Sacrifice

This Friday, I’ll join almost two billion Muslims across the globe in celebrating the largest Islamic holiday; Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

We commemorate the unrivaled sacrifice of Prophet Abraham and that of his family, revered as paradigms and ancestors shared among three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

We’re familiar with Abraham’s readiness to slaughter his promised son based on a series of divinely revealed dreams. But did you know that his wife Hagar and son Ishmael also obeyed God’s will without hesitation? Ishmael was only an adolescent when he replied to his father “do as thou art commanded” in Qur’an 37:103.

Although God stopped Abraham from carrying out the dream literally, Abraham and Hagar had already fulfilled the dream and passed the test when he settled Hagar and infant Ishmael in the barren deserts of Faran, Arabia, in order to bring life to it (Gen. 21:14-19, Quran 14:38). There, they raised the foundations of the first House of God on Earth known as the Kaaba in Mecca, originally built by our father Adam. This would become the center of the largest pilgrimage on earth; Hajj, a pillar among five actions in Islam.

As an Ahmadi Muslim, I am reminded to willingly sacrifice from that which I love for the benefit of the less fortunate. Therefore, we sacrifice an animal; to donate it to the poor as was revealed.

“Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him” (22:38).

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (May Allah be his helper), the current head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in his Eid Sermon of August 15, 2019 gave the following message:

“God Almighty has stated that righteousness is the true essence that should underlay any sacrifice of animals we make. By making the physical sacrifice, the person making the sacrifice expresses his willingness to forego all his personal desires for God… The person making the sacrifice should take a lesson from this act of sacrificing an animal and realize that he too should be willing to make every sacrifice of his personal desires for the greater goal of achieving the nearness and pleasure of God Almighty.”

While our Mosques remain closed for congregational worship, we still utilize them for essential services like food and blood drives.

Reach out for further questions at the contact:

Muhammad Ahmad, Director Outreach, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Michigan

248-677-1316 |Muhammad.Ahmad@Ahmadiyya.us | www.TrueIslam.com

About Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans over 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is among the oldest American-Muslim organizations.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long- awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.

The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and re-institute morality, justice, and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.