Sacrifice in Islam
Hajj is a global and collective worship. Its dates are fixed according to the lunar calendar. The rituals of Hajj are performed in Makkah and nearby areas over five days—from the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. During this time, on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the sacrifice is done in Mina. The prayer recited while sacrificing the animal is:
“I have set my face with single-minded devotion toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of those who associate partners with God. My prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for God, the Lord of the worlds; He has no partner. So I am commanded, and I am the first of those who submit. O God, this is from You and for You. In the name of God, God is the Greatest.”
In this prayer, the purpose behind the method of sacrifice is clearly seen. The truth is, sacrificing the animal is only a symbolic act. The real thing required from the one doing Hajj or the one offering sacrifice is their own personal sacrifice. The main goal is personal sacrifice. The animal sacrifice is kept only as an outward symbol.
What is meant by personal sacrifice? It refers to a person described in the mentioned prayer as Hanif (God-oriented) and Muslim (one who willingly submits to God). This means turning away from defiance and becoming fully obedient and faithful. It involves making God’s command—not personal desire—the guiding principle of life, and viewing what one possesses not as a personal achievement, but as a blessing from God. Such complete surrender is the true essence and spirit of sacrifice. An offering is only a real sacrifice when it fosters this very spirit within a person. That is why it is said in the Quran: Their flesh and blood do not reach God: it is your piety that reaches Him. (22:37)
Food is a fundamental need for every human. No one can survive without it. Through sacrifice, this need has been transformed into a valuable lesson. The animal sacrificed in the name of God during Dhul-Hijjah is actually the same kind of animal people normally slaughter and eat. However, when tied to the sacred worship of Hajj, it serves as a reminder that just as you sacrifice an animal, you should also sacrifice yourself. The person who offers a sacrifice eats some of the meat and also shares it with others. If there is a large amount of meat, it is permitted to preserve it for later use.
The outward form of sacrifice is to slaughter an animal, but its inner soul and spirit is to dedicate yourself to higher human values—to give yourself up for a great purpose or ideal. Every action has an outer form and an inner spirit. This is also the case with sacrifice. Its outer form is the slaughter. Its real spirit is sacrifice.
If you think deeply, the most important thing needed to build a healthy society is that the spirit of sacrifice must stay alive in its people. It is the sacrifices of individuals that give life to a society or nation. This is the lesson given to the person who offers a sacrifice.
One example of this is found in the instruction given during Hajj. In the Quran, it is said: When you set out for Hajj, do not argue or fight. (2:197) That means, during the journey, do not get into conflicts with others. It is clear that no one fights for no reason. These unpleasant situations usually happen as a reaction. That is, someone does something wrong, and the other person gets angry and starts fighting back.
If you keep this truth in mind, then the meaning of the command is this: Even if something wrong happens, don’t fight back. This is high-level moral behaviour, which is not possible without sacrifice. When a person controls the anger rising inside and sacrifices his negative emotions, then it becomes possible for him not to fight back even when someone does wrong to him. This sacrifice is the foundation on which the good morals expected from a pilgrim (Haji) are built.
This kind of emotional sacrifice by individuals is the only way to build a healthy society. When many people live together, it is natural that sometimes someone gets hurt by another. One person’s benefit may clash with another’s. In such situations, if people start reacting and answering back, the society as a whole will be torn apart by conflict. The truth is that the only way to keep society peaceful is for people to show patience and tolerance toward each other, which means emotional sacrifice. That is, a person ignores complaints. He forgets the unpleasant things. He chooses patience and self-control in such matters instead of reaction and revenge.
The spirit of sacrifice is the only guarantee for the creation of a better society. If the people of a society don’t have patience and a spirit of sacrifice, then peace and justice can never be established in that society. The sacrifices of individuals give life to a community. And the society whose people do not agree to walk the path of sacrifice—that society will not get the blessings of life and progress in this world.
The practice of sacrifice has existed in every religion. It is a sacred ritual where something is offered to God to seek His closeness and favour. This tradition has appeared in all faiths and throughout history. It is a humble offering from a finite human being to the Almighty God. The last thing that can be offered is a person’s own life. When someone is filled with God’s greatness, they want to give their life to Him. At such a moment, it is as if God, out of His special kindness, accepts the sacrifice of an animal instead of a person’s life. He then gives the person a chance to stay alive and continue working toward a divine purpose. The person’s desire to give their life is turned into constructive efforts.
In Hajj, patience and control are not only limited to people, but the same instruction is given regarding animals as well. In the farewell Hajj, there is a Hadith with these words:
Ibn Abbas recounts that on the day of Arafah, he was travelling with the Prophet. The Prophet heard people shouting and observed camels being struck. He pointed his whip towards them and said: O people, calmness is essential for you, because righteousness is not about rushing. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 1671)
All India Radio, New Delhi, 25 July 1988.
