Animal sacrifice as religious ritual emerged in the Ancient Near East (roughly modern Middle East) when animals became domesticated. Humans made sacrifices to gods for peace, good favour, blessings and expiation of sins etc.

BUT—How does animal sacrifice for gods in the ancient world compare with such sacrifices for God in the modern world? Especially in relation to Islam? The difference it seems, comes down primarily to how the ancients define God, versus how Muslims define God.