Zulhijjah: Eidul-Adha, Hajj, Sacrifice, etc.

Zulhijjah: Eidul-Adha, Hajj, Sacrifice

Zulhijjah is the last month of the Islamic calendar. Literally, it means "hajj." Obviously, this name of the month indicates that the great annual worship of "hajj" is performed in this month, which gives it special significance. Some specific merits and rules relevant to this month are mentioned below: 

First Ten DaysThe first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar. The Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, "One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the "Lailatul-Qadr".Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as much Iba'dah (acts of worship) to Allah as he or she can. 

The 9th day of ZulhijjahThe 9th day of Zulhijjah is called 'Youmul - "Arafah' (The Day of 'Arafah). This is the date when the Hujjaj (Haji pilgrims, plural of Haajj) assemble on the plain of 'Arafat, six miles away from Makkah al-Mukarramah, where they perform the most essential part of the prescribed duties of hajj, namely, the 'Wuqoof of'Arafat (the stay in 'Arafat). 

The Fast of Youmul 'ArafahFor those not performing hajj, it is mustahabb (desirable) to fast on this day according to their own calendar. It sometimes occurs that 9th Zuihijjah falls on different days in different countries according to the sighting of the moon. In such cases, Muslims of each country should observe 'Youmul 'Arafah according to the lunar dates of their own country.For example, if 'Youmul 'Arafah' is being observed in Saudi Arabia on Friday, and in Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistani Muslims should treat Saturday as 'Youmul 'Arafah' and should fast on that day if they desire to benefit from the fast of 'Youmul'Arafah'.The fast of 'Youmul 'Arafah' has been emphasized by the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, as a mustahabb (desirable) act. According to a hadith, the fast of this day becomes a cause, hopefully so, of forgiveness for sins committed in one year. 

 Takbir-ut-tashriqBeginning from the Fajr of the 9th Zulhijjah up to the 'Asr prayer of the 13th, it is obligatory on each Muslim to recite the Takbir of Tashriq after every fard prayer in the following words.Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,La Ilaha Illallahu, Wallahu Akbar,Allahu Akbar wa lillahilhamd. 

 (There is no god but Allah and Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest and to Allah belongs all praise.) 

 According to authentic Islamic sources, it is obligatory on each Muslim, to recite this Takbir after every fard salah. For women also, it is commendable though not obligatory. Whether you are performing salah with Jama'ah (collectively) or on your own (individually) makes no difference. You must recite the Takbir. However, male Muslims should recite it in a loud voice, while females should recite it in a low voice. 

On the Eid day  The following acts are sunnah on the day of Eidul- adha:1. To wake up early in the morning.2. To clean one's teeth with a miswak or brush3. To take bath.4. To put on one's best available clothes.5. To use perfume.6. Not to eat before the Eid prayer.7. To recite the Takbir of Tashriq in a loud voice while going to the Eid prayer. 

 How to Perform Eid Prayers (Hanafi School)The Eid prayer has two raka'at performed in the normal way, with the only addition of six Takbirs, three of them in the beginning of the first raka'ah, and three of them just before ruku' in the second raka'ah. The detailed way of performing the Eid prayer is as follows:The Imam will begin the prayer without Adhan or iqamah. He will begin the prayer by reciting Takbir of Tahrimah (Allahu Akbar). You should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting the Takbir, you should set your hands on your navel. The Imam will give a little pause during which you should recite Thana' (Subhanakallahumma .:.). After the completion of Thana', the Imam will recite Takbir (Allahu Akbar) three times. At the first two calls of Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after reciting Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in a low voice, should bring your hands down and leave them earthwards. But, after the third Takbir, you should set them on your navel as you do in the normal prayers.After these three Takbirs, the Imam will recite the Holy Qur'an, which you should listen calmly and quietly. The rest of the raka'ah will be performed in the normal way.After rising for the second raka'ah, the Imam will begin the recitations from the Holy Qur'an during which you should remain calm and quiet. When the Imam finishes his recitation, he will recite three Takbirs once again, but this time it will be just before bowing down for ruku'. At each Takbir you should raise your hands up to the ears, and after saying 'Allahu Akbar', bring them down and leave them earthwards. After these three takbirs have been called and completed, the Imam will say another takbir for bowing down into the ruku' position. At this takbir you need not raise your hands. You just bow down for your ruku' saying, 'Allahu Akbar'. The rest of the salah will be performed in its usual way. 

 Khutbah: The Address of Eidul-AdhaIn this salah of Eid, Khutbah is a sunnah and is delivered after the salah, unlike the salah of Jumu'ah where it is fard and is delivered before the salah. However, listening to the khutbah of Eid salah is wajib or necessary and must be listened to in perfect peace and silence.It is a sunnah that the Imam begins the first Khutbah by reciting takbir (Allahu Akbar) nine times and the second Khutbah with reciting it seven times.Note:The way of Eid prayer described above is according to the Hanafi school of Muslim jurists. Some other jurists, like Imam Shafi'i, have some other ways to perform it. They recite Takbir twelve times before beginning the recitations of the Holy Qur'an in both the raka'at. This way is also permissible. If the Imam, being of the Shafi'i school, follows this way, you can also follow him. Both ways are based on the practice of the Holy Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. 

Sacrifice or Qurbani: Philosophy and RulesThe Urdu and persian word Qurbani (Sacrificial slaughter) is derived from the Arabic word Qurban. Lexically, it means an act performed to seek Allah's pleasure. Originally, the word Qurban included all acts of charity because the purpose of charity is nothing but to seek Allah's pleasure. But, in precise religious terminology, the word was later confined to the sacrifice of an animal slaughtered for the sake of Allah.The sacrifice of an animal has always been treated as a recognized form of worship in all religious orders originating from a divine book. Even in pagan societies, the sacrifice of an animal is recognized as a form of worship, but it is done in the name of some idols and not in the name of Allah, a practice totally rejected by Islam.In the Shari'ah of our beloved Prophet, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, the sacrifice of an animal has been recognized as a form of worship only during three days of Zulhijjah, namely, the 10th, 1lth and 12th of the month. This is to commemorate the unparalleled sacrifice offered by the Prophet Sayyidna Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, when he, in pursuance to a command of Allah conveyed to him in a dream, prepared himself to slaughter his beloved son, Sayyidna Isma'il, Alayhi Salam, and actually did so but, Allah Almighty, after testing his submission, sent down a sheep and saved his son from the logical fate of slaughter. It is from that time onwards that the sacrifice of an animal became an obligatory duty to be performed by every well to do Muslim.Qurbani is a demonstration of total submission to Allah and a proof of complete obedience to Allah's will or command. When a Muslim offers a Qurbani, this is exactly what he intends to prove. Thus, the Qurbani offered by a Muslim signifies that he is a slave of Allah at his best and that he would not hesitate even for a moment, once he receives an absolute command from his Creator, to surrender before it, to obey it willingly, even if it be at the price of his life and possessions. When a true and perfect Muslim receives a command from Allah, he does not make his obedience dependent upon the command's reasonability' as perceived through his limited understanding. He knows that Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise and that his own reason cannot encompass the knowledge and wisdom underlying the divine command. He, therefore, submits to the divine command, even if he cannot grasp the reason or wisdom behind it.This is exactly what the Prophet Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did. Apparently, there was no reason why a father should slaughter his innocent son. But, when came the command from Allah, he never asked about the reason for that command, nor did he hesitate to follow it. Even his minor son when asked by his father about the dream he had seen, never questioned the legitimacy of the command, nor did he pine or whine about it, nor did he ask for one good reason why he was being slaughtered. The one and only response he made was:'Father, do what you have been ordered to do. You shall find me, God willing, among the patient".The present-day Qurbani is offered in memory of this great model of submission set before us by the great father and the great son. So Qurbani must be offered in our time emulating the same ideal and attitude of submission.This, then, is the true philosophy of Qurbani. With this in mind, one can easily unveil the fallacy of those who raise objections against Qurbani on the basis of economic calculations and depict it to be a wastage of money, resources and livestock. Unable to see beyond mundane benefits, they cannot understand the spirit Islam wants to plant and nourish among its followers, the spirit of total submission to Allah's will which equips man with most superior qualities so necessary to keep humanity in a state of lasting peace and welfare.Qurbani is nothing but a powerful symbol of the required human conduct vis-a-vis the divine commands, however "irrational" or "uneconomic" they may seem to be in their appearance. Thus, the distrustful quest for mundane economic benefits behind Qurbani is, in fact, the negation of its real philosophy and the very spirit underlying it.No doubt, there are in every form of worship ordained by Allah, certain worldly benefits too, but they are not the main purpose of these prescribed duties, nor should they be treated as a pre-condition to submission and obedience. All acts of worship, including Qurbani, must be carried out with a spirit of total submission to Allah, irrespective of their economic, social or political benefits. This is what Ibrahim, Alayhi Salam, did, and this is what every true Muslim is required to do,Keeping this in view, we are giving here some rules governing the worship of Qurbani in our Shari'ah according to the Hanafi School. 

The Time of QurbaniQurbani can only be performed during the three days of Eid, namely the 10th, Ilth and 12th of Zulhijjah. It is only in these days that slaughtering of an animal is recognized as an act of worship. No Qurbani can be performed in any other days of the year.Although Qurbani is permissible on each of the three aforesaid days, yet it is preferable to perform it on the first day i.e. the 10th of Zulhijjah.No Qurbani is allowed before the Eid prayer is over. However, in small villages where the Eid prayer is not to be performed, Qurbani can be offered' any time after the break of dawn on the 10th of Zulhijjah.Qurbani can also be performed in the two nights following the Eid day, but it is more advisable to perform it during daytime. 

Who is Required to Perform Qurbani? Every adult Muslim, male or female, who owns 613.35 grams of silver or its equivalent in money, personal ornaments, stock-in-trade or any other form of wealth which is surplus to his basic needs, is under an obligation to offer a Qurbani. Each adult member of a family who owns the above mentioned amount must perform his own Qurbani separately. If the husband owns the required quantity, but the wife does not, the Qurbani obligatory on the husband only and vice-versa. If both of them have the prescribed amount of wealth, both should perform Qurbani separately.If the adult children live with their parents, Qurbani is obligatory on each one of them possessing the prescribed amount. The Qurbani offered by a husband for himself does not fulfil the obligation of his wife, nor can the Qurbani offered by a father discharge his son or daughter from their obligation. Each one of them should care for his own.However, if a husband or a father, apart from offering his own Qurbani, gives another Qurbani on behalf of his wife or his son, he can do so with their permission. 

No Alternate for Qurbani  Some people think that instead of offering a Qurbani they should give its amount to some poor people as charity. This attitude is totally wrong. Actually, there are different forms of worship obligatory on Muslims. Each one of them has its own importance and none of them can stand for the other. It is not permissible for a Muslim to perform salah instead of fasting in Ramadan, nor is it permissible for him to give some charity instead of observing the obligatory Salah. Similarly, Qurbani is an independent form of worship and this obligation cannot be discharged by spending money in charity.However, if somebody, out of his ignorance or negligence, could not offer Qurbani on the three prescribed days (10th, 1lth and 12th Zulhijjah) then, in that case only, he can give the price of a Qurbani as sadaqah to those entitled to receive Zakah. But during the days of Qurbani no Sadaqah can discharge the obligation.

The Animals of QurbaniThe following animals can be slaughtered to offer a Qurbani:1. Goat, either male or female, of at least one year of age.2. Sheep, either male or female, of at least six months of age.3. Cow, ox buffalo of at least two years of age.4. Camel, male or female, of at least five years of age.One head of goat or sheep is enough only for one person's Qurbani. But as for all other animals like cow, buffalo or camel, one head of each is equal to seven offerings thus allowing seven persons to offer Qurbani jointly in one such animal.If the seller of animal claims that the animal is of the recognized age and there is no apparent evidence to the contrary; one can trust his statement and the sacrifice of such an animal is lawful.

Rules about Defective AnimalsThe following defective animals are not acceptable in Qurbani:1. Blind, one eyed or lame animal.2. An animal so emaciated that it cannot walk to its slaughtering place.3. An animal with one-third part of the ear or the nose or the tail missing.4. An animal that has no teeth at all, or the major number of its teeth are missing.5. An animal born without ears.The following animals are acceptable in Qurbani:1. A castrated he - goat. (Rather, its Qurbani is more preferable).2. An animal that has no horns, or its horns are broken. However, if the horns of an animal are uprooted totally so as to create a defect in the brain, its Qurbani is not lawful.3. An animal the missing part of whose ear, nose or tail is less than one third.4. A sick or injured animal, unless it has some above mentioned defects rendering its Qurbani unlawful. 

The Sunnah Method of QurbaniIt is more preferable for a Muslim to slaughter the animal of his Qurbani with his own hands. However, if he is unable to slaughter the animal himself, or does not want to do so for some reason, he can request another person to slaughter it on his behalf. In this case also, it is more preferable that he, at least, be present at the time of slaughter. However, his absence at the time of slaughter does not render the Qurbani invalid, if he has authorized the person who slaughtered the animal on his behalf. It is a Sunnah to lay the animal with its face towards the Qiblah, and to recite the following verse of the Holy Quran:I, being upright, turn my face towards the One who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not among those who associate partners with Allah. ( Al-An'am, 6:79)But the most essential recitation when slaughtering an animal is: Bismillah, Allahu Akbar. (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest). If somebody intentionally avoids to recite it when slaughtering an animal, it does not only make his Qurbani unlawful, but also renders the animal haram, and it is not permissible to eat the meat of that animal. However, if a person did not avoid this recitation intentionally, but he forgot to recite it when slaughtering the animal, this mistake is forgiven and both the Qurbani and the slaughter are lawful.If somebody is unable to recite "Bismillah Allahu Akbar" in the Arabic language, he can recite the name of Allah in his own language by saying, "In the name of Allah". 

Distribution of the MeatIf an animal is sacrificed by more than one person, like cow or camel, its meat should be distributed equally among its owners by weighing the meat strictly and not at random or by mere guess. Even if all the partners agree on its distribution without weighing, it is still not permissible according to shari'ah.However, if the actual weighing is not practicable due to some reason, and all the partners agree to distribute the meat without weighing, distribution by guess can be done with the condition that each share necessarily contains either a leg of the animal or some quantity of its liver.Although the person offering a Qurbani can keep all its meat for his own use, yet, it is preferable to distribute one-third among the poor, another one-third among his relatives and then, keep the rest for his personal consumption.All parts of the sacrificed animal can be used for personal benefit, but none can be sold, nor can be given to the butcher as a part of his wages. If somebody has sold the meat of the Qurbani or its skin, he must give the accrued price as sadaqah to a poor man who can receive Zakah. 

HajjThe most important way of worship performed in this month is "hajj", one of the five pillars of Islam. The Muslims from every part of the world assemble in Arabia to perform this unique way of worship. Hajj is a worship, which requires at least five days to be performed in its proper way. There are detailed rules for different acts of hajj for which separate books are available, and the present article does not aim at explaining all these details. However, some basic information about its obligation is being given here:1. Hajj is obligatory on every adult Muslim who can afford to go to Makkah during the hajj season, whether on foot or by any other carriage.2. If a person can travel to Makkah to perform hajj, but he cannot travel to Madinah, hajj is obligatory on him also. He can perform hajj without visiting Madinah.3. A Muslim woman cannot travel for hajj unless she is accompanied by a mahram (i.e. husband or relative of a prohibited degree like son, father, brother etc.) If she does not find any mahram to accompany her, hajj is not obligatory on her until she finds one. However, she must make a will that in case she dies before performing hajj, his heirs should arrange for her hajj-e-badal out of her left over property.4. Hajj is obligated only once in one's life. After performing the obligatory hajj; one is not required to perform it again. However, he can perform the nafl (optional hajj as many times as he or she wishes.)

ID-UL-ZOHA, EID-UL-ADHA

The Festival of Sacrifice This three-day Muslim festival is celebrated in the month of Dhul Hijjah to pay tribute to Prophet Ibrahim'swillingness to sacrificehis son at god's instruction. Id-ul-Zoha is one of the most important festivals of the Muslims. It is called Id-ul-Adha in Arabic and Bakr-Idin the Indian subcontinent, because of the tradition of sacrificing a goat, orbakr in Urdu. It is celebrated from the10th to the 12th day in the month of Dhul Hijjah. The word id derived from the Arabic iwd means 'festival' andzuha comes from uzhaiyya which translates to 'sacrifice'. Id-ul-Zoha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice hisson on god's orders. According to Islamic belief, to test Ibrahim, Allah commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismail. He agreed to do it but found his paternal feelings hard to suppress. Sohe blind-folded himself before putting Ismail on the altar at the mount of Minanear Mecca. When he removed his bandage after performing the act, hesaw his son standing in front of him,alive. On the altar lay a slaughtered lamb. Joyous festivities and somberrituals mark this event. The main celebrations are on the first day of the three-day festival. According to therules laid down for Id by Prophet Muhammad, every Muslim is expected to take a bath, wear new clothes, applyitr or perfume, walk to the mosque before eating anything, and recite the Takbir aloud. After the prayers which are held in an open space in deference to the directive of the Quran, he is to return home.

Celebrations on the first day include Do Rakat Namaz, which can beper formed any time from sunrise to just after noon. The prayers during this festival are considered more rewarding than other daily or weekly offerings. Every Muslim owning property worth 400 grams of gold or more is expected to sacrifice a goat, sheep or any otherfour-legged animal during one of the three days of the festival. This symbolises devotion to Allah and his desires. The sacrifical meat is then distributed and partaken of after the Idprayers. Prophet Muhammad had decreed that Id be celebrated for three days to facilitate participation by the entire community. Prayer meetings and Id milans arepart of the festivities. People visit friends and relatives wearing new clothes and jewellery. Children are given idi or gifts and money. In the Indian subcontinent sweets are exchanged. Vermicelli or seviyan, a traditional sweet, is prepared specially for this festival.

Id also coincides with the anniversary of the day when the Quran was declared complete. It is the time when many Muslims undertake Hajto Mecca.

During Haj, pilgrims symbolically go through several events in the life of Prophet Ibrahim and his son, Ismail, while building the Kabah. On reaching Mecca, devotees walk around the Kabahs even times and run seven times between the Safa and Marwa hills. After a night halt at Mina, they go tothe Arafat plain, where Muhammad preached his last sermon. They pray together till dusk, spend the night there, then return to Mina to enact the'stoning of the devils' ritual, in which seven stones are thrown at three stone pillars commemorating Ibrahim'srejection of Satan. After sacrificing ananimal, they have their hair shorn off and go around the Kabah seven times,to complete the rites of the pilgrimage. During Haj, men and women are expected to adhere to a very strict code of conduct. Male pilgrims wear only two white sheets of cotton, so thatall of them, whether rich or poor, lookalike. Women have no special dress. They must be covered from head totoe, except that their face is unveiled.The use of cosmetics and soap is prohibited, as is cutting hair and nails. Physical relations are also not permitted. Every Muslim is expected to go for Haj at least once in his life time.The poor and the sick are however,pardoned. Those who cannot undertake the pilgramage are expected to celebrate Id-ul-Zoha.

Ibrahim and Ismail - Eid ul Adha

Ibrahim and Ismail - Eid ul Adha

"Ibrahim was of the self-same faith (as Noah) and came to his Lord with a pure heart. He said to his father and to his people, 'What are these that you worship? Would you serve false gods instead of Allah? What do you think of the Lord of the Creation?'

He lifted up his eyes to the stars and said, 'I am sick!' Then, his people turned their backs and went off.

He stole away to their idols and said to them, 'Will you not eat your offerings? Why do you not speak?' With that, he fell upon them, striking them down with his right hand.

The people came running to the scene. 'Would you worship that which you have made with your own hands,' he said, 'when it was Allah who created you and all that you have made?'

They replied, 'Build up a pyre and cast him into the blazing flames.' Thus they schemed against him, but we balked their schemes.

He said, 'I will take refuge with my Lord; he will guide me. Grant me a son, Lord, and let him be a righteous man.'

We gave him news of a gentle son. And when he reached the age when he could work with him his father said to him: "My son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think.'

He replied: 'Father, do as you are bidden. Allah willing, you shall find me faithful.' And when they had both surrendered themselves to Allah's will, and Ibrahim had laid down his son prostrate upon his face, We called out to him saying: 'Ibrahim, you have fulfilled your vision.' Thus did we reward the righteous. That was indeed a bitter test. We ransomed his son with a noble sacrifice and bestowed on him the praise of later generations. 'Peace be on Ibrahim!'

Thus are the righteous rewarded. He was one of Our believing servants.

We gave him Ishak, whom We made a saintly prophet, and blessed them both. Among their offspring were some who did good words and others who clearly sinned against their souls."

- Quran 37:83 to 37:113

Prophet Ibrahim is the Father of Monotheistic Faiths (Jewish, Christian and Islamic) and was named Khalil'ullah - Friend of Allah for his staunch faith in the Unseen God. He went against his father, Azar, and his community who were idol worshippers and upheld his belief in Tawhid - One God.

To uphold his belief and his dawa of the One God, he did not give in to Nimrud and his people who threatened to throw him into a blazing fire when they were confounded.

"Ibrahim's people replied: 'Kill him! Burn him!' But from the fire Allah delivered him. Surely in this there are signs for true believers." 29:24

"'Fire', We said, 'be cool to Ibrahim and keep him safe." - Qulna ya naru koonee bardan wasalaman AAala Ibraheema - Quran 21:69

Prophet Ibrahim's life is a sign and an example to us. His trust in Allah and willingness to submit to Him with the sacrifice of his dearest possession was a severe trial turned manifest example. If one sees the esoteric view of this series of events, it is readily evident that when Ibrahim was willing to fulfil Allah's command of giving up his dear son, Allah did not really need or want his son as Ismail had been granted to him in old age 11:69-71, - it was a test. And Ismail, by readily agreeing to his father's need to obey the command of Allah, relieved the burden Ibrahim must have felt. Both father and son submitted to the Will of Allah.

Then Allah gives a hundred-fold...

In reality, blood wasn't shed, but life was made even more valuable with the knowledge of Allah's pleasure in their willingness to comply. It is the same with our Dasond and other offerings made in the name of Allah. We are only offering back what was granted to us. After all, we are Ismailis!

This event in history gave birth to Eid-ul Adha - Festival of Sacrifice, where Muslims all over the world remember the tough sacrifice Hazrat Ibrahim had to make and was rewarded by Allah by sparing Ismail and making him an example for us to follow in our lives - when we choose to submit to His will, all ends well.

Eid-ul Adha is celebrated on the 10th of the month of Zul-Hijja after pilgrims complete their Hajj to Kabbah and follow the footsteps of Bibi Hajar when she was left in the valley of Mecca with Ismail by Hazrat Ibrahim. Families and Jamat get together to recite the morning prayers and then there is feasting, exchange of gifts and rejoicing.

I thought it would be helpful, here, to give the Muslim-Christian names of the Prophets believed by the Ahl-e Kitab as I build my web site with more and more stories from the Holy Quran. Quiz to follow soon... If I've missed any, please fill me in.

Prophets of People of the Book - Ahl-e Kitab

Arabic	English Equivalent
Adam	Adam
Nuh	Noah
Ibrahim	Abraham
Ismail	Ishmael
Ishaq	Isaac
Lut	Lot
Dawood	David
Ayoub	Job
Yaqoub	Jacob
Sulaiman	Solomon
Talut	Saul
Uzair	Ezra
Yunus	Jonah
Yusuf	Joseph
Hud	Hud
Zul'Kifl	Zul'Kifl
Zul'Qarnain	Two-Horned -Alexander
Idris	Idris
Luqman	Luqman
Al Yasha	Elisha
Saleh	Salih
Shuaib	Shoaib
Mousa	Moses
Haroun	Aaron
Issa	Jesus
Yahya	John the Baptist
Zakariya	Zacharias
Ilyas	Elias
Muhammad, Ahmed	Mahomed, Praised One

Other

Allah	God
Quran	Koran
Firoun	Pharaoh
Habeel	Abel
Hassan	Shabur
Hussain	Shabir
Imran	Amran
Injeel	Gospel
Taurat	Torah
Zaboor	Psalms
Jalut	Goliath
Jibreel	Gabriel
Qabeel	Cain
Hajar	Hagar
Juj	Gog
Majuj	Magog
Maryam	Mary
Masjid	Mosque
Mikaeel	Michael
Misr	Egypt
Nasrani	Christian
Yahudi	Jew
Qarun	Korah
Muslim	Moslem
Sabah, Bilqees	Sheba
Suad	Sad
Ad	Aad
Khidr	Khezr
Iblis	Satan
Madyan	Midian
Samood	Thamoud

The Story of Prophet Ibrahim's attempt to sacrifice his son (celebration of Eid Al-Adha)

The Story of Prophet Ibrahim's attempt to sacrifice his son (celebration of Eid Al-Adha)

Most of us know the story of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) sacrifice and we say that it was a test by Allah (subha'anuhu wa ta'ala). But do we really understand what Ibrahim went through? Do we appreciate what it was like to be Ibrahim?

Can we grasp in thought what happened? Why is it that we regard Ibrahim as the father of faith? The patriarchal figure of the three major world religions, i.e. Islam, Christianity and Judaism. What was it that he achieved?

Ibrahim (saw) is distinguished in the Qur'an with the title of khalil-ul-Allah (the intimate friend of Allah). In surat an-Nisa, Allah says : "For Allah did take Ibrahim for (an intimate) friend " (4:125). He is also described in surat an-Nahl as a model: "Ibrahim was indeed a model. Devoutly obedient to Allah, and true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah " (16:20).

Ibrahim was born among the star- and idol-worshipping people of Chaldea, in the home of Azar, his father, the idol-maker of the tribe. Ibrahim was among the kuffar, but not of them, like a spring of tawheed (monotheism) arising out of the swamp of shirk (polytheism). The Quran tells us in Surah al-Anaam : " Lo ! Ibrahim said to his father Azar: Do you take idols for God? For I see you and your people in manifest error? " (6:74).

From the revolt in the house of Azar, his father, Ibrahim went on to challenge the polytheism of his people. Indeed Ibrahim is known as history's great idol-smasher, as the founder of monotheism and the crusherof ignorance.

There are numerous verses in the Qur'an which describe how Ibrahim argued against idol-worshippers, his rational arguments against skeptics and those who worshipped celestial bodies, how he deals with unbelievers, how he preaches to his people. For instance, in surat al-Baqara Allah says : "Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because God granted him power ? Abraham said : ` My Lord is He who giveth life and death.' He said: `I give life and death.' Said Abraham : `But it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the East : Do then cause it to rise from the West.' Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected Faith. Nor doth God give guidance to a people unjust." (2:258)

In another example in surat al-Anbiya : "We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his rectitude of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. Behold! He said to his father and his people, `What are these images to which ye are (so assiduously) devoted?' They said, `We found our fathers worshipping them.' He said, 'Indeed ye have been in manifest error -- ye and your fathers.' They said, 'Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?' He said, `Nay, your Lord is the Lord of heavens and the earth, He who created them (from nothing): I am a witness to this (truth). And by God, I have a plan for your idols -- after ye go away and turn your backs.' So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it. They said, `Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety! ' They said, `We heard a youth talk of them: he is called Abraham.' They said, `Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear witness.' They said, `Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham?' He said, `Nay, this was done by -- This is their biggest one! Ask them, if they speak intelligently!' So they turned to themselves and said, ` Surely ye are the ones in the wrong!' Then were they confounded with shame: (they said) `Thou knowest full well that these idols do not speak!' (Abraham) said, Do ye then worship, besides God, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides God ! Have ye no sense?' They said, `Burn him and protect your gods, if ye do (anything at all)!' (21:51-68)

As usual, when falsehood is defeated on intellectual grounds it resorts to plotting and oppression. The response of his people to his da'wa is given in surat al-Ankabut : "So naught was the answer of (Ibrahim's) people except that they said : Slay him or burn him " (29:24) Ibrahim could have given up his message and his beliefs to save himself from the fire of Nimrod. Nut he chose martyrdom. He chose to die for Allah's message to live. He chose to step into the fire of ignorance and tyranny in order to save humanity from the fire of ignorance and tyranny. So he was cast into the fire.

But Allah had a different plan for Ibrahim and he was unhurt by the grace of Allah (ta'ala): "But Allah did save him from the fire. Verily in this are signs for people who believe " (29:24). Allah also says: "We said `O fire! Be cool and a means of safety for Ibrahim' " (21:69). His miracle did not refrain the idol-worshippers from continuing for very long years their plots, persecution, abuse, cruelty and isolation against Ibrahim but he remained uncompromising, unshakable in his beliefs, patient in his suffering, gentle in his manners until he made his Hijra (he migrated) to the lands of Aram and Canaan. He left the land of his fathers to become a stranger in the land of promise.

It was indeed a land of promise. A land where Ibrahim continued a lifetime of struggle, da'wa, movement, bearing alone the heavy responsibility of the mission of Tawheed (monotheism) in an age of darkness, oppression, prejudice and ignorance. Ibrahim did not have children. And through- out his century of Prophethood and service of God, as Ibrahim grew older, his desire to have a son grew stronger. The now oldProphet Ibrahim desperately longed for a son but his wife Sarah was barren. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous son!" (37:100) was his call to Allah.

Against every expectation, Allah fulfilled his promise of making Ibrahim the seed of a great line of Prophets, the root of the great universal religions. "So we gave him the good news of a forbearing boy" (37:101).Allah brought mercy to the agedness, loneliness, hopelessness and anguish of his trustworthy Messenger. For Ibrahim, Ismail was not just a son for a sonless father, he was the end of a life of waiting, the reward of a century of suffering, the fruit of his life, the hope after despair and the young boy of an old father.

Ismail being the promise of future generations was in some sense the whole world for Ibrahim.

So there was joy and rejoicing in Ibrahim's house as Ismail was quickly growing under the sun of his father's love. But Allah decided that it was not to remain so. Ibrahim was to be tried once more. Ibrahim had avision in which he was commanded by Allah to slaughter his only son.

Why should Ibrahim, whose entire life was devoted to Prophethood, to Jihaad, to removing ignorance, to laying the foundations of tawheed be tried once again?

Is it because man should not rest? Is it because man should not be deceived by 100 years of Jihad and victories? Is it because he should not think of himself without weakness? Is it for the fact that whatever we fix our eyes upon in this world will blind us? And finally, is it because the higher the spiritual height we reach, the greater is the danger of falling?

It is not possible to convey in words what it must have meant for Ibrahim to be commanded by Allah (swt) to sacrifice his only son Ismail. The magnitude of the pain does not allow the imagination to enclose it. It inspires fear and trembling.

How can Ibrahim take his beloved son, the fruit of his life, the joy of his heart, the meaning of his living and staying, his Ismail, and hold him on the ground, put a knife to his throat and kill him?

If it were only the slaughter of Ibrahim at the hand of Ismail, how easy!

But no! The young Ismail must die and the old and aged Ibrahim must remain!

Ibrahim, the steel-like idol-smasher must have felt torn apart!

Within him, there must have been a war, the greatest jihad. Which war? The war between God and Ismail! The difficulty of choice!

Who should Ibrahim choose? Love of God or Love of self? Prophethood or Fatherhood? Loyalty to God or loyalty to family? Faith or Emotion? Truth or Reality? Consciousness or Instinct? Responsibility or Pleasure? Duty or Right? Tawheed (Monotheism) or Shirk (Polytheism)? Advancing or Remaining? To Become or To Be? And finally, God or Ismail?

What should Ibrahim choose?

Ibrahim did not choose immediately. He doubted and wavered under the crushing force of pain and anguish. Only after the third vision did he finally decide to carry out Allah's command. This is reflected in the hajj ritual of stoning the three idols representing Iblis(Satan) who tempted Ibrahim to disobey Allah.

When a 'truth' enhances one's earthly life, most people become seekers of truth. But when a truth opposes life and leads to problems, loss and dangers the seekers of truth are few in number. Iblis works wherever he finds traces of fear, weakness, doubt, despair, envy selfishness and even great affection towards someone or something. Iblis sometimes blows logical reasons, intellectual and religious justifications to achieve his ends. For instance we may imagine that, under the powerful crush of his pain and distress, Ibrahim could have used many justifications. Perhaps the meaning of dhebh (slaughter) is just metaphorical and means kill your 'ego'. Perhaps 'Ismail' might be a general noun and not Ibrahim's son. Perhaps 'slaughter Ismail' actually meant 'slaughter the love of Ismail'.

Ibrahim could have also tried many interpretations of his vision. But Ibrahim, khalil-ul-Allah, the intimate friend of God, had faith in Allah and he knew that Allah (ta'ala) demanded the sacrifice. Abraham'sconscience would make a mockery of all these logical justifications and reasons.

Ibrahim chose the Love of God over the Love of self, Prophethood over Fatherhood, Loyalty to God over Loyalty to family, Truth over Reality, Consciousness over Instinct, Responsibility over Pleasure, Duty over Right, Tawheed over Shirk. He preferred Advancing to Remaining. Ibrahim chose God and gave up Ismail.

On the grounds of Mina near Mecca, an amazing and frightening conversation between a father and a son took place. Ibrahim said to Ismail : "O my Son, I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now see what is your view ? " (37:102)

What frightening words for a child to hear! Ismail could have kept silent. He could have asked Ibrahim to refrain. But Ismail had also faith. He submitted to Allah's will. Realizing his father's distress, Ismail gave him these comforting words: "O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah so wills, patient and constant " (37:102)

Ibrahim had consulted his son who willingly offered himself to Allah's command. The choice of Ibrahim was sacrifice. That of Ismail was self-sacrifice: Martyrdom.

This gave Ibrahim strength. Ibrahim tied his heart to God, he took the Ismail of his life in one hand and the knife of his faith in the other and he walked until he reached the place of sacrifice. Ibrahim was sufferingwhile believing and at every moment it was possible for him to retract and turn back. Yet he laid Ismail on the ground, putting his face away from him to give strength to his crushed soul and paralyzed hand. And so he slaughtered Ismail. But, by Allah's grace, the knife did not cut. Ibrahim received a sheep and was called by Allah:

"O Ibrahim! You have confirmed the Vision Thus indeed do We reward those who do right This is indeed the manifest trial!" (37:104-105)

Ibrahim gained everything and kept Ismail. This means that the God of Ibrahim is not thirsty for blood like the Inca gods or some Hindu goddesses were thirsty of blood. With one stroke of a knife, concept of Human sacrifice to please God, present in most of the Pagan customs, was abolished forever amongst peoples of the book.

It is the people, the servants of God who are hungry, and hungry of sheep meat. And, symbolically, the only blood shed in this story is the blood of Iblis. This means that from the very beginning God did not want Ismail to be slaughtered.

Mankind has needs but God has no needs. He is Self-Sufficient. Allah (swt) in His Wisdom raised Ibrahim to the highest peak of sacrificing his Ismail without sacrificing Ismail. Allah (swt) promoted Ismail to the highest peak of being the great sacrifice of God without bringing any harm to him.

This event is not about the torment and torture of mankind but about the perfection of humanity, the freedom from the prison of instinct and selfishness and about the elevation of spirit.

This momentous event also teaches us, through Ibrahim, that human life, Ismail's, Ibrahim's, everyone's, acquires its meaning and value from God -- The Source of Creation -- and not from nature. It signifies that the good things in life, represented by Ismail, derive their value not from the mere fact that they exist and can be valued, enjoyed and delighted in, but from God, The Source of Creation Himself. Ibrahim was, in some sense, giving back Ismail to receive him again on the proper basis.

Different people organize differently their loyalty to God, to the family and to the nation or the state. A secular mind owes and absolute duty to the nation (and the family) whereas a religious conscience owes absolute duty to God. For a secular mind Ibrahim was willing to MURDER Ismail but for a religious conscience he was willing to SACRIFICE Ismail. Ibrahim therefore instructs that we should owe absolute duty only to God and it is our relationship to God which ought to transcend and determine out relation to family/nation and not vice-versa. Brothers and Sisters, there still is a lot to understand and discover about this momentous event. These are only a few possible meanings. Only a few, and just possible, because as Ibrahim taught us to be less complacent and more critical about having attained faith, we should be less complacent and more critical about having attained understanding.

The Ismail of Ibrahim was his son. But you, who is your Ismail ? what is it ? Your degree? Your reputation? Your position? Your money? Your home? Your car? Your beloved? Your family? Your knowledge? Your title? Your dress? Your fame? Your soul? Your spirituality? Your Beauty? Your strength? Your career?

How does one know?

Well, you know this yourself. One can only give its signs to you. Whatever is in your eyes which holds the place of Ismail in the eyes of Ibrahim !

Whatever weakens you on the way of faith! Whatever stops you in your movement! Whatever brings doubt to your responsibility!

Whatever has enchained your freedom! Whatever leads you to compromise and justification!

That very thing which deafens your ears before the Message of Truth! Whatever calls you to remain with yourself!

Whatever causes you to flee from your duty! Whoever or Whatever keeps you behind in order to remain with her/him or it!

These are the signs of our Ismail's. Let us search for them in ourselves and let us slaughter them to move towards Allah (swt) and to remove the real knife from the throat of oppressed Muslims from Bosnia to Kashmir, from somalia to Palestine. Let us revolt against the heartless worshippers that we have become. Remember our Eid is not an Eid of victory. It is the Eid of sacrifice (adha).