Dr. Dewan Azad Rahman: Qurbani is one of the great acts of worship in Islam and a deep moral lesson for human life. It is not merely a ceremony of slaughtering an animal; rather, it is a practical exercise in giving up one`s beloved things, ego, greed and selfishness for the pleasure of Allah. During Eid-ul-Azha, Muslim society rejoices, meets relatives, shares food and brings smiles to the faces of poor people. But the real beauty of this festival lies in inner taqwa, purity of intention and a sense of responsibility towards people. Qurbani reminds us that wealth is a gift from Allah, life is a trust from Allah, and the purpose of all our deeds should be to attain Allah`s pleasure.

The history of Qurbani is closely connected with the memory of the obedience and sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (A.) and Prophet Ismail (A.). Prophet Ibrahim (A.) bowed down his emotion, reasoning and family love before Allah`s command. Prophet Ismail (A.) gave an example of patience, obedience and faith. This event teaches that true faith is not merely a claim made by the tongue; true faith means giving priority to Allah`s command even in difficult situations. Thus, Qurbani is not only a remembrance of the past; it is also a living lesson for present life.

To Allah, outward splendour is not valuable; the purity of the heart is. Worship does not become greater simply because the sacrificial animal is big or expensive. Rather, intention, honesty and Allah-consciousness determine the value of worship. If Qurbani is performed for show, fame or social competition, its main lesson is lost. As in every deed, the aim of Qurbani should be to please Allah. This teaching beautifies a person`s private life and helps make society peaceful.

Qurbani teaches people the joy of giving. When people spend a part of their wealth for the poor, they understand that happiness is not only in personal enjoyment; it also lies in making others happy. Distribution of Qurbani meat is not merely an act of kindness; it is a practice of social justice. Qurbani places before us the responsibility that poor people should not be deprived of the joy of Eid. When the rich and the poor, relatives and neighbours, and known and unknown people share food and love, brotherhood, sympathy and mutual relationships become stronger in society.

In modern society, people are busy competing to acquire more, show more and accumulate more. Qurbani teaches that true honour does not lie in displaying wealth; it lies in character, generosity and taqwa. The belief that wealth is a trust from Allah teaches people to earn lawfully, spend honestly, avoid waste and fulfill the rights of the poor. Along with slaughtering an animal, one must also control the arrogance, jealousy, miserliness and selfishness within oneself. When people can suppress their evil instincts, peace is established in their personal lives, families and society.

In a densely populated country like Bangladesh, the teachings of Qurbani are even more important. Many people here live in economic hardship. Therefore, Qurbani can be a great opportunity for social support. If everyone distributes meat in a planned way, protects the dignity of poor people, keeps the environment clean and avoids unnecessary display, then Qurbani will create moral awakening in society. Cleaning blood, waste and dirt properly after Qurbani is a social and religious responsibility. Causing suffering to others or creating environmental pollution in the name of worship goes against the teachings of Qurbani.

The livelihood of many people - farmers, farm owners, traders, labourers and butchers - is connected with Qurbani. Therefore, honesty, fair prices, respect for labour and staying away from cheating are essential at this time. Selling sick animals, charging excessive prices, giving less in weight or withholding a worker`s wages are contrary to the ethics of Qurbani. Qurbani teaches us that worship is not limited to the mosque or the home; honesty must also be maintained in markets, transactions, labour and social relationships.

Qurbani can become a school of values for the young generation. Children and adolescents grow up watching the arrangements of Qurbani during Eid-ul-Azha. They need to be made to understand that Qurbani is not only a festival of joy or food; it is a lesson in obedience, kindness, sharing, cleanliness, honesty and humanity. If families, mosques, schools and society teach these lessons to the youth, they will grow up as more responsible citizens in the future. For the development of a country, skilled people alone are not enough; ethical people are also necessary.

Qurbani is also instructive in the field of communal harmony and social coexistence. Although this festival is an act of worship for Muslims, its human aspect is understandable to all. When we respectfully help non-Muslim neighbours, poor working people, street children or helpless elderly persons, mutual respect increases in society. Bangladesh is a country of people of many religions, languages and cultures. Therefore, the teaching of Qurbani never creates division; rather, it calls people to the path of kindness, courtesy and cooperation. Remaining conscious so that the joy of the festival does not become a cause of fear, annoyance or inconvenience for anyone is also a teaching of Qurbani.

For the welfare of humanity, Qurbani is a great ideal. It teaches us self-sacrifice, Allah-consciousness, compassion, equality, brotherhood, cleanliness and social responsibility. Just as sacrificing an animal on the day of Qurbani is an act of worship, trying to remove people`s suffering is also a great act of worship. If we understand the essence of Qurbani and apply it in our lives, an environment of love, justice, kindness and cooperation will be created in society. Qurbani reminds us that human greatness lies not in wealth but in sacrifice; not in power but in service; not in words but in deeds. Therefore, by accepting the true teaching of Qurbani, each of us should engage ourselves in the welfare of humanity.

Author: Researcher and Essayist

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