The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 238
CH. 22 AL-HAJJ PT. 17 motives and material considerations. he ulterior. . . نسك الذبيحة They say. نسك from means, the man led a life نسك الرجل slaughtered and sacrificed the animal. devoted to God; he practised virtue and piety. means, he sacrificed seeking to win the pleasure of God; he did good deeds willingly and spontaneously in order to win nearness to God. means, he washed the cloth. means, rites of sacrifice; place where those rites are performed; one's native place. Thus the first commandment relating to sacrifice though apparently very simple is of great inward significance. It is that sacrifice should be offered only for the sake of Allah and that Allah's name should be invoked while the animal is being slaughtered for food. This not only sanctifies and blesses the food but is also calculated to turn attention to the means, the religious rites and sublime object underlying the act of ceremonies of the Pilgrimage. For see 11:24. Commentary: With this verse begins the subject of sacrifice, one of the three main themes with which this Sūrah deals, the other two being Hajj and jihad. The words "And to every people We appointed rites of Sacrifice," show that the commandment relating to Sacrifice is not confined to Islam. Sacrifice is common to all religions because they have proceeded from the same Divine source. It also appears from this verse that it was the sacrifice of animals that was originally enjoined on the followers of all religions and that the cruel practice of offering human beings as sacrifice was a later innovation. In view of the different meanings of the root word true sacrifice possesses three essential characteristics:- slaughtering the animal-to win the pleasure of God and to be prepared to sacrifice the dearest thing in His way and for His sake. The words, "So your God is one have twofold significance: (1) The God, therefore, submit all to Him," ye fact that the rite of sacrifice is common to all religions, although they are so widely separated from one another as regards the time and place of their origin, shows that originally they all emanated from the same Supreme Source and that the God of all nations is One God. (2) That the object underlying sacrifice is to realize and proclaim the Oneness of God by sacrificing our ambitions and aspirations, all our ideas and ideals and even life and honour for His sake, and by completely submitting ourselves to His commandments. The concept of sacrifice according to Islam does not consist in appeasing an offended deity or in atoning for one's sins but in sacrificing one's all (b) It should be offered with the for the sake of God and in the way of purest of motives, i. e. only to win the God. Those who have full realization pleasure of God; of this concept of sacrifice are called (c) It should not be offered from | (humble) in the language of the Quran. (a) It should be fully voluntary and spontaneous; 2152