Sacrifice A Very Common Ritual in All Beliefs

Overview What is Sacrifice? Sacrifice in Primitive Tribes Sacrifice in Three Abrahamic Religions –Who is Prophet Abraham(pbuh)? –The Place of Sacrifice in Each Religion –A Living Example: Sacrifice in Islam

What is Sacrifice? Sacrifice in most general meaning: The offering of anything to God, or to a god Offering can be in any form: by killing with a knife, by burning, etc. Anything can be offered: an animal, a human, a non-living object, etc. To God, or to a god! For any reason: thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation

Sacrifice in Primitive Tribes Usually believed in –Celestial objects (sun, moon, stars, etc.) –Atmospheric Events (rain, wind, etc.) –Idols Sacrifice was a common ritual for –Thanksgiving –Protection against anger of gods –Preventing natural disasters They have sacrificed –An important person, animal, or object

Sacrifice in Abrahamic Religions Who is Prophet Abraham(pbuh) and Why is he so important? The Place of Sacrifice in Each Religion A Living Example: Sacrifice in Islam

Prophet Abraham(pbuh) Descendant of the son of Prophet Noah(pbuh) named Sam Had two sons: –Ishmael (Prophet Mohammed(pbuh)’s ancestor) –Isaac (Ancestor of Moses and Jesus) Found Allah (or the God) using his own rationale Had very hard times with Nimrod and his own tribe

Prophet Abraham(pbuh) Built the House of Allah: Kaaba Performed the first Hajj

The Place of Sacrifice in Judaism&Christianity In the Torah: (Gen. 22) Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." In Christianity, Jesus was the Perfect Sacrifice to take away the sin of the mankind

Sacrifice in Islam Verses from Quran about sacrifice: [ ] So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones. So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, And We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim! You have indeed shown the truth of the vision; surely thus do We reward the doers of good: Most surely this is a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a Feat sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. [108.2] Therefore pray to your Lord and make a sacrifice. Prophet Mohammed(pbuh) tells us to make sacrifice as Prophet Abraham(pbuh) did.

Sacrifice in Islam Eid-Ul-Adha (a.k.a. the Feast of Sacrifice) –the second of the two major Muslim holy days –observed after the Hajj “Qurbani” means ‘approach’ Qurbani is a symbol of commitment, obedience and self-sacrifice to Allah Our Qurbanis carry us in our journey to Heaven

Feast of Sacrifice Salatul-Eid (Eid Prayer) in the morning A short sermon, after which everyone socializes Offering of domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Abraham's(pbuh) sacrifice One third of the meat to poor people One third to relatives, friends, neighbors One third for their own

Feast of Sacrifice Visits to relatives, friends and neighbors Gifts and sweets for children Pray for forgiveness from Allah and strength of faith Forgive others, releasing any feelings of enmity or ill feeling towards others