The Quran

Preface

وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلنا مَنسَكًا لِيَذكُرُوا اسمَ اللَّهِ عَلىٰ ما رَزَقَهُم مِن بَهيمَةِ الأَنعامِ ۗ فَإِلٰهُكُم إِلٰهٌ واحِدٌ فَلَهُ أَسلِموا ۗ وَبَشِّرِ المُخبِتينَ

Yusuf Ali

To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate the name of God over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food).¹ But your God is One God. submit then your wills to Him (in Islam): and give thou the good news² to those who humble themselves,-

This is the true end of sacrifice, not propitiation of higher powers, for God is One, and He does not delight in flesh or blood (22:37), but a symbol of thanksgiving to God by sharing meat with fellow-men. The solemn pronouncement of God’s name over the sacrifice is an essential part of the rite.
The good news: i.e., the Message of God, that He will accept in us the sacrifice of self for the benefit of our fellow-men.