The ritual of Qurbani, also known as the Holy Slaughtering or Hady, is performed in the valley of Mina. Mina, often referred to as the "City of Tents," is a vast valley located approximately five kilometers east of the Holy City... Read More
The ritual of Qurbani, also known as the Holy Slaughtering or Hady, is performed in the valley of Mina. Mina, often referred to as the "City of Tents," is a vast valley located approximately five kilometers east of the Holy City of Makkah. It serves as the primary base for pilgrims during several stages of the Hajj. While the pilgrimage involves traveling to various sacred sites, including Arafat and Muzdalifah, the physical act of the sacrifice is strictly tied to the boundaries of Mina, following the tradition established thousands of years ago.
The practice of Qurbani in Mina finds its roots in the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). According to Islamic tradition, Mina was the location where Prophet Ibrahim (AS) faced his greatest trial of faith. He was commanded by the Almighty to sacrifice his son, Ismail (AS). As Ibrahim (AS) traveled through the valley to fulfill this command, he was tempted by Shaitan (Satan) at three different spots to disobey the divine order. Ibrahim (AS) rejected these temptations by pelting the devil with stones—a location marked today by the three Jamarat pillars.
At the moment of the intended sacrifice, the Almighty replaced Ismail (AS) with a ram from Paradise. This act of devotion and the subsequent divine mercy transformed Mina into the eternal site of sacrifice. Every year, millions of pilgrims perform Qurbani on this very ground to commemorate Ibrahim's (AS) submission and to symbolize their own willingness to sacrifice personal desires for a higher spiritual purpose.
The performance of Qurbani occurs on the 10th of Zil Hajjah, a day known as Yaum-un-Nahr (The Day of Sacrifice). The timing of this ritual is critical. It follows the overnight stay in Muzdalifah, where pilgrims gather pebbles. Upon returning to Mina at dawn on the 10th, the first major ritual is the Rami (stoning) of the largest pillar, Jamarat al-Aqaba.
Immediately after the stoning of the pillar, the pilgrim proceeds with the sacrifice. In the early days of Islam, this was done individually by the pilgrims near their tents or at designated open areas within the valley. In the modern era, the Saudi government has established massive, state-of-the-art slaughterhouses within Mina's peripheral areas to handle the enormous scale of the pilgrimage. These facilities ensure that the sacrifice is performed according to Islamic jurisprudence (Sharia) while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and environmental safety.
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