What is the Urdu term for the act of sacrifice on Eid al-Adha? The answer is Qurbani.
Qurbani is the South Asian Urdu and Persian form of the Arabic word qurban, meaning an offering made to seek closeness to God. In everyday usage, especially in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, it refers to the ritual animal sacrifice performed during Eid al-Adha. Arabic also uses the terms qurban and udhiyah for this practice.
The ritual commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son. According to the Quranic account, God ultimately provided a substitute animal. The sacrifice therefore represents devotion and obedience, not the belief that God needs blood or meat.
Eligible animals traditionally include sheep, goats, cattle and camels, subject to religious requirements concerning health and humane slaughter. The meat is commonly shared among the household, relatives or neighbours, and people in need. Qurbani should not be confused with zakat, sadaqah or fidya: those are different forms of religious giving or compensation.