Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 605
Is the act of Qurbānī (sacrifice) specific to pilgrims performing Ḥajj, or does it extend to all Muslims?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
The discussion on the verbal and practical proof of sacrifice from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not end merely at establishing that it is a Sharʿī ruling to which a believer says “samʿnā wa aṭaʿnā” (“We hear and we obey”).
When we reflect upon the wisdom and background of the command of sacrifice, it becomes abundantly clear that Qurbānī was never intended to be exclusive to the pilgrims (Ḥujjāj).
Rather, it was prescribed for the entire Ummah, so that every believer could partake in this great act which symbolizes the completeness of Islām.
Reason and natural instinct (fiṭrah) both demand that the spirit of Ibrāhīm’s devotion and submission be represented by a permanent symbol in the community of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
Therefore, this noble act was not confined to the pilgrims alone — for their number is small, while the Muslim nation is spread across the entire globe.
The pilgrims (Ḥujjāj) enjoy the privilege of personally performing the sacred rites:
✿ They raise the cry of Labbaik and reach the court of Allah.
✿ They perform ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah.
✿ They kiss the Ḥajar al-Aswad, symbolically kissing the Hand of Allah.
✿ They cling to the Multazam, weeping and supplicating.
✿ They perform saʿī between Ṣafā and Marwah, reviving the memory of Ibrāhīm and Hājar عليهما السلام.
✿ They stand in ʿArafāt, crying and humbling themselves before their Lord.
✿ And finally, they offer sacrifice at Minā, practically manifesting the spirit of self-surrender.
All these are honors reserved for the pilgrims.
But what about those who cannot go for Ḥajj?
They too long for a share in these spiritual blessings.
It was this yearning of the Muslim Ummah that called for a way through which the spirit of Islām could remain alive everywhere and for everyone.
In answer to this natural yearning, Allah, through His Messenger ﷺ, instituted the system whereby:
✿ The act of sacrifice (Qurbānī) was extended beyond the precincts of Ḥajj.
✿ Thus, every able Muslim, wherever he resides, may renew the Sunnah of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام in his own home.
✿ This annual sacrifice keeps alive the spirit of devotion and submission that lies at the heart of Islām — the very soul of the Abrahamic mission.
For those unable to perform Ḥajj or offer sacrifice, Islam has still provided alternative ways to partake in the atmosphere of Ḥajj:
① ʿĪd Prayer (Ṣalāt al-ʿĪd) has been granted as the equivalent of the gathering at ʿArafāt, allowing non-pilgrims to experience a similar sense of unity and devotion.
② Those who cannot offer sacrifice or attend the ʿĪd prayer have still been included in remembrance through a third blessing:
◈ From the 9th to the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah, after every obligatory prayer, they are commanded to recite the Takbīrāt aloud:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no deity except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah.”
Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet ﷺ —
the one through whom the entire Ummah was blessed to share in the Sunnah of their leader and forefather Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
بِمُصْطَفَىٰ بَلِّغْ مَقَاصِدَنَا فَإِنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ كُلُّ الْكَوْنِ يَحْتَرِفُهُ
“Through Muṣṭafā ﷺ attain your goals, for the entire religion is embodied in him.
Whoever fails to reach him, fails to reach the truth entirely.”
Summary:
❖ Question:
Is the act of Qurbānī (sacrifice) specific to pilgrims performing Ḥajj, or does it extend to all Muslims?
✿ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʿammā baʿd!
The discussion on the verbal and practical proof of sacrifice from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ does not end merely at establishing that it is a Sharʿī ruling to which a believer says “samʿnā wa aṭaʿnā” (“We hear and we obey”).
When we reflect upon the wisdom and background of the command of sacrifice, it becomes abundantly clear that Qurbānī was never intended to be exclusive to the pilgrims (Ḥujjāj).
Rather, it was prescribed for the entire Ummah, so that every believer could partake in this great act which symbolizes the completeness of Islām.
✿ The Symbol of the Abrahamic Faith
- If sacrifice is that very act which manifests the essence of the Abrahamic tradition,
- and through which Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and his followers were identified with the title “Muslims” (those who submit),
- then it was necessary that this act be shared by the entire Muslim Ummah, preserving the living spirit of that pure faith.
Reason and natural instinct (fiṭrah) both demand that the spirit of Ibrāhīm’s devotion and submission be represented by a permanent symbol in the community of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
Therefore, this noble act was not confined to the pilgrims alone — for their number is small, while the Muslim nation is spread across the entire globe.
❀ The Blessings of the Pilgrims and the Role of Others
The pilgrims (Ḥujjāj) enjoy the privilege of personally performing the sacred rites:
✿ They raise the cry of Labbaik and reach the court of Allah.
✿ They perform ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah.
✿ They kiss the Ḥajar al-Aswad, symbolically kissing the Hand of Allah.
✿ They cling to the Multazam, weeping and supplicating.
✿ They perform saʿī between Ṣafā and Marwah, reviving the memory of Ibrāhīm and Hājar عليهما السلام.
✿ They stand in ʿArafāt, crying and humbling themselves before their Lord.
✿ And finally, they offer sacrifice at Minā, practically manifesting the spirit of self-surrender.
All these are honors reserved for the pilgrims.
But what about those who cannot go for Ḥajj?
They too long for a share in these spiritual blessings.
It was this yearning of the Muslim Ummah that called for a way through which the spirit of Islām could remain alive everywhere and for everyone.
❀ The Wisdom of Sacrifice for Non-Pilgrims
In answer to this natural yearning, Allah, through His Messenger ﷺ, instituted the system whereby:
✿ The act of sacrifice (Qurbānī) was extended beyond the precincts of Ḥajj.
✿ Thus, every able Muslim, wherever he resides, may renew the Sunnah of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام in his own home.
✿ This annual sacrifice keeps alive the spirit of devotion and submission that lies at the heart of Islām — the very soul of the Abrahamic mission.
❀ Additional Blessings for Non-Pilgrims
For those unable to perform Ḥajj or offer sacrifice, Islam has still provided alternative ways to partake in the atmosphere of Ḥajj:
① ʿĪd Prayer (Ṣalāt al-ʿĪd) has been granted as the equivalent of the gathering at ʿArafāt, allowing non-pilgrims to experience a similar sense of unity and devotion.
② Those who cannot offer sacrifice or attend the ʿĪd prayer have still been included in remembrance through a third blessing:
◈ From the 9th to the 13th of Dhul-Ḥijjah, after every obligatory prayer, they are commanded to recite the Takbīrāt aloud:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
“Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest; there is no deity except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and all praise belongs to Allah.”
✿ Concluding Words
Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet ﷺ —
the one through whom the entire Ummah was blessed to share in the Sunnah of their leader and forefather Ibrāhīm عليه السلام.
بِمُصْطَفَىٰ بَلِّغْ مَقَاصِدَنَا فَإِنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ كُلُّ الْكَوْنِ يَحْتَرِفُهُ
“Through Muṣṭafā ﷺ attain your goals, for the entire religion is embodied in him.
Whoever fails to reach him, fails to reach the truth entirely.”
Summary:
- Qurbānī is not limited to pilgrims; it is a universal act of devotion for all Muslims.
- It commemorates the spirit of sacrifice of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and connects every believer with the essence of Islām.
- Those who cannot perform Ḥajj still share in its blessings through ʿĪd prayer, Qurbānī, and Takbīrāt.
- The command of sacrifice ensures that the Abrahamic spirit of obedience and self-surrender remains alive in every generation.
