Quran Cordoba - Alhamdulillah, we have met the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul Hijjah. As is well known among us, qurbani is one of the teachings in Islam that has the noblest value. Today, Sunday (08/06/2025), Mashaallah Alhamdulillah Quran Cordoba once again performed qurbani by slaughtering a dashing and fresh bull. Its live weight was more than 700 kg. Most of the employees were present and participated in helping the slaughtering process until the management.

But in addition to the ritual of slaughter, every time the month of Dhul Hijjah arrives, there is a quiet voice that often greets the mind: have we sacrificed all this time? Are we ready to sacrifice? not only through slaughter, but also through servitude. Thus as Allah Swt. says:

لَنْ يَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُوْمُهَا وَلَا دِمَاۤؤُهَا وَلٰكِنْ يَّنَالُهُ التَّقْوٰى مِنْكُمْۗ

"The flesh of camels and their blood will never reach Allah, but what reaches Him is your piety." (QS. Al-Hajj: 37)

This verse is an important starting point that the essence of sacrifice is not only in the material, but in the meaning. Imam al-Razi in Mafatih al-Ghaib interpreted that piety in this verse refers to sincerity of intention, clean heart from riya', and willingness to sacrifice to get closer to Allah, whether with wealth, time, energy, or devotion.

Qurbani is not just an annual ritual. It is the culmination of spiritual and social awareness, an act of worship that unites the dimensions of ilaahiyyah (servitude) and insaaniyyah (humanity).

Unable to Sacrifice, Learn to Sacrifice

Perhaps due to financial constraints, some of us have not been able to buy qurbani animals. However, can't we still sacrifice? Maybe it's the energy expended, the time given, or maybe a little bit of wealth that we try to strive for. In this case, I remember how Al-Ghazali wrote beautifully in Ihya' 'Ulumuddin that closeness(al-qurbu) to Allah does not depend on the amount of gifts but on the clarity of the heart(naqaa`i al-sariirah).

Thus it means, if we are not able to compete in spending "wealth" for goodness, try hard to compete in sincerity. Therefore, if you are not able to sacrifice, then sacrifice anyway. Indeed, His ease is in every commandment.

Whatever we can do, do it to the best of our ability. Sacrifice as much as we can. Slaughter the lust of disbelief, indifference, dependence on the world that is not much, and others. All of that is part of the spiritual sacrifice that will essentially purify the soul, slowly towards perfection(al-ruuh al-kaamil). Because every form of devotion that is intended lillahi ta'ala is part of the spirit of sacrifice. So no one is too poor to love and serve this religion with sacrifice.

If we reflect on its origin, qurbani is a legacy of Prophet Ibrahim As., the father of monotheism who was willing to sacrifice his son on the orders of Allah. This is the pinnacle of total sincerity, a sacrifice not because of the will of the world, but because of obedience to Rabbul 'Alamin. Won't we learn to be sincere from here?

Reviving the Spirit of Qurbani with the Qur'an

Sacrifice is actually a reminder that humans do not live for themselves. He is a servant creature, and that devotion must be reflected in even the smallest things in our daily lives, this is where we begin to learn sacrifice by sacrificing.

Among the important things to reflect on from this qurbani is our sincerity in getting closer to the Creator by reading and diving into every meaning contained in the Qur'an, His majestic words. The Qur'an is a guide to life, and the spirit of qurbani is a manifestation of its values.

So in this month of Dhul Hijjah, let's revive the spirit of sacrifice. Among the ways is by :

1) taking time to read and meditate on the Qur'an every day;

2) gifting the best Mushaf to parents, teachers, or relatives;

3) donating Qur'ans to mosques or Islamic boarding schools that need them; and also

4) always support the da'wah movement through Qur'anic literacy.

For this reason, Quran Cordoba presents a selection of waqf Mushaf, exclusive, and thematic editions that can be a form of your devotion to religion - not only by slaughtering animals, but also by spreading the light of revelation.

Thus, sacrifice does not belong to the rich. Qurbani belongs to those who are willing to sacrifice for the sake of God. Not everyone can afford goats and cows, but everyone can learn to cultivate a pure intention, donate time, energy, and heart. And whoever is willing to sacrifice for the sake of Allah, he has participated in slaughtering something in himself that has been holding back his closeness to the creator.

‍Wallaahua'lam []

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Ayi Yusri A. Tirmidzi

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