The idea underlying sacrifice

That sacrifice does not consist in the act of shedding the blood of an animal or feeding on its meat is made plain by the Holy Qur’ān: “Not their flesh, nor their blood, reaches Allāh, but to Him is acceptable observance of duty on your part” (22:37). The underlying significance is made clearer still in another verse: “And for every nation We appointed acts of devotion that they might mention the name of Allāh on what He has given them of the cattle quadrupeds. So your God is One God, therefore to Him should you submit; and give good news to the humble, whose hearts tremble when Allāh is mentioned, and who are patient in their afflictions” (22:34, 35). The act of the sacrifice of an animal is thus in some way connected with righteousness, with submission to One God, with humbleness of heart, with patience under suffering: and the sacrifice of the animal is plainly regarded as affecting the heart, as making it tremble at the mention of Allāh’s name. Here we are told that it is not any empty mention of a word that they make, but the underlying meaning is that their hearts should thrill at the mention of that name. Taking away the life of an animal and shedding its blood, does not make them ferocious but creates humbleness in their hearts, because they realize that if they have sacrificed an animal over which they hold control, it is their duty to lay down their own lives in the way of Allāh, Who is not only their Master but also their Creator and Sustainer, and Who therefore exercises a far greater authority over them than they do over the animal. Hence, in the midst of verses speaking of sacrifice, is introduced a verse which requires the faithful to be patient under trials and hardships, in the way of Allāh. In the sacrifice of animals, the Holy Qur’ān thus gives to its followers the lesson of laying down their own lives in the cause of truth; and the lesson is made clearer still when this section on sacrifice, verses of which have been quoted above, is straightaway followed by a section which requires believers to lay down their lives in the defence of truth, the very first verse of that section running thus: “Permission (to fight) is given to those on whom war is made because they are oppressed” (22:39).