Seven Times the Blessing: Why the Camel Qurbani is an Eid Game-Changer!
- A Father's Love, A Son's Trust: Where Qurbani Began
- How Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Did Qurbani: Kindness in Action
- The Camel: More Than Just a Desert Ride!
- Sharing the Big Gift: How Camel Qurbani Works (It's Like Pizza!)
- Mark Your Calendar: When to Do Qurbani
- Being Kind to Animals: The Qurbani Rules
- Old Enough and Strong Enough: Picking the Right Animal
- Sharing the Love: How Qurbani Helps Others
- More Than Just Meat: What Qurbani Really Teaches Us
- Got Questions? We've Got Answers!
- The Journey of Giving Continues
A Father's Love, A Son's Trust: Where Qurbani Began
To really get Qurbani, we need to travel way back in time, to a story that teaches us about incredible faith. Imagine Prophet Ibrahim, known as a close friend of Allah. He loved his son, Ismail, more than anything. Then, Allah asked Ibrahim in a dream to do the hardest thing imaginable: to offer his beloved son as a sacrifice.
Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Ibrahim’s heart was heavy, but his trust in Allah was even stronger. And young Ismail? He was so brave and full of faith too! He told his father, “Do what Allah has asked. You will find me patient.”
So, Ibrahim prepared himself. It was the ultimate test. But just as he was about to follow the command, Allah called out! He stopped Ibrahim and showed him a ram nearby. Allah told him that was what he should sacrifice instead. Phew! It wasn’t about wanting Ibrahim to harm his son; it was about seeing if Ibrahim’s faith was real and strong. Ibrahim passed the test!
This amazing event showed Allah’s incredible mercy. And it gave us the beautiful practice of Qurbani. When we offer an animal, we remember Ibrahim’s a-ma-zing trust and say, “We trust Allah too!”
How Our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) Did Qurbani: Kindness in Action
Many, many years later, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) showed us exactly how to do Qurbani. He didn’t just do it for himself; he did something extra special. He would offer another Qurbani for all his followers, especially for those who couldn’t afford to do one themselves. How kind is that?
This tells us that Qurbani isn’t just about you and your sacrifice. It’s about being part of a big family – the Ummah – and looking out for each other.
Following the Prophet’s way, which we call “Sunnah,” is super important. He said that if you bring back one of his ways that people have forgotten, you get a huge reward – like the reward of everyone who starts doing it again because of you! So, doing Qurbani is a way to follow the Prophet and earn lots of blessings.
A sheep
A Goat
1 Share of Bull/Cow
2 Share of Bull/Cow
3 Share of Bull/Cow
4 Share of Bull/Cow
Whole Cow/Bull
Whole Buffalo
The Camel: More Than Just a Desert Ride!
Camels are incredible creatures. Think about it: they can survive in the toughest deserts, carry heavy loads for miles, and they’ve been helping people for thousands of years. They are symbols of patience, strength, and being able to handle tough times.
In Islam and in the history of the places where Islam began, camels are very respected. So, when someone chooses a camel for Qurbani, it’s a big deal. Its large size means it’s a big offering, and that means there’s a lot more meat to share with people who need it. It’s like bringing a giant-sized gift to the Eid party!
Sharing the Big Gift: How Camel Qurbani Works (It's Like Pizza!)
Okay, so how does it work with such a big animal? It’s pretty cool, actually. Think of a big pizza. One person could eat it all, but it’s much nicer (and easier!) to share it, right? A camel in Qurbani is like a giant pizza that comes with seven slices, or “shares.”
This means that up to seven different people or families can chip in together to offer one camel for Qurbani. How awesome is that? It lets people team up and offer something really big, even if they couldn’t afford a whole camel by themselves. It’s all about working together.
Of course, if someone wants to, they can offer a whole camel all by themselves. That means they are giving seven Qurbani shares, which is incredibly generous!
The basic rule is that each person doing Qurbani needs to offer at least one share. So, you can either offer a small animal (like a goat or sheep, which counts as one share) or one share from a big animal (like a cow or a camel, which both have seven shares).
We know this is the right way because the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his friends did it. One of his companions, Jabir, told us that they once shared a camel for seven people and a cow for seven people during a journey with the Prophet. So, we know it’s a good practice!
And remember, Allah loves this act. The Prophet said that nothing makes Allah happier during these Eid days than Qurbani. He even said the animal will come on the Day of Judgment with everything – its horns, its hair, its hooves – to be weighed as good deeds! And Allah accepts the sacrifice even before the blood touches the ground. So, we should do it with a big smile and a happy heart. Imagine how much a big camel adds to those good deeds!
Mark Your Calendar: When to Do Qurbani
You can’t just do Qurbani whenever you want. There’s a special time for it. It has to be after the big Eid al-Adha prayer on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah. If you do it before the prayer, it’s still a good deed and a nice thing to do (called Sadaqah), but it doesn’t count as your official Qurbani.
You have three days to do it: the 10th, 11th, and 12th of Dhul Hijjah. The time ends when the sun sets on the 12th day. This special timing makes Qurbani feel even more important and connects Muslims all over the world as they all do it around the same time.
Being Kind to Animals: The Qurbani Rules
Islam teaches us to be kind to all creatures, and this is super important during Qurbani. There are special rules to make sure the animal is treated with respect and doesn’t suffer. It’s like saying “thank you” to the animal. Here’s how it should be done:
- Super Sharp Knife: The knife used must be very sharp. This makes sure the cut is quick and as painless as possible. Using a dull knife is not allowed because it would be cruel.
- No Scaring: You shouldn’t sharpen the knife where the animal can see it. That would scare it, and we must be kind.
- Privacy, Please: One animal shouldn’t have to watch another one being sacrificed. It’s about showing respect and preventing fear.
- Saying Allah’s Name: When doing the sacrifice, you must say “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.” This means “In the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest.” It shows that we understand life is sacred and we are only doing this because Allah allowed us to, and for His sake.
- Doing It Yourself (or Watching): It’s great if you can do the sacrifice yourself, but only if you know how. If not, you can ask someone who knows how to do it for you. But if you do, it’s best to be there and watch, to show you care and are part of it.
- Wait Patiently: After the sacrifice, you must wait until the animal is completely still and its body is cold before you start skinning or cutting the meat. This is another way to show respect.
Following these rules means we’re doing Qurbani the right way – the kind way, the Islamic way.
Old Enough and Strong Enough: Picking the Right Animal
Just like you wouldn’t give a tiny, weak present, the animal for Qurbani needs to be old enough and healthy enough. This shows we are offering something good and valuable. Here are the age rules:
- Sheep and Goats: Need to be at least 1 year old. (They count as 1 share).
- Cows and Buffalo: Need to be at least 2 years old. (They count as 7 shares).
- Camels: Need to be at least 5 years old. (They count as 7 shares).
Making sure the animal is the right age is part of doing your Qurbani correctly.
Sharing the Love: How Qurbani Helps Others
Doing Qurbani does cost money, and a camel costs more than a goat. But Muslims see this money not as just ‘spending’, but as ‘investing’ – investing in doing something good that pleases Allah.
And the best part? Qurbani is all about sharing. The traditional way is to split the meat into three parts:
- One part for you and your family. Enjoy the blessings!
- One part for your friends and neighbours. Sharing strengthens friendships!
- One part for people who need it most. This is the heart of Qurbani!
This sharing means Eid becomes a happy time for everyone. It builds bridges between people and makes sure that families who are struggling get to eat good, healthy meat, something they might not often have.
Today, it’s easy to share your Qurbani even with people far away. Many amazing charities, like Basmah (which helps Rohingya refugees and poor people in Bangladesh), can do your Qurbani for you. You can pay for a whole camel or just one share, and they will make sure:
- They find a healthy camel (or other animal) that meets all the rules.
- They perform the sacrifice kindly and correctly.
- They give the meat to people who are really poor and hungry.
Imagine! Your Qurbani in one part of the world can bring a huge smile and a full belly to a child or a family many miles away. It’s like sending a package of love and hope right when they need it. It’s a powerful way to show we are all one big family.
More Than Just Meat: What Qurbani Really Teaches Us
Qurbani is so much more than just a ritual. It’s a powerful lesson wrapped in an act of kindness. It teaches us:
- To Trust Allah: Just like Ibrahim did.
- To Be Thankful: For all the good things we have.
- To Care for Others: Especially those who have less.
- To Be Part of a Community: Sharing brings everyone closer.
- To Give Something Up: Offering something valuable helps us feel closer to Allah.
- To Remember the Future: Knowing our good deeds count makes us try harder.
When we do Qurbani, we’re not just sharing meat; we’re sharing faith, hope, and happiness.
Got Questions? We've Got Answers!
- So, what is Camel Qurbani? It’s offering a camel (that’s at least 5 years old) as a sacrifice during Eid al-Adha, following all the kind and proper Islamic rules. It’s a big way to remember Ibrahim, follow Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and share lots of blessings.
- How many Qurbani does one camel make? One camel = Seven Qurbani! It can be shared by up to seven people.
- Can just, say, 4 people share a camel? Yes! As long as together they pay for the whole camel and each person’s part is at least one full share.
- What if I can’t even afford one share of a camel or cow? That’s okay! Qurbani is only for those who can afford it without hardship. If you can afford a goat or sheep, that’s perfect. If not, then you don’t have to do it, and Allah knows your heart. You can still enjoy Eid and share in the Qurbani meat given by others.
The Journey of Giving Continues
Offering a camel for Qurbani is a truly special act. It’s a big symbol of faith, a big act of kindness, and a big help to many people. It’s like sending that “ship of the desert” on a mission of hope and nourishment.
This Eid al-Adha, think about the story of Ibrahim, the kindness of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), and the millions of people who need our help. Whether you offer a goat, a cow, or a camel, do it with a happy heart and a desire to share. Because when we give for Allah’s sake, we receive the best gifts back – peace, happiness, and the feeling of being connected to something much bigger than ourselves. Happy Eid!