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| Arabic | قرباني |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | qur-BAH-nee |
| Etymology | The word qurbani (قرباني) comes from the Arabic root ق-ر-ب (q-r-b), meaning 'to be near, to approach, to draw close.' The word qurban (قربان) means 'an offering, something brought near to Allah' — a sacrifice offered to seek closeness to the Divine. The Urdu/Persian form qurbani (قربانی) adds the nisba suffix '-i' to indicate the act of making such an offering. In classical Arabic, the formal terms are udhiyah (أضحية, from the root ض-ح-ي, related to duha/forenoon, as the sacrifice is offered after sunrise) for the Eid sacrifice, and هدي (هدي, meaning 'gift/offering') for the الحج sacrifice. |
Qurbani(قرباني) Qurbani is the Islamic ritual of animal sacrifice performed during the days of Eid al-Adha and as part of the الحج rites. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's supreme act of obedience when Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail.
قرباني
Qurbani (known in Arabic as udhiyah for the general Eid sacrifice, and هدي for the الحج-specific sacrifice) is one of the most significant acts of worship in Islam, directly connected to one of the most profound moments in prophetic تاريخ. When Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, صلى الله عليه وسلم) demonstrated his absolute willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) in obedience to Allah's command received in a dream, Allah intervened and sent a ram from Paradise as a substitute: 'And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice' (القرآن 37:107). This act of ultimate submission (islam) to Allah's will is commemorated annually by Muslims worldwide. In the context of الحج, the sacrifice is called هدي and is واجب for الحجاج performing Tamattu (العمرة then الحج) or Qiran (combined الحج and العمرة). The sacrifice is performed on the 10th of ذو الحجة (يوم النحر, the Day of Sacrifice) in the منى area. The animal must meet specific criteria: sheep or goats must be at least one year old, cattle at least two years old, and camels at least five years old. The animal must be free of defects — not blind, visibly sick, lame, or emaciated. A sheep or goat suffices for one person, while a cow or camel can be shared among up to seven people. For Muslims worldwide who are not performing الحج, the sacrifice is called udhiyah and is performed on Eid al-Adha and during the Days of التشريق (11th-13th of ذو الحجة). Its legal status is debated: the Hanafi school considers it واجب (واجب) for those who meet the financial threshold, while the Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools classify it as a السنة mu'akkadah (strongly emphasized practice). The meat is traditionally divided into three portions: one-third for the household, one-third as gifts to relatives and neighbors, and one-third as charity to the poor. Modern الحج الحجاج often fulfill the obligation through authorized slaughterhouses in مكة, which process and distribute the meat to those in need worldwide.
The word qurbani (قرباني) comes from the Arabic root ق-ر-ب (q-r-b), meaning 'to be near, to approach, to draw close.' The word qurban (قربان) means 'an offering, something brought near to Allah' — a sacrifice offered to seek closeness to the Divine. The Urdu/Persian form qurbani (قربانی) adds the nisba suffix '-i' to indicate the act of making such an offering. In classical Arabic, the formal terms are udhiyah (أضحية, from the root ض-ح-ي, related to duha/forenoon, as the sacrifice is offered after sunrise) for the Eid sacrifice, and هدي (هدي, meaning 'gift/offering') for the الحج sacrifice.