The Blessings of Eid-Ul-Adha

Eid-ul-Adha is the second Eid festival which Muslims celebrate in a year to mark the completion of the pilgrimage to Mecca also known as Hajj. Muslims from all over the world celebrate this occasion on the tenth day of the Islamic month Dhul Hijja. Eid-ul-Adha reminds us about the obedience and sacrifice of Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael, peace be on both of them.

Prophet Abraham had a sequence of dreams about sacrificing his son Ishmael. God says in the Holy Qur’an, “And when he (Ishmael) was old enough to run along with him (Abraham), he said, `O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I offer thee in sacrifice. So consider what thou thinkest of it!’ He replied, “O my father, do as thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if God please steadfast in my faith” (37:102).

Submitting to the will of Lord, Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) decided to sacrifice his beloved son. When he was about to fulfill the commandment of God, He stopped him from doing so and gave the glad tiding that he had fulfilled His commandment by showing faith and devotion to Lord Almighty. God mentions this in the Holy Qur’an: “And when they both submitted to the Will of God, and Abraham had thrown him down on his forehead, We called to him `O Abraham thou hast indeed fulfilled the dream.’ Thus indeed do We reward those who do good” (37:103-104). God rewarded him and directed them to sacrifice a lamb instead. On this blessed day Muslims follow Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and sacrifice animals (sheep, lamb, cow or camel) after offering the Eid Prayer.

God the Almighty mentions Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) as one of His rightly guided servants. He expects us to carry out the animal sacrifice with the same spirit of righteousness. The Holy Qur’an states “Their flesh reaches not God, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him” (22:37). Expensive and well fed animals fulfill the requirement of sacrifice but in the sight of God it has no bearing if we lack the spirit of taqwa (righteousness).This sacrifice has to be done for the sake of Allah alone.

Animal sacrifice is the reflection of the sacrifice of one’s soul and spirits. At the time of sacrifice we should realize that if there was an opportunity to present ourselves in the path of God, then we should be ready to do so. The philosophy of Eid-ul-Adha is that God the Almighty has set models for various commandments. Man is commanded to sacrifice himself in the path of Lord with all his powers, skills and capabilities. As God the Exalted says flesh and blood of the animal do not reach Him so, we should fear Allah in such a way that as though we suffered death in the path of Lord.

May God enable us to follow the path of rightly guided people and include us among those who try to attain His pleasure: (Amen).