WHY SACRIFICE!? VERSE NO.36ِ38

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Quran,Translation and Commentary in Brief (Vol. 04)
CAMEL THE SHIP OF DESERT Verses 36-38

      The argument is still about the chief rites of pilgrimage, such as the sacraments of Allah, the rituals of sacrifice, and in particular, the camels that are brought for sacrifice, when they are drawn up in line.

The Arabic, bodn means a large fat camel, often called dromedary, which has one large hump on the back.

      Here we should know that being large and fat is not necessarily one of the conditions for acceptance of the sacrifice. She should rather be not very lean, and lacking flesh. The pilgrim may have many good things as a result of the sacrifice that he offers, either spiritually or physically.

      Then the manner of the sacrifice has been mentioned in brief, that it is incumbent upon the sacrificer to pronounce the name of Allah over them, when they are on the altar. The best way of offering the sacrifice is to face the victim towards KAABEH, and rehearse the following verses:ِ

      ``I have set my face towards Him, who created the heavens and the earth; and never shall I adopt partners to Allah. In truth my prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life, and my death, are all for Allah the Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. To this I am ordered and I am the first of Muslims. (Those who submit to Allah's will) My Lord! It is yours and for you. In the name of Allah and by Allah, and Allah is Greater. My Lord! Accept it from me.''

      Allah has permitted us to eat the meat of cattle, but on condition that we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Without such invocation, we are apt to forget the sacredness of life, and prove that cruelty is our custom. But when we pronounce the name of Creator over the creature that we slaughter, it is a sign that the need of food makes us to take the life of the creatures. To this effect, a Muslim begins serving his food with saying:ِ ``In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the compassionate.''

      The commandment continues thus:ِ

      ``And when their flanks are collapsed (i.e. The victim is slaughtered well) eat

of them and feed the contented poor, and the beggar.''

      Although contemptuous begging is not approved of; the relief of all kind of distress, deserved or undeserved, is included in charity. So, in the above verse (NO.36), he who begs with humility, and he who receives gifts with gratitude and contentment, are both mentioned for consideration.

 

      The next verse (NO.37) is an answer to the question that; ``Why sacrifice!? What sort of a need may Allah have to the sacrifice of His creatures?'':ِ

      ``The flesh of them will never reach Allah, neither their blood, but your piety will reach Him.''

      In other word, it is not the meat or the blood-shed which is important in the sacrifice, or is admired by Allah. But He does appreciate what is physically offered to Him through the sincerity of the hearts, and honesty of intentions.

 

 

 

CAMEL THE SHIP OF DESERT Verses 36-38
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