What is the sacred “Sacrifice”?

اضحية or the word “Sacrifice” is a singular word. It is اضاحى in plural form and its lexicographical meaning is sacrifice, offering, sacrificing the sacrificial animals on the sacred day of Eid-Ul-Adha. According to the terminology of Shariah, the sacred “Sacrifice” means sacrificing certain animals in a certain manner on a certain day in the name of the creator and master, Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala, with an intention of attaining the intimacy and satisfaction of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala. That is to say; the sacred “sacrifice” is sacrificing hallal domestic animal, e.g-  goat, cow, sheep, wether, camel, buffalo etc, on any day starting from the 10^th to 12^th of the sacred month of Jilhazz Shareef in the name of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala with an intention of attaining the satisfaction of Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala.

Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala said in the sacred Qur’an Shareef pertaining to the sacred “Sacrifice”-

اِنَّا اَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ‌◌ فَصَلِ لِرَ‌بّكَ وَانْـحَرْ◌

Meaning: : “O my beloved Noor-E-Mujassam Habeebullah Hudurpak Swallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam! Indeed I gifted you Kawthar or all the goods. So, in order to express gratitude, perform Swalat and sacrifice.”

• (The Sacred Surah Al-Kawthar Shareef: The Sacred Ayaat Shareef 1-2)

It is mention worthy that the provision of the sacred “Sacrifice” is not only imposed on us, but also on our ancestors.

For example, Allah Subhanu Wa Ta’ala said in the sacred Qur’an Shareef-

لِكُلّ اُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا لّيَذْكُرُ‌وا اسْمَ اللهِ عَلـٰى مَا رَ‌زَقَهُم مّن بَـهِيْمَةِ الاَنْعَامِ ۗ

Meaning- “And for all religion we have appointed a rite of sacrifice that they may mention the name of Allah over what he has provided for them of sacrificial animals.”

• (The Sacred Surah Al-Hazz Shareef: The Sacred Ayaat Shareef 34)