The Urdu and Persian word Qurbani (Sacrificial slaughter) is derived from the Arabic word Qurban. Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah's pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah's pleasure. But, In precise religious terminology; the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for tile sake of Allah.

The sacrifice of an animal has always been treated as recognized form worship in all religious orders originating from a divine book. Even in pagan societies, the sacrifice of an animal is recognized as a form of worship, but it is done in the name of some idols and not in thc name of Allah, a practice totally rejected by Islam.

In thc Shari'ah or our beloved Prophet, SaIl-Allahu Alayhi was sallam, the sacrifice of an animal has been recognized as a form of worship only during three days of Zulhijjah, namely, the10th, 11th and l2th of the month. This is to commemorate the unparalleled sacrifice offered by thc Prophet Sayyidna Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, when he, in pursuance a command of Allah conveyed to him in a dream, prepared himself to slaughter his beloved son, Sayyidna Isma'il Alayhi Salam, and actually did so but, Allah Almighty, after testing his submission, sent down a sheep and saved his son from the logical fate of slaughter. It is from that time onwards that the sacrifice of an animal became an obligatory duty to be performed by every well to do Muslim.

Qurbani is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah's will command. When a Muslim offers a Qurbani, this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the Qurbani offered by a Muslim signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best and that he would not hesitate even for a moment, once he receives an absolute command from his Creator, to Surrender before it, to obey it willingly,

Apparently, there was no reason why a father should slaughter his innocent son. But, when came the command from Allah, he never asked about the reason for that command, nor did he hesitate to follow it. Even his minor son when asked by his father about the dream he had seen, never questioned the legitimacy of the command, nor did he pine or whine about it, nor did he ask for one good reason why he was being slaughtered. The one and only response he made was:' Father, do what you have been ordered to do. You shall find me, God willing, among the patient".

The present-day Qurbani is offered in memory of this great model of submission set before us by the great father and the great son. So Qurbani must be offered in our time emulating the same ideal and attitude of submission.

This, then, is the true philosophy of Qurbani. With this in mind, one can easily unveil the fallacy of those who raise objections against Qurbani on the basis of economic calculations and depict it to be wastage of money, resources and livestock. Unable to see beyond mundane benefits, they cannot understand the spirit Islam wants to plant and nourish among its followers, the spirit of total submission to Allah's will which equips man with most superior qualities so necessary to keep humanity in a state of lasting peace and welfare.

Qurbani is nothing but a powerful of the required human conduct vis-à-vis the divine commands, however "irrational" or "uneconomic" they may seem to be in their appearance. Thus the distrustful quest for mundane economic benefits behind Quarbani is in fact the negation of its real philosophy and the very spirit underlying it.
No doubt, there are in every form of worship ordained by Allah, certain worldly benefits too, but they are not the main purpose of these prescribed duties, nor should they be treated as pre-condition to submission and obedience. All acts of worship, including Qurbani must be carried out with a spirit of total submission to Allah, irrespective of their economic, social or political benefits. This is what Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did, and this is what every true Muslim is required to do, Keeping this in view, we are giving here some rules governing the worship of Qurbani in our Shari'ah according to the Hanafi School.

Quarbani :
Can only be performed during the three days of Eid, namely the 10th, 11th and 12th of Zulhijjah. It is only in these days that slaughtering of an animal is recognized as an act of worship. No Qurbani can be performed in any other days of the year.
Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three aforesaid days, yet it is preferable to perform it on the first day i.e. the 10th of Zulhijjah.
No Qurbani is allowed before the Eid prayer is over. However, in small villages where Eid prayer is not to be performed, Qurbani can be offered' any time after the break of dawn on the 10th Zulhijjah.
Qurbani can also be performed in the two nights following the Eid day, but it is more advisable to perform it during daytime.

Who is required to Perform?
Every Muslim male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock in trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is under an obligation to offer a Qurbani. Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned amount must perform his own Qurbani separately.

If the husband owns the required quantity, but the wife does not, the Qurbani obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have prescribed amount wealth, both should perform Qurbani separately. If the adult children live with their own parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount. The Qurbani offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each one of them should care for his own. However, if a husband or a father, apart from the offering his own Qurbani, gives another Qurbani or behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission

No alternate for Qurbani Some people think instead of offering a Qurbani they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually there are different forms of worship obligatory for Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform Salah instead of fasting in Ramadan, not is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation can not be discharged by spending money in charity. However if somebody out of ignorance or negligence could not offer Qurbani on the three prescribed days (10th, 11th and 12th Zulhijjah) then in that case only, he can give the price of a Qurbani as sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Qurbani no Sadaqah can discharge the obligation. Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption.
All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, not can be given to the butcher as part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the Qurbani or its skin, he must give the accrued price as Sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah.

Source by : Abu Zakariya Yahya