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Celebrated during the last month of the Muslim calendar

Sacrifice is an important part of every Muslim's life. Every year during the Festival of Sacrifice millions of Muslims slaughter animals in commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) offer of his son's life at the command of God, who was substituted by a ram.

The sacrifice of an animal on the occasion of Kurban Bayrami is obligatory, and it is seen as a sin if it is not done. Abu Huraira reported that Mohammed said: "He who can afford but does not offer it, should not come near our place of worship"

According to a booklet by Mohammad Iqbal Siddiqi, the sacrifice signifies the sacrifice of the sacrificer himself, and becomes an outward symbol of his readiness to lay down His life, if required, and to sacrifice all his interests and desires in the cause of the truth.

Islam denies, however, the fact that it can serve as atonement for sin.

According to Muslim belief, Prophet Ibrahim was put to a tough test by Allah to prove his faith. He was asked to sacrifice his son Ismail and without any hesitation Prophet Ibrahim blindfolded himself and made the offering on the Mount of Mina near Mecca. When Prophet Ibrahim opened his eyes, he was astonished to find a goat lying upon the altar and his son Ismail standing in front of him. Ever since Muslims the world over offer sacrifices on this festival day.

Devout Muslims of all ages offer special prayers at mosques in the morning. This festival also calls upon every Muslim, who can afford, to sacrifice an animal - a goat or sheep. The meat is then divided into three portions - one part for the poor, another for friends and relatives and whatever remains is for the family.

Kurban Bayrami provides an excellent time for evangelism.   Christians can build on the theme of the day, showing the true significance of the sacrifice.  Don't waste time correcting details, like which son was offered.   Emphasise that Jesus is the Great Lamb, who sacrificed His life so that we could be made acceptable to God.

Here is a free tract you can download and photocopy.  It is in Adobe Acrobat format.  You will need Acrobat Reader version 4.0 (or higher) which you can download for free.
 

Download your free Kurban Bayrami Tract:

• Kurban Bayrami Tract (Turkish - English)
• Kurban Bayrami Tract (English only)