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OFFERING ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN MINA AND ITS PHILOSOPHY

OFFERING ANIMAL SACRIFICE IN MINA AND ITS PHILOSOPHY
Another obligatory act in Mina following Ramy Jamarat al-Aqaba on Eid ul-Adha is sacrifice of an animal (camel, cow, or sheep) free from any defect and not thin. It is called 'Qurban ?offering-', because this act of worship is aimed at getting close to God. Therefore, 'qurban' is any good deed by which man seeks God's mercy. Since sacrifices are offered in the early hours of the day, it is also called Eid ul-Adha, and the animal sacrificed is called 'dhahiyya'. Sacrifice is a symbol of devotion and offering one's life in the way of the Beloved and the maximum degree of submission to God. Imam Ali read the following duaa upon offering the sacrifice: بِسمِ اللهِ، وَجَّهتُ وَجهِيَ لِلذِي فَطَرَ السّماواتِ والأرْضَ حَنيفاً مُسلِماً وما أَنا مِن المُشرِكِين. إنَّ صَلاتي ونُسُكِي ومَحْيايَ وَممَاتي للهِ رَبِّ العالَمِينَ. اللّهُمّ مِنكَ ولَكَ.

?In the Name of Allah. I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists. Surely, my prayers, my sacrifice, my life, and my death belong to Allah the Lord of the worlds. O Allah, whatever I have comes from and is for You.?1
The offering of animal sacrifice on Eid ul-Adha enlivens the memory of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismaeel (a.s). The father says, ?O my son, surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you. (The Holy Quran; 37:102)? The young son, too, without having any fear, says, ?O my father, do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me one of the patient ones. (The Holy Quran; 37:102)?
This is the utmost degree of devotion, which is worthy of God's saying, ?And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. (The Holy Quran; 37:107)?
It was so destined that this great act of devotion to become part of the Hajj rites and to be repeated every year in the Hajj seasons.
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1 See al-Wafi; vol. 2 section: Hajj p. 169

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Prophet Ibrahim's act of devotion became source of pride for human beings before the angels who had said to God: أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ
?Wilt Thou place in it such as shall make mischief in it and shed blood, and we celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy holiness? (The Holy Quran; 2:30)?
The angels should know that among the same human beings there are those whose devotion is to the extent that God praises: فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ. وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ. قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا
?So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead. And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim! You have indeed shown the truth of the vision. (The Holy Quran; 37:103-5)?
Therefore, Eid ul-Adha is the feast to celebrate the dignity of human beings, a day when man exchanged little provision of this world for the gardens wherein lasing blessings shall be his.


PAYING HOMAGE TO THE MASTER OF MARTYRS (a.s)
It is unfair not to mention the name of the great leader of the devotees, the endeared grandson of the Holy Prophet (saw), the light of the eyes of Imam Ali (a.s), the beloved of Fatima (a.s), and the master of martyrs; Imam Hussein (a.s) here. If Prophet Ibrahim (a.s) offered one sacrifice in Mina and the sacrifice was ransomed, Imam Hussein (a.s) offered seventy-two sacrifices in Karbala on a single day and none of them was ransomed. Imam Hussein (a.s) offered to God his friends and endeared ones including nursing infants and elderly men, beheaded and dismembered. Holding his blood-soaked swaddled infant on his arms and sprinkling towards the sky, the blood gushing from the throat of his nursing infant, the Imam said: هَوَّنَ عَلَيَّ مَا نَزَلَ بِي أَنَّهُ بِعَينِ اللهِ
?What alleviates all that which I am suffering is their being under Allah's sight.?
Then we should salute Imam Hussein (a.s) by saying: السَّلامُ عَليكَ يا أبا عبدِاللهِ وعَلى الأرْواحِ التي حَلَّتْ بِفِنائِكَ، عَليك مِني سَلامُ اللهِ أبَداً ما بَقِيتُ وبَقِيَ الليلُ والنّهارُ.
?Peace be on you, O Abu-Abdullah, and on those souls who came to your camp to put themselves at your


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disposal. So fat I am alive and the days and nights follow each other, I invoke Allah to send blessings on you for ever and ever.?1

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