Majlis 73: "Why do we perform slaughter of animals, and what is the meaning behind it?" - Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS

In Eid ul Adha and particularly while performing Hajj we perform the sacrificial slaughter of animals (qurbani). What does ritual sacrifice symbolize?

A person can gain his sustenance and nourishment from grains, breads, and vegetables. Why ritually slaughter and sacrifice animals – whose meat we consume – and cause them pain? The Shari‘at not only permits this but encourages it. Why?

Ibrahim Nabi SA saw in his dream that he slaughters his son Imam Ismail SA. Jibraeel brought a black sheep that he sacrificed instead. This ritual sacrifice became a sunnat. Would an intelligent person accept that Allah would command his Nabi “slaughter your son”? What is the meaning of this?

What is the meaning of the stipulations of Shari‘at regarding slaughter? Stipulations such as giving water to the animal before slaughter and having an animal that is in good health (not physically impaired).

Syedna TUS answers these questions in this Majlis, the 73rd in the Majalis al Hikma series. He also concludes his bayan from the previous Majlis (Majlis 72) on the meaning of “Allaho Akbar.” He narrates the Quranic zikr of Nabi Ibrahim SA saying to the sun after seeing the planet and the moon that this is ‘greater’ (akbar).