Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

On Hari Raya Haji,why do people give qurbani by slaughtering the goats?

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Answer:

Why people give sacrifice on hajj

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

We assume you wish to inquire why do people perform the sacrifice or slaughter of an animal during the Hajj.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saafaat verses 100-110:

100 (Ibraheem (a.s.) prayed): "O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!"

101 So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear.

102 Then when (the son, Ismail (a.s.)) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (Ismail (a.s.)) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy!"

103 So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice)

104 We called out to him "O Ibraheem!

105 "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

106 For this was obviously a trial

107 And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice (of a ram):

108 And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:

109 "Peace and salutation to Ibraheem!"

110 Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

The Noble Prophet and Best Friend of the Most Gracious, Ibraheem (a.s.) so loved and worshipped Allah Subhanah, that he was willing to sacrifice even his own son at the command of Allah Subhanah. When Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) lay his son Prophet Ismail (a.s.) on his side just about to slaughter him as per the command of Allah, the Lord informed Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) that this was only a trial and a test to see if Ibraheem (a.s.) was true to his word.

Allah Subhanah ransomed the life of Prophet Ismail (a.s.) and commanded Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) to slaughter and sacrifice a ram instead of his son. Such was the nature of this Great and Momentous Sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.), and so loved and appreciated was this act of Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) and Prophet Ismail (a.s.) to Allah Subhanah, that The Lord Most Gracious honored these great Prophets, and made their act an obligatory rite for the Hajj pilgrimage, a remembrance and a commemoration of their momentous sacrifice amongst the generations to come until the end of time!

When the believers offer the sacrifice during the Hajj days, with their act they too imply that just as they are ready to sacrifice and slaughter an animal at the command of their Lord, if commanded by their Lord Creator, they too are willing, just like the Noble Prophets Ibraheem and Ismail, to sacrifice everything they own and love for the Pleasure of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan