Eid Al-Adha [Festival of Sacrifice]

A Commemoration of the Devotion of Ibraheem and Isma'el (AS)
By Ayub A. Hamid

Every year at the time of Eidal-Adhaa and Hajj, we recount the story of Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam. Their lives were permeated with the Love of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aalaa and with dedication to His service and obedience. They loved and obeyed Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala to such a level of perfection that Allah presented them as model Muslims, the way every Muslim should be. Their lifestyle is not only a perfect model of Submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala but also a beautiful example of an ideal parent-child understanding without any generation gap.

There are many lessons we should learn from their story, but for the sake of brevity, we will concentrate only on the episode of sacrifice.

The Story of Ibraheem and Isma'el (peace be upon them)
As you know, Ibraheem was born in a society where many false gods such as idols, stars, planets and moons were being worshipped and offerings were made to them. Animals and even humans were sacrificed to keep those false gods happy.

Ibraheem `alayhissalaam had dedicated his life to call people to abandon false gods and only believe in Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, the One and Only Creator. The sole mission of his life was to bring the message of Islam (complete obedience to Allah in every aspect of one’s life) to all people around him. His objective, like every other prophet and messenger, was to call people to submit in obedience to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala and to establish an Islamic society – a political entity where majority of people were dedicated Muslims and that society of Muslims was a model of peace, love, caring, sharing, fairness, justice, generosity, human equality, dignity, balance and moderation.

His people rejected his call completely and decided to kill him by throwing him into the burning fire from which Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala saved him. Now it was evident that he could not live among those people and carry out his mission. He did not know where to go, but he departed with faith and trust in Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala He had grown old working tirelessly for that purpose and felt a need for someone to carry on this mission of love – inviting people to true Islam and establishing a Muslim-majority Islamic state consisting of those who accept the invitation. This goal gave him a strong desire for a son who could continue his mission. After a lot of Du`aa (supplications), Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala granted him a son when he was extremely old. He was named Isma'el (which meant: Allah has heard) because Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala had listened to the Du`aa of Ibraheem`alayhissalaam. This son, Isma'el, was Ibraheem`alayhissalaam’s dearest and most beloved asset in this world.

When Isma'el`alayhissalaam was about thirteen (Ibraheem being 99), Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala decided to test their faith in and submission to Allah in public. Both father and son were put through the most difficult test of their love for Allah. Ibraheem `alayhissalaam saw in a dream that he was sacrificing Isma'el – an unimaginable act – sacrificing the son he begot after so much Du`aa, the only one he had and the one who had been the centre of his affection and love for all these years. Ibraheem `alayhissalaam knew that the dreams of the prophets were inspired by Allah. They were one of the ways Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aaa communicated with his prophets. This must be what Allah wanted him to do. When the intent of the dream became clear to him, Ibraheem`alayhissalaam decided to offer his beloved son in sacrifice. Although it would be easier for him to give his own life rather than take his son’s, he willingly surrendered to the perceived commandment. To him, as to any Muslim, the love for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala must always be supreme and strongest. Every other love must be subservient to the love of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala, hence sacrificeable for His sake.

Although Ibraheem `alayhissalaam was ready to sacrifice his dearest for Allah’s sake, he could not just go and drag his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Isma'el had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to die for Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. This consultation would be a test of Isma'el’s maturity in faith, love for Allah, Islamic commitment, willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah and parent’s obedience. It would also be a test of how well Ibraheem had been able to train his son in Islam and how close or apart were the two Muslims of different generations in their thinking, approach and attitude.

Ibraheem `alayhissalaam presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Isma'el’s reaction was absolutely astounding. He did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, “Father, proceed ahead for what you have been commanded. You will find me, Inshaa Allah, very patient.” His mature response, his insight into the nature of dad’s dreams, his willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah and commitment to Allah’s submission were all unparalleled. The most amazing and noteworthy, however, was the perfect coherence and unity of thought, attitude and outlook between the father and the son. We do not see any generation gap between the two because both of them were looking at life through an Islamic paradigm – that a Muslim must submit to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala in any circumstances and that love for Allah is over and above any other love in the life of a Muslim.

When both father and son had shown their perfect obedience to Allah and they had practically demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice their most precious possessions for His sake -- Ibraheem `alayhissalaam by laying down his son for sacrifice and Isma'el by lying patiently under the knife – Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala saved Isma'el and replaced him with a ram. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala also told them that they had passed the test with flying colours and that they had fulfilled what Ibraheem `alayhissalaam was shown in the dream.

This is mentioned in the Holy Qur-aan as follows:

They said, "Build him a furnace, and throw him into the blazing fire!" They sought a stratagem against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated! And he said: Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practising patience and steadfastness!" So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants. (As-Saafaat 37:97-111)

It was as one of the reward for this sacrifice that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala gave Ibraheem `alayhissalaam good news of the second son, Is-haaq (Isaac):

And We gave him the good news of Is-haaq, a prophet among the good ones. (As-Saafaat 37:112)

According to the Bible, the good news about Is-haaq was given when Ibraheem was 99 years old and Is-haaq (Isaac) was born when Ibraheem was 100 years old (3). However, the Bible omits the mention of the sacrifice at that time and only mentions circumcision of Ibraheem and Isma'el `alayhimussalam (4). The Holy Qur-aan clarifies the reality that it was a tremendous demonstration of submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala in the form of sacrifice, not a small thing like circumcision that pleased Allah so much that He miraculously bestowed Ibraheem `alayhissalaam another son despite the fact that he and Sarah both had long passed their normal child bearing age and Sarah was barren all her life (5).

This was the greatest of the tests Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam went through. Its difficulty was compounded by the fact that Ibraheem`alayhissalaam had invested a lot of love and affection during 12-13 years of Isma'el’s life and Isma'el`alayhissalaam had grown up to cherish his own life. The test would have been easier for both the father and the son, if Isma'el were newborn where bonding between father and son had not taken place and where the son could not have grown up to enjoy his life. But Allah selected the most difficult time for this test to demonstrate their true level of commitment to Allah’s pleasure.

This test demonstrated to the world the following:

1. Ibraheem and Isma'el `alayhimussalaam are not just theorizing about Allah as the One and Only Creator, but He is a real entity in whom they truly and sincerely believe and to whom they happily and willingly submit;

2. Unlike false gods who neither know that they are being worshipped nor can react to the actions of their worshippers, the true God if fully aware of what His slaves do and He interacts with them;

3. The One True God does not expect people to offer ritual human sacrifices. People lose their life to ritual sacrifice only because of the falsehood created by those who promote false gods.

Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala loved their example of total dedication and devotion to His commandment so much that He made it incumbent on all Muslims until the Day of Judgment to commemorate Ibraheem’s and Isma'el’s `alayhimussalaam spirit of complete submission to Allah through a yearly celebration of their sacrifice. The major purpose is that the Muslims can refresh, understand and internalize the full implications of claiming to be ‘Muslims’ (i.e. obedience to Allah) by simulating the act of sacrifice devotedly performed by Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam.

Every year Eidal-Adhaa must remind us that:

1. A lifestyle of complete and total submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala is the essence of being a Muslim;

2. A Muslim willingly sacrifices his/her most cherished belongings (things, ideas, habits, desires) in obedience to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala;

3. A properly practicing Muslim family does not encounter a generation gap between different generations of Muslims. A gap between two generations is caused only by the presence of un-Islamic behaviours or attitudes in either of the generations or both.

Eidal-Adhaa is not merely an occasion of ritual celebrations, but an annual tune-up of one’s lifestyle so that it becomes a lifestyle that is totally submerged in submission to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. It is a celebration of simulating a Muslim’s readiness to sacrifice everything for the sake of Allah. May Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala grant us the strength of spirit and will to perfectly emulate the examples of Ibraheem and Isma'el`alayhimussalaam in every facet of our daily struggle to become better Muslims, Inshaa Allah.