The Story of Prophet Ibrahim and the Spirit of Sacrifice: Understanding Eid-ul-Adha

Muslims have two major occasions of happiness and celebration, known as the days of EID. These days are the reward of the efforts and sacrifices that are made for the Allah Almighty. The first occasion, Eid-ul-Fitr, is celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan. It is the treat from Allah (SWT) for fasting and spending 30 days doing good deeds. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS) when he repeatedly saw a dream. This incident shows Prophet Ibrahim's devotion and obedience towards Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) tested Ibrahim (AS) so many times throughout his life. Years after leaving Prophet Ismail and Hajra (RA) in the desert (Makah), Prophet Ibrahim had a dream in which Allah commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail whom he gets at the age of 86. He (AS) found this dream disturbing, so he brushed it aside, but he had the same dream again and again. He decided to talk to Ismail (AS) about this.

"Allah has asked me to sacrifice you,"

He told his son. 

Ismail (AS) a 13 year old boy replied:

"Dear father! Do what Allah told you I'll be patient"

Prophet Ibrahim (AS) prepared to sacrifice his son at the place of Arafat. On their way, they passed a place called Mina where shaitan came to Ibrahim (AS) and tried to convince him to disobey Allah's command, but Ibrahim (AS) turned his back on him. 

After reaching Arafat, Ibrahim (AS) tied Ismail's hands and blindfolded himself so that he won't see his son suffer. Just before the sacrifice, Allah (SWT) sent a Ram from heaven and replaced Ismail (AS) with it. Therefore, Ibrahim (AS) sacrificed it instead of his son.

After this incident, each year, Muslims perfume Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim known as hajj in the month of zulhijjah. These pilgrims go to Makah, Mina, and Arafat for the hajj. They visit the places where Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had been. On the 10th, zulhijjah Muslims sacrifice an animal in honor of the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim and his obedience to Allah (SWT).

This incident teaches us to place our trust in Allah (SWT) and His plans. We learn that the Almighty's desire was not to harm Ismail (AS) but to test his Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It shows that true believers can even give up their lives for Allah (SWT) when necessary and every believer is being tested by Allah (SWT). We all are here in this world for the test to be rewarded Jannah as a prize of our good deeds or punished for our sins.

Allah says in the Quran:

"It is neither the flesh nor the blood of (animal) that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him."

Allah (SWT) doesn't need the flesh of animals. He just tests our intentions and devotion towards Him. The act of Qurbani (sacrificing animals on eid) satiates the poor and the needy people and makes the Muslims united and it has a great reward as well.

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

"For every hair of Qurbani, you will receive a reward from Allah"

So, let’s consider ourselves as Ibrahim and we all have some Ismail in our lives. This may be a loved one, our ego, our position, title or Nafs, our love for any worldly thing and our desires; thus anything that is superior and beloved to our heart and may be a hurdle on our path towards Allah (SWT).

Let’s sacrifice our Ismail this Eid, sacrifice that ownership or deep desires we have for these worldly things and purify our hearts for the love of Allah (SWT) and taqwa to reside in it. May Allah (SWT) make us among the salaheen in Jannat-ul-Firdus, Aameen.