Each of the four birds that Sayyiduna Ibraheem slaughtered is famous for a certain ill instinct – for example the peacock is proud of its facial beauty, the rooster possesses excessive sexual desire, the vulture is greedy in nature and the pigeon is proud of its ability to fly high. Thus the event of slaughtering these four birds gives us an indication towards slaughtering these four evils. By virtue of slaughtering these four birds, Sayyiduna Ibraheem observed the resurrection of the dead birds and his heart was blessed with ultimate satisfaction.
So the one who desires to strengthen his spirituality and wants to acquire Nafs-e-Mutma-innah should slaughter the rooster – meaning to kill his lust, should slaughter the peacock – meaning he should kill the pride of his personality and attire, he should slaughter the vulture – meaning he should kill his greed and he should slaughter the pigeon – meaning he should kill the feeling of being proud of his high worldly status. If someone succeeds in killing and slaughtering these four ill traits, he will observe the revival of his heart with his own eyes and will be blessed with the wealth of ‘Nafs-e-Mutma-innah’.
(I’afseer Jamal, vol. 1, pp. 328; part 2, Surah AI-Baqarah, Ayah 260)
So the one who desires to strengthen his spirituality and wants to acquire Nafs-e-Mutma-innah should slaughter the rooster – meaning to kill his lust, should slaughter the peacock – meaning he should kill the pride of his personality and attire, he should slaughter the vulture – meaning he should kill his greed and he should slaughter the pigeon – meaning he should kill the feeling of being proud of his high worldly status. If someone succeeds in killing and slaughtering these four ill traits, he will observe the revival of his heart with his own eyes and will be blessed with the wealth of ‘Nafs-e-Mutma-innah’.
(I’afseer Jamal, vol. 1, pp. 328; part 2, Surah AI-Baqarah, Ayah 260)
