Dear Muslims!
Allah the Almighty states in the verse I have recited as follows, "For every community We appointed a rite of sacrifice so that they may pronounce the Name of Allah over the sacrificial animals He has provided for them..."[1]
In the hadith I have read, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) says, "The son of Adam does not do any deed on the Day of Sacrifice that is dearer to Allah (swt) than sacrificing an animal for Him."[2]
Dear Believers!
There are only a few days left for us to perform the worship of qurbani, which is one of the greatest symbols of our sublime religion, Islam. May our Lord Almighty allow us all to reach the 'Eid al-Adha in health, well-being, and joy.
Qurbani is the act of a Muslim who is considered wealthy according to religious standards, slaughtering animals that meet the conditions for sacrifice for the sake of Allah during the days of 'eid. Qurbani is an expression of our gratitude for the countless blessings that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon us. It is the effort of being a servant to Allah, drawing near to Him (swt), and obeying His commands. It is a sign that our love for Allah surpasses all other affections. It symbolizes that we are willing to sacrifice everything we have in this worldly life for the sake of Allah.
Dear Muslims!
The worship of qurbani has much deeper meanings than merely slaughtering an animal and benefiting from its meat. It is expressed in the Holy Qur'an as, Ù„َÙ†ْ ÙŠَÙ†َالَ اللّٰÙ‡َ Ù„ُØُومُÙ‡َا ÙˆَÙ„َا دِÙ…َٓاؤُ۬Ù‡َا ÙˆَÙ„ٰÙƒِÙ†ْ ÙŠَÙ†َالُÙ‡ُ التَّÙ‚ْÙˆٰÙ‰ Ù…ِÙ†ْÙƒُÙ…ْۜ "Neither their meat nor blood reaches Allah. Rather, it is your piety that reaches Him."[3] Through sacrifice, we equip ourselves with piety; we feel the peacefulness of fulfilling our Lord's command and attaining His love and pleasure. We fulfill the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) and enjoy the pleasure of bringing affection to the homes, hearts and tables of the needy and oppressed. We unlock the door of kindness, and experience the happiness of being included in the prayers of orphans and the lonely.
Esteemed Believers!
According to our noble religion, Islam, the essence of the worship of qurbani is that the believer should slaughter the sacrificial animal himself. And to share its meat with one's family, relatives, neighbors, and those in need. Let us not forget that the worship of qurbani cannot be fulfilled by simply donating its monetary equivalent as charity instead of slaughtering an animal.
The sacrifice of a sheep or goat fulfills the religious obligation for a single individual, while cattle can be sacrificed jointly by up to seven people. Therefore, it is not permissible for more than one person to participate in a single share, nor is it permissible to mix the meat of different sacrificial animals and distribute it to the shareholders. The worship of qurbani should not be regarded as buying and selling meat. To ensure the validity of the worship of qurbani, such erroneous practices should never be given any credence.
Another point is that those who do not have the opportunity to slaughter their sacrificial animal at their place of residence, or those who wish to offer more than one qurbani, can have their sacrifices slaughtered through a proxy.
Dear Muslims!
Like many volunteer organizations that strive to offer sacrificial meat to our brothers and sisters in need, Türkiye Diyanet Foundation also conducts an "Organization of Qurbani by Proxy" with a sense of worship and trust. With the motto "Share Your Qurbani, Get Closer to Your Brothers and Sisters", we will safely deliver your sacrificial trusts to our brothers and sisters across the country, especially in the earthquake-affected provinces. We will extend the helping hand of our benevolent nation to the oppressed, the afflicted, and the needy in many parts of the world. Together, we will turn their pain, oppression, tears, and sorrow into joy. Insha Allah, together we will be the support for the lonely and bring a smile to the faces of the sorrowful. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join this caravan of benevolence through our religious officials, provincial and district mufti offices, and online on our Türkiye Diyanet Foundation's website.
May Allah the Almighty accept our sacrifices in His presence. May Allah grant our brothers and sisters in Gaza to reach the morning of 'eid with joy, peace, and security. I extend my best wishes for clarity of mind and success to all the young people preparing for exams this weekend. May Allah the Almighty grant our youth to grow up as a beneficial and auspicious generation for our country, nation, and humanity.
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[1] Hajj, 22/34.
[2] Tirmidhi, Adahi, 1.
[3] Hajj, 22/37.
General Directorate of Religious Services