What is sacrifice
Qurbani is an annual tradition(festival) for Muslims across the world. It involves an animal sacrifice in recognition of the Sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) (sunnah) own willingness to sacrifice his son for the will of Allah. At the last moment, Allah replaced Ibrahim’s son with a ram, saving his life and rewarding Ibrahim’s devotion. That is why Muslims pay Qurbani, and in doing so, we also help low-income families and communities receive their share in the meat.
Sacrifice Sunnah of Ibrahim(AS)
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
It is the Sunnah of your father Ibrahim(AS). For every hair of the Sacrifice, you receive a reward from Allah.
Trimidhi
Hazrat Ibrahim(AS)Ibrahim, known with a title KhalilAllah, meaning ‘the friend of Allah’ was one of the Prophets mentioned in the Quran. He was the forefather of many great Prophets. Ibrahim (AS) is a Prophet who is tested by Allah. Despite severe trials and challenges, Ibrahim (AS) come out to be a servant who kept his promise and always showed a respectable attitude.
Story of Hazrat Ibrahim’s Sacrifice
One of his tests is of great Sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). Allah says in Al-Quran that Ibrahim (AS) has a dream one night, in which Allah told him to sacrifice His beloved son, Hazrat Ismail (AS). At first, Ibrahim (AS) considered this was the satan playing tricks on him to distract Him. So, he immediately Ignores it. However, the next night, the same dream occurred again. Ibrahim (AS) then came to realise that this was no fluke and was, in fact, a message from Allah. Quran narrates:
And when he reached with his exertion, he said, “O my son, surely I have seen in a dream that I sacrifice you, so look what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.
37:102
Son of great Ibrahim was great too. He agrees at once to be sacrificed and to follow Allah’s command. Ibrahim took his son towards the top of Mount Arafat. Moreover, He also brought with him a knife and rope. On the way, when they passed through a plain stretch of land called Mina, Shaytan appeared t them. He tried to discourage Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail from performing the command of Allah. Prophet Ibrahim picked up a handful of pebbles and threw them at Shaytan to get rid of him. This happened three times and every time He ignored satan’s evil whispers and threw stones towards him. This act is part of Hajj called as “Rami”.
His beloved son Ismail asked that his hands and legs be tied so that he may not struggle and that his father blindfolds himself So that he does not have to see him suffer. Ibrahim (AS) did the same. After Blindfolded He took the knife in his hands and did as Allah had demanded of him. When completed sacrificing He took the blindfold off, to his shock, he saw the body of a dead ram in front of him. Ismail (AS) was unharmed standing right next to him. At first, he thought that something had gone wrong and that he had disobeyed the order of his Creator. But then Allah said to Him:
We called to him, “O Abraham. You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the good-doers.
37:104-5
Allah honours this great sacrifice by making compulsory it for all generations till hereafter. As Allah says in the Quran:
And We left for him among later generations.
37:108
A divine miracle had taken place. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had just passed a difficult test from Allah.
Lesson for us
Hazrat Ibrahim obeyed Allah in the practice where he gives up His own will. Eid ul Adha is not just a celebration but remembrance of the greatest Qurbani. It is an excellent lesson for us to sacrifice for Allah our favourite things. So focusing on this great event, we must remember the obedience, submission and devotion of great Prophets. We must follow them am and honour their effort.
Udhiya/ Qurbani is a lesson of obedience and submission. So, we should obey Allah’s command without pause. We must perform the tasks He has ordained compulsory on all Muslims such as praying Salah, Fast, paying Zakat and performing Hajj pilgrimage. We have to spend our whole life in complete submission to Allah. May Allah enable us to follow the Sunnah of Ibrahim(AS) every year and make us such as to follow His footprints. Ameen.
