In the verse I have recited, it is stated by our Lord Almighty (s.w.t.) that, "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you…" 1
And our Prophet (s.a.w.) says in the hadith I have read, "A human does no action from the actions on the days of Eid al-Adha more beloved to Allah then sacrificing an animal for the countenance of Him…" 2
Honorable Muslims!
A tradition that has been in practice since the Prophet Adam (a.s.), qurban is one of the worships that brings us closer to Allah (s.w.t.). The meaning of qurban is not just to slaughter an animal on the days of Eid. On the contrary, qurban is a manifestation of loyalty, obedience and submission to Allah (s.w.t.). It is a symbolic expression of sacrificing our wealth, souls and all our existence in the path of Allah (s.w.t) if needed. We refresh the memory of the Prophet Abraham (a.s.) and his son Ismail's (a.s.) absolute submission to Allah the Almighty (s.w.t.) every year on Eid al-Adha. We once again remember that our lives must be built on such faith, submission, and sincerity.
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Qurban is, above all, a worship we perform in the hope of earning the countenance our Lord (s.w.t.). Its legitimacy is confirmed by both the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah. As a matter of fact, our Almighty Lord (s.w.t.) commands in the Holy Qur'an, "And for all religion We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals..."3 Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w) performed this worship every year from the second year of the Hijrah until his demise. 4
Esteemed Muslims!
Through the worship of qurban, we, believers, acquire the habit of sharing for the sake of Allah, and extending our helping hand to the needy. It recovers us from being stingy, and being a captive of worldly possessions. It helps us to establish bonds and intimacy among our neighbors, relatives, friends, and all believers. It brings us closer to our brothers and sisters thousands of miles away, unites us, and raises the awareness of being ummah.
Qurban means being able, to some extent, to add a new taste to the meals of those who long for it; running to the aid of those who are in need regardless of their faith; having some share in the joy of the oppressed and in making them happy for the Eid. It is a hand of goodness reached out to our brothers and sisters whom we have never met –living in the remotest corners of the world– that we have never heard about. It is more than just sharing some meat with them, but it means to give them hope, confidence, and affection as well.
Brothers and Sisters!
Welcoming others to have their share in our qurban cracks open the door to eternal happiness and peace for us. As a matter of fact, our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) also informed us that sharing our qurban with those in need would actually make us gainful. When one day he (s.a.w.) asked what amount of meat was left of the qurban, our mother Aisha (r.a.) replied that only a shoulder was left. Upon her reply, our beloved Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "It seems all of it except one shoulder is ours."5
Esteemed Believers!
The Presidency of Religious Affairs and Turkiye Diyanet Foundation have been organizing programs for qurban by proxy both in Turkey and abroad for about twenty five years. The animals to be sacrificed, entrusted to us by our generous and open-handed nation, are slaughtered according to Islamic methods and distributed to our brothers and sisters in Turkey and all corners of the world. Donations for this year's qurban by proxy organization, initiated with the slogan "Donate Your Qurban, Unite the Hearts", will be accepted until the evening of Arafah.
Brothers and Sisters!
A share from the qurban that we distribute will return to our honorable nation as thousands, maybe millions of du'as, we believe. Let us join this caravan of charity for sharing what comes from our heart with the orphan, the needy, the abandoned, and the refugees in the camps. Let us not leave alone the ummah waiting for our help, and let us support this journey of affection.
I would like to conclude my khutbah with the following hadith of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). "… If anyone cares for his brother's need, Allah will care for his need; if anyone solves a Muslim's problem, Allah will solve one of his problems on the Day of Judgment; and if anyone helps someone in trouble, Allah will help him both in the world and in the Hereafter…"6
1 Hajj, 22/37. 2 Tirmidhi, Adahi (The Book on Sacrifices), 1. 3 Hajj, 22/34. 4 Tirmidhi, Adahi (The Book on Sacrifices), 11. 5 Tirmidhi, Sifat al-Qiyamah (Description of the Day of Judgement), 33. 6 Abu Dawud, Adab (General Behavior), 60. General Directorate of Religious Services