come first to Muslim but Allah Almighty. We should give up everything to execute the commandments of Allah Almighty. Hence, He is the sovereign authority over us and His sovereignty is universal.

Our beloved Prophets Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) and Hazrat Ismail (A.S.) both have shown their sincere passion to become obliging beings of Allah (S.W.T.).
Source by Pak Qurbani.

Does the husband have to pay for his wife's qurbani, or is she legally responsible to pay for herself in hajj?

Qurbani is obligatory on every Muslim regardless of their gender be it male or female they have to perform this sacred act in order to prove of their submission to ALLAH’s will and command. Everyone has to pay for their qurbani animal if they have reached puberty. However, it is the husband or father who can pay for their wife and children (not reached puberty) respectively.

If wife doesn’t have the required amount i.e. 613.35 grams of silver or any kind of wealth which is equivalent to it then it affirms that she is solely dependent on his husband for her maintenance and thus husband should pay for her wife’s qurbani. Similarly, it is with the children who are still looked after by their parents i.e. they are dependent but have reached the age of puberty then also father can perform the same role aforementioned for the husband. Father or husband, if they both can afford the expense of another qurbani other than their own, can perform this act on behalf of the dependent wife and his children. For this he will be definitely rewarded as it is his right to safeguard and take responsibility of them all.

Similar would be the case with the couple at Hajj where it is also permissible while performing qurbani that if wife is sahib-e-nisaab i.e.  She is wealthy enough to pay for her qurbani animal then she should do so. Otherwise it will not be wrong if asks of her husband to perform qurbani on her behalf as well.

It is thus concluded that qurbani cannot be neglected in any case except the conditions which make the laws lenient and easy-going when a Muslim cannot perform qurbani or when he wants to perform but is unaware of the rules that are to be followed prerequisite to qurbani at Hajj or simply at his own place.
Resource by Pak Qurbani.

Sharing in Sacrifice: Permissible or not

Sharing does not means to distribute your share of the animal’s meat with others, it also has a meaning that throws light on the share of the animal that is to be sacrificed and apportioned among people. Nowadays people cannot afford to purchase qurbani animal which is very expensive for the ones who want to follow this Sunnah but financial problems hinder their wish to be fulfilled as to please ALLAH Almighty.

From the sunnah we are taught how an animal can be shared by many. Sheep, goat or ram constitutes just one share i.e no other person can add his share of money in buying it. However, for cow and camel it is seven people who can contribute and thus perform qurbani at the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. This method of adding one’s share in the animal which is to be slaughtered, benefits all from it whether some of them did not had the intention of qurbani and only wanted a share from the sacrificial animal’s meat. From many resources it has been traced down that in a sheep, goat or lamb our beloved Prophet Muhammad is not found to had let two people sharing one animal. Nevertheless, animals i.e cow and camel can permissibly uphold seven shares at a time. The seven members can be of the same family or else others can also be facilitated by this way in performing this sacred act as to commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his most precious possession.

It is a really great thing for people who in their hearts know of the importance and the reward that is promised by ALLAH when one sacrifices animal solely as to prove of his love and submission of will to HIM. Therefore, sharing in sacrifice is permissible and each one is opportune to perform qurbani by willingly and the budget that allows them to purchase an animal for this holy event.

This sharing qurbani article is provided by Pakqurbani.com, we have started our service to donate qurbani online in needy people and charity.

Other Types of Qurbani: Aqueeqa for a New Born Child

The qurbani which is most famous and popular among the rest is the slaughter of animal at the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. However, there are other qurbani types too i.e Sadqa and Aqueeqa.

Sadqa

Sadqa is given as to save the person from any calamity which can harm him or take away his/her life. In it animal or even some part of its meat can be distributed among the ones who are particularly nominated to be the ones who can eat the meat distributed as to fulfill the conventions for sadqa.

aqueeqa

On the other hand it is aqueeqa which is related to the new born child who is a blessing from ALLAH Almighty and thus Aqeeqa has to be performed as to free the Chile from impurities. It is also said that it makes the child obedient to his parents or inhibits the troubles or hardships that he will have to bear or pass through in his life. It has many explanations stated by great religious scholars. Most effectively it had been performed by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) on the birth of his grandsons Hassan and Hussain.

It is actually the removal or shaving off the newborn’s head and distributing meat of an animal which is as elucidated by our Last Prophet. Hazrat Aisha (R.A) narrates that "The Holy Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam instructed us to sacrifice two goats in favor of a boy and one goat in favor of a girl."(TIRMIDHI). It is advised to perform the act of shaving off the child on the 7^th day after his birth which can be simplified by putting it this way that if the child was born on Monday then on Sunday Aqueeqa is to be performed. And if it was Tuesday then Monday will be the day on which by name of the child the animal be it a sheep or goat which is healthy and qualifies for qurbani, it should not be weak or sick, and must be one year old or looks healthy enough to be sacrificed as passing off to be one year old.

Thus Aqueeqa if not possible for the guardians or the ones who will be responsible to look after the child are not to take loan or ask someone else to pay for his/her Aqueeqa. If they can then they should follow what our religion teaches and demands to perform specifically on the seventh day after the child opens his eyes in the real world around him. Source by Onlinequrbanidonation .

THE TIME FOR QURBANI

1.      The time for Qurbani begins after Eid Salat at the dawn of 10^th of Zil Hijjah and ends at dusk on the 12^th of Zil Hijjah. 

2.      Qurbani on the first day carries more blessing than performed on the second day or the third. 

3.      Qurbani before the Salat of Eid is not Jaiz (permissible).

4.      It is preferable to carry out Qurbani during the day than at night due to low visibility and the possibility of not sacrificing correctly.

5.      People may sacrifice after Fajr time (Early Dawn) on the morning of 10th Zil Hijjah if they live in remote towns where Eid Salat is not performed.

6.      If a person residing in a town where Eid Salat is performed sends his animal to the town where Eid Salat is not performed, it is permissible that his animal be slaughtered after he says the Eid Salat. 

7.      A person who lives in a town or city where Eid and Jumah Salat are performed but carries out Qurbani before Eid Salat than his Qurbani won’t be accepted and he has to repeat it.

8.      It is Mustahab (preferable) to give away all the meat in sacrifice after sacrificing the animal if a doubt occurs as to whether it is the l2th or the l3th.

9.      An animal must be given away as charity if it was bought for Qurbani but was not sacrificed during between the dawns of 10^th Zil Hijjah to the dusk of 12^th Zil Hijjah.

10.  AYAMUN NAHR also known as the days of sacrifice is 10^th, 11^th and the 12^th of Zil Hijjah. 

This qurbani time sheet is provided by http://www.pakqurbani.com/ , we have started our service to donate qurbani online in needy people and charity.

The Sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim [pbuh]

One night Prophet Ibrahim [pbuh] had a dream. He dreamt that Allah has told him to sacrifice Ismail. The next night Ibrahim [pbuh] had the same dream. Ibrahim [pbuh] knew that Allah would only ask him to do such a thing if he had good reason. Even though he loved his son dearly, he was prepared to do this difficult thing for Allah. Ibrahim [pbuh] told Ismail [pbuh] they had to go to Mount Arafat. He took a knife and a rope with him. On the way they passed a place called Mina. The devil, Shaytan, came to Ibrahim [pbuh] and tried to talk him out of sacrificing his son [pbuh]. Ibrahim [pbuh] turned his back on him and would not listen, when he wouldn’t dismiss Ibrahim [pbuh] and Ismail [pbuh] threw stones at him. When they reached Mount Arafat, Ibrahim [pbuh] told Ismail [pbuh] what Allah wanted him to do. Ismail listened and accepted what was to happen. He was an exceptional child. He too was a great prophet. Ismail told his father to tie his hands and legs and blindfold himself so he would not struggle and make his father even more upset than he was going to be and Ibrahim [pbuh] was blindfolded so he would not see his son suffer. Ibrahim [pbuh] as Ismail [pbuh] had said. He [pbuh] then took the knife and did what Allah had told him [pbuh] to do. When he [pbuh] took the blindfold from his eyes he looked down, not at his son but at a dead lamb. Ismail [pbuh] was at his side. Ibrahim [pbuh] was afraid. He thought he had disobeyed but then he heard a voice telling him not to worry. Allah looks after his followers. Ibrahim [pbuh] and Ismail [pbuh] had passed a difficult test.

Each year, during the month of Dhul Hijjah, many Muslims, from all over the world, travel to Makkah, remembering what Ibrahim [pbuh] and Ismail [pbuh] did. Similarly in the month of Dhul Hijjah pilgrims go to Makkah, Mina and Arafat. They sacrifice animals just as Allah commanded Ibrahim to do in memory of the deed.

 We must obey Allah's commands as Ibrahim and Ismail did. We obey by doing the things we know are right, praying, obeying our parents and always telling the truth.

Online Purchase of Qurbani Animals: Changing Trends in Challenging Times

Innovations in the online market or rather if we say; Experiments conducted to upgrade the popularity of online business have brought a great deal of customers to this mode. For instance, the purchase of sacrificial (Qurbani) animal has gained popularity as it is found to be the most convenient way of buying an animal for the ceremonious day of Eid-ul-Adha.

Benefits of an Online purchase, when weighed with that of the strain one has to take in going to the animal markets, spending countless exhausting hours, bargaining for the one you have finally chosen and then taking the trouble of loading the animal to bring it home, proves comfortable, quick and may be effortless too (if you find an animal that fits your financial range from the very first website that you survey). The animals being sold on the online forums are though expensive however, it is worth that price because it saves your time, fuel expense, energy and the stressful wandering that you would have to do for it. There are even some websites that provide you the complete on whole details of the animals with their display pictures on their WebPages, such as its weight, age, teeth etc.  Moreover, if customers want to see the animal for themselves i.e. the farms where these animals are being brought up or fed at then they are also provided with the opportunity to look and decide as it is a very sacred matter and the website owners want to maintain their position as the most trusted one in the business of Online Qurbani.

The guarantee which any buyer anticipates in an online dealer is the guarantee of the animal’s health and the assurance that the one they have chosen, only that would be delivered at their place. If trust and proper governance will be put in the online market then this can facilitate a lot who are eager to take advantage from this medium and save time for themselves. 

ON WHOM IS QURBANI WAJIB (OBLIGATORY)

1. Qurbani is Wajib (Obligatory) on all Muslims (male and female) who are sound of mind, Adults (have reached the age of puberty) and are the possessors of minimum Zakatable wealth (Nisab). It is not necessary that the ownership of such wealth be for a full year. 
2. Wife and children are not inclusive when a person performs Qurbani. However, it is his duty to see that his wife’s and adult children’s perform Qurbani if they are possessors of his wealth. 

3. Qurbani is Wajib (Obligatory), if a minor reaches the age of puberty and owns a certain amount that is in surplus of his/ her basic needs or a poor person becomes rich or a Musafir becomes a Muqeem i.e. by completing his journey or intending to stay in one place for 15 days or more before the sunset of the 12th Zil Hijjah then Qurbani is Wajib on them. 

4. Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person is Wajib (Obligatory) if he had made a Wasiyat (Will) that it should be undertaken form his wealth, provided the cost does not exceed one third of his net estate. 
5. Qurbani is Wajib (Obligatory) on a person who makes a Nazr (Vow) i.e. if a certain work of mine is carried out I will make Qurbani and then Qurbani becomes Wajib (Obligatory) on him when that task is accomplished. This Qurbani must be carried out in the days of Qurbani, unless it is generally excepted and understood that merely slaughtering an animal on ANY DAY is referred to as Qurbani, and this had been the intention of the person who made a vow, then it will be permissible for him to sacrifice an animal on any day. 
6. It is Wajib (obligatory) on a poor person to carry put Qurbani IF he buys an animal during the days of Qurbani. However, Qurbani will not remain Wajib (Obligatory) on him if this animal dies or gets lost. If to compensate he buys another animal and thereafter the first one is found, it becomes Wajib (Obligatory) upon him to sacrifice both animals. 

 
7. If the animal of the person on whom Qurbani is Wajib is lost, stolen or dies than that person has to sacrifice another animal in its place. A person on whom Qurbani is Wajib (Obligatory) purchased an animal for sacrifice. If the first animal is found after purchasing the second animal than it is Wajib on him to sacrifice the first animal but if he sacrifices the second animal then it is necessary to give as charity the difference in price between the two animals, if there be any e.g. the 1st animal had cost him Rs 40,000 and the second had cost him Rs 30,000. He should now give Rs 10,000 as charity. However, it is preferable to make Qurbani of both the animals. 
8. A person on whom Qurbani is Wajib(Obligatory) bought an animal for sacrifice but due to some reason he/ she did not slaughter it on the fixed days of Qurbani. It is now compulsory upon him/ her to give the animal away, alive, as charity. If he/ she did not purchase the animal and Qurbani was Wajib, it is obligatory for him/ her to give as charity, the value of an animal. 

9. A person has to give that many numbers of animals as charity on which Qurbani was Wajib but fails to carry it out for a number of years. But his missed Qurbani will not be compensated if he sacrifices that many number of animals on the day of Qurbani. This will be regarded as Voluntary Qurbani.
10. A Qurbani is invalid if a person carries out Qurbani on behalf of another person on whom Qurbani is Wajib, without his permission and without his knowing. If it is done with his permission or instruction it is permissible. 
11. Qurbani is an Ibadat that has to be carried out every year on which it is Wajib (Obligatory). Qurbani is not just Wajib (Obligatory) for people who perform Hajj.  

Sacrifice: An animal that sustains injury after purchase

Muslims buy animals not with the intention of eating meat of a healthy animal but they do it with the sole purpose of pleasing ALLAH with their deed which is only performed as to seek HIS blessings and benevolence.

Wandering at the animal markets, just to buy an animal that is found to fit all the requirements that are mentioned in the Islamic Shariah specific to the purchase of sacrificial animal, is what every Muslim enjoys doing during the fervor that is found near the arrival of Eid-ul-Adha. There are some standards set which are necessary to be maintained while performing the qurbani. The qurbani animal cannot be slaughtered if it is not suitable according to the Islamic rules.

Islamic sharia for animal of qurbani

Horns of animal

It is instructed that an animal that was born without horns or if its horns had broken off from the middle, can be used for Qurbani but if its horn had broken off from the root then this animal cannot be said eligible for qurbani.

Blind animal

Moreover, animals that are blind or have lost one-third or more of their eye-sight, don’t have an ear or may be one-third of its ear is cut are not allowed for qurbani.

Short tail and no tail

Same goes with the animal’s tail that if it is not there or only one-third of it is there still this animal is not acceptable.

Limping animal

 Animal which cannot walk properly i.e it cannot put its 4^th leg onto the ground while walking, is unfit for qurbani however, if that injured leg supports its walk but limps then also it can be purchased and qurbani can be performed on it.

Small ear or no ears

If it has small ears there will be no issue with the qurbani to be performed on it but if it has no ear i.e if it was born without ears then it qualifies as an animal acceptable for qurbani.

Teeth

 Animal’s teeth are also looked in this matter not just its external fitness is made sure of for. If the animal has lost most of its teeth then its qurbani is not adequate however, if it has lost some of its teeth then qurbani is permissible.

Ailing animals

Furthermore, ailing animals such as those animals that are so thin and weak that they are unable to walk to the slaughtering place cannot be used for Qurbani.  Animal that sustains an injury whilst slaughtering, e.g. if its leg breaks or an ear is cut, etc. the Qurbani is termed valid for such an animal. In a case where an animal was bought in a healthy and perfect state but after purchasing it unfortunately it is met with an accident rendered the animal unfit for Qurbani. Then if its buyer is not wealthy (Saahibe Nisaab) it will be permissible to offer the same animal for Qurbani. However, if the purchaser is Saahibe Nisaab, then it is compulsory upon him to buy another animal in place of the injured or wounded animal. 

Another very rare but important case to know of is that if an animal bought for Qurbani gives birth (before being slaughtered), then the new born animal should also be slaughtered with the one which had been bought specifically for the purpose of qurbani.

VIRTUES OF QURBANI

Qurbani is a sacrifice that is offered at the time of Eid-ul-Adha to show gratitude towards Allah and to provide for the poor and needy. Qurbani is a practice commanded by Almighty Allah (Quran 108:2):

'So turn in prayer towards your Lord and sacrifice (animals).'

The above mentioned verse signifies that along with praying five times a day to the one and only Allah it is also mandatory if you meet the conditions set by Shariah to sacrifice a domestic animal on Eid-ul-Adha. There is no action dearer to Allah during Eid-ul-Adha than the sacrificing of animals. Therefore sacrifice with an open and happy heart. Hazrat Muhammad [pbuh] explains Qurbani as the Sunnah (practice) of Hazrat Ibrahim [pbuh] and the person who sacrifices is reward for every hair or every fiber of the wool of the sacrificed animal.
When a person slaughters a Qurbani animal, he is forgiven at the fall of the first drop of blood, and verily, the animal shall be brought forward on the Day of judgment with its blood, meat etc, and shall be increased in weight seventy times more than its own weight, and thereafter it will be placed on the scale of deeds. Regarding virtues of Qurbani Allah further mentions in Qur'an 22:37 that

"It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him."

Thus devotion is important during sacrifice. Allah does not require the flesh, blood or meat of the sacrificed animal. It is our intentions that are accounted for when we sacrifice. Thus those who sacrifice should do it with a pure heart, free of malice and with the right intentions. The virtues of Qurbani are not only limited to spiritual benefits but physical benefits are also there. The organ of the sacrificed animal that you eat strengthens your own organs. Personal experience tells us that meat from the sacrificed animal is much healthier than the meat eaten on any ordinary day. You receive the blessings of the poor and needy when you distribute their share of the meat. While distribution among family and friends increases your bond towards them. 

Pak Qurbani Provided this article to spread Islamic knowledge about Qurbani.