The Sacrifice of Ibrahim a.s (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.