“A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem. Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.
Al hamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobu ilayhi, wana’oothu Billaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, wamin sayyi aati a’maalinaa. May- Yahdillahu fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falan tajidaa lahu waliyan murshida. Wa ash-hadu an Laa ilaaha ill-Alláh, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo warasooluh”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As you all know the time of the Qurbani is fast approaching. Let us look at this topic closely during today’s Khutbah.
There are two forms of worship during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, which cannot be performed in any other month. The first is Hajj and the second is the sacrificing of an animal (sheep, goat, cow or camel).
By looking at history it can be seen that the sacrificing of animals, in order to be closer to your creator, can be observed even in the tie of Adam.
Sacrifice, which is called Udhiya in the Arabic language, is defined by scholars of Islamic jurisprudence as sacrificing a certain animal at a certain time with the intention of pleasing your creator.
The Qur’an tells us of the obligations in making sacrifice. Aayah 2 of Surah Al-Kawthar says:
“[Prophet] Pray to your Lord and make your sacrifice to Him alone.”
Aayah 36 of Surah Al-Hajj says:
“We have made camels part of Allah’s sacred rites for you. There is much good in them for you, so invoke Allah’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.”
Anas (ra) relates that our Prophet (SAW) sacrificed two fair skinned horned lambs with his own hands and while slaughtering them, he had his blessed foot on their side and recited Bismillahi walLahu Akbar. (Bukhari & Muslim).
This sacrifice is also the Sunnah of Sayyidina Ibrahim (as) as mentioned in Aayah 107 of Surah Assaffat:
“We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice.” The purpose of sacrifice is to thank and express gratitude to Allah (swt) for His blessings.
Sacrifice in fact is submission and an offering to Allah (SWT), hence it is required that the best animal be selected for this purpose.
In the Qur’an, Aayah 92 of Surah Al-e-Imran says:
“None of you [believers] will attain true piety unless you give out of what you cherish: whatever you give, Allah knows about it very well.”
However, it is neither the blood nor the meat that reaches Allah (SWT), it is your intentions. One of the most important aspects of the qurbani is that the sacrifice, that is the meat, is distributed to neighbours and those in need. The owner is only allowed to keep a very small portion of the meat.
Nowadays many Islamic relief organizations collect money for the slaughter in poor countries and then distribute the meat to those in need.
Therefore brothers and sisters, let us not forget, if we are able, let’s slaughter our qurbanis and offer them to the needy during Eid. If you are not able to offer a qurbani yourself there are many opportunities to join an Islamic initiative that collects funds towards the qurbani so that you may feed your brothers and sisters who are in need and gain the reward from Allah (SWT) in this lifetime and in the hereafter inshallah.