Sacrifice can be defined as:

• An offering of life and a ceremony to God or to a divine being.

Believe it or not:

• Judaism, Christianity and Islam each celebrate and honor the practice of sacrifice as part of their traditions.
• The Qur'an and the Bible each depict the concept of sacrifice.

Avoiding Sin, Death & Hell:

• According to both the Qur'an and the Bible, sacrifice is closely connected to the concept of sin, death and avoiding hell.

In The Semitic Scriptures, Qurban  Is The Root Word Used In Reference To A Sacrifice:

• ​"Each of them (Cain & Able) offered a sacrifice (Arabic; qurban), one sacrifice (Arabic; qurban) being accepted and the other being rejected. One said, 'I will kill you!' the other replied, 'God only accepts the sacrifice of those who are righteous'...I would rather you bare the burden of my sins...then you will be destined for the fire." Qur’an 5:27-29

• “So that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.” Qur'an 43:35

• "We ransomed (Arabic; fada) him (Abraham) with a great sacrifice (or slaughter)....This is how we reward those who do good." Qur'an 37:107

• Muslims further associate sacrifice and forgiveness through the slaughtering an animal (called Qurbani) on one of their most important holy days called Eid-al-Adha and annually during the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca. Remembering God as the mercy-Giver and He replaced Abraham's son with a ram to sacrifice instead.

The Life Of The Body Is In Its Blood:

• For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD (YHWH). It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. Leviticus 17:11

• “People, if you have doubts about the Resurrection, you must know that We created you from clay that was turned into a living germ. This was developed into a clot of blood, which was made into a well formed and partly shapeless lump of flesh.” Qur’an 22:5

• “...They almost missed the opportunity to sacrifice it....So We said, 'Strike the body with parts of the cow;' in this way, God brings life from death and shows you his signs, so you might comprehend.'" Qur'an 2:71 & 73

Clear Signs, Jesus & Judgment Day:

• “Do not be like those, who after having received clear signs, disputed and were divided among themselves. They will have a great punishment waiting for them. On the Day (of Judgment)” Qur'an 3:104

• “We gave Jesus, son of Mary clear signs, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.” Qur'an 2:252

The Qur’an & Covenant

• The Qur’an says God made a covenant (Arabic: mithaqan) with Prophets Noah (Genesis 7:16), Abraham (Genesis 22), Moses (Exodus 24:3-8) and Jesus (Qur’an 33:7).
• In each case something was “cut” and blood was released, except it is unclear what was “cut” for Jesus.

Jewish Ancient Temple Practice Of Sacrifice:

• The high priest's as a righteous person was anointed during the temple era to sacrifice (Hebrew: qurban) a lamb and bring the blood into the Holy of Holies offering it to YHWH to atone for the sins of the people.​”

• The Jewish priest was anointed to act as an intercessor or mediator between God and the people.

• Jesus as Messiah was anointed and given authority by God to be a king, prophet and priest.

Jesus The Qur'anic Intercessor:

• Referring to God giving Jesus authority: “We preferred some of those messengers over others... We gave Jesus, son of Mary clear signs, and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit...But God does what He wants....Believers, contribute some of what We have provided you before a day comes when there is no bargaining, nor friends, nor intercession (Arabic: sha'afa)... Who is he who intercedes with Him except with His permission.”  Qur'an 2:253, 254 & 255

Prophesy Of The Coming Messiah

• “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

Fulfillment Of Prophecy

• John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29

• “The angels called to him as he stood praying in the inner sanctuary, “God gives you good news of John (the baptist), who will confirm a Word from God, He (Jesus) will be noble (master) and chaste, a prophet and one of the righteous.” Qur'an 3:39

Islamic Tradition States That There Is No Sacrifice Or Atonement For Sin:

• But what does history, Holy days and Scripture actually reveal?

• Muslims sacrifice animals on one of their most important holy days called Eid-al-Adha in remembrance of Abraham when God replaced Abraham's son with a ram to sacrifice instead.

The Concept of Qurban:

Muslims perform a very similar process where a lamb is offered as a sacrificed and blood used to “cover” sins. During pilgrimage (Hajj),

• Muslims slay animals facing the Qibla, (Mecca) and say: “On the day of sacrifice no one does a deed more pleasing to God than the shedding of blood. The sacrifice will come on the day of resurrection…and the blood finds acceptance with God.” Hadith
• This sacrifice helps a Muslim to a feeling or state of purification and innocence before Allah.
• Did Allah give Jesus a role on the Day of Resurrection? What is his role on Judgment Day?

More Examples:

Why Sacrifice And Sin:

• “Truly, those who do evil and are caught in their sins will be in Hell eternally. Those who believe and do good deeds will go to Heaven, where they will remain eternally." Qur'an 2:81

• “ He will rectify your deeds and forgive you your sins...” Qur'an 33:71

• "But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Genesis 2:17

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Atonement Requires Sacrifice:

• “We took a pledge from the prophets: from you and from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus, the Son of Mary. We took a solemn pledge from them so that God may question the truthful about their sincerity. And, for the unbelievers He has prepared a painful punishment.  Qur'an 33:7

Covenant Brings Clarity

• The ancient Semitic way to enter into a covenant (a solemn and unbreakable agreement) was to cut each other’s arms and mix blood.

• The Hebrew word used in the Torah is berit rooted in barah “to cut”.

• The other way to celebrate a covenant was to cut animals and walk between them (Gen 15:9-11).

• YHWH made a covenant with the descendants of Abraham symbolized through circumcision, also a cutting and letting of blood.

• Jews, Muslims and many Christians still observe this rite. Later, covenant was celebrated in the East by eating requiring the cutting of an animal and finally through the Torah or Law. (Psalm 25:10). Thus, a covenant requires “cutting”, which causes bloodshed.