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:

can we substitute qurbani with khairaat-by the way of equivalent money or help in kind? 

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Answer:

Can one substitute Qurbani with charity?

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.

The act of ‘Qurbani’ can only be termed ‘Qurbani’, if an animal is slaughtered and sacrificed for the Cause of Allah Subhanah. Giving away an equivalent amount of money or help would be termed as ‘Sadaqa’ or charity.

Allah Subhanah has included the ‘Qurbani’ as a form of worship since the time of Prophet Adam (a.s.), as related in the Holy Quran.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 27:Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah): it was accepted from one but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee." "Surely" said the former "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

The wisdom behind this act of worship is not the blood and the meat of the slaughtered animal, but it is a sign that the ones who have submitted to their Creator are willing to sacrifice their lives and their property for the Pleasure of their Lord and Creator.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 22 Surah Hajj verse 37:It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them (the animal) subject to you that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and proclaim the Good News to all who do right.

Also, when we do the act of ‘Qurbani’ today, there is also a remembrance and reverence to the supreme sacrifice of the father of the Prophets, Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.); who was willing to sacrifice his beloved son at one command of his Lord.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 37 Surah Saaffaat verses 102-108:

102 Then when (Ismail (a.s.)) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he (Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.)) said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) 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:

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

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan