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Sacrifice (Qurbān)

In the Qur'an, sacrifice (nusuk, naḥr, qurbān) is a symbol whose purpose is nearness to God and gratitude.

Elements in the Qur'an

  • A rite for every community: "For every community We appointed a rite (mansak) so they may mention God's name over the livestock He provided them." (22:34; also 22:28)
  • Taqwā is what counts: "Neither their meat nor their blood reaches God, but your taqwā reaches Him." (22:37)
  • The command: "So pray to your Lord and sacrifice." (108:2)
  • Ibrahim's example: his son was ransomed with "a great sacrifice" (37:107).
  • The measure of intention: in the offering of Adam's two sons: "God accepts only from the God-conscious." (5:27)
  • A life's orientation: "My prayer, my sacrifice / worship, my life and my death are for God, Lord of the worlds." (6:162)
  • The hady in Hajj: the offering at Hajj/ʿUmra (2:196).

An honest limit

The Qur'an gives the meaning and purpose of sacrifice (mentioning God's name, taqwā, sharing); details such as the time of the Eid sacrifice, the animal's kind/age, the method of slaughter and the sharing of meat are matters of the Sunnah and fiqh — a domain of opinion, not a numeric ruling of the Qur'an.

Source: Qur'anic verses (M. Okuyan meal).

Related verses