Eid Al-Adha

Today is a day of celebration: and as Muslims wesh ould feel great joy today. But what
is thereason for our revelry, the reason for our celebration, the reason for our joy?
Today is Eid Al-Adha – the celebration of the sacrifice. And this is the season of Hajj –
when the Muslims have come from around the world to the house of Allah in humility
and submission. But let not the meaning of this great occasion be lost on those who
have stayed behind.
What does it mean that we commemorate an event when Allah asked Ibraheem
to
prepare to slaughter his only son? Why should there be joy in our hearts on this
day?
In Islam we have three Eids: three celebrations – the Eid of Al-Fitr after
Ramadan, the
Eid Al-Adha that we are in now, and the Eid of Jumuah every Friday.
The Eid Al-Fitr is really a celebration that we were able to pass the test of Ramadan –
that we submitted to our Lord, followed his commandments, even if difficult, and
emerged gaining his mercy Insha'Allah. We realized during the days of Ramadan that
the greatest pain is from a heart that is empty and preoccupied. We strove to rectify that
– as we stood during the nights seeking Allah's mercy, imploring him for forgiveness.
The Eid of Jumuah is a celebration that we were able to follow Allah's
commandment to
“come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business and every other
thing” (62:9)
We are celebrating that no matter where we were and what we were doing we
acknowledged that the remembrance of Allah was greater – and we came to
that.
The pattern that is emerging here is that we, as Muslims take joy in having held
to the
commandments of Allah and obeyed him with sincere obedience.
And now we turn to the Eid that is upon us: Concerning the act of sacrifice,
Allah(S)
says:
“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from
you that
reaches Him.” (Al-Hajj 22:37)
So Allah has qualified sacrifice as an act that demonstrates TAQWA (piety, god-
consciousness). And why does sacrifice do this? How does the sacrifice of an animal
demonstrate piety? The essential element here is that Allah asks man to give something
up – an animal that he owns, for no reason other than Allah has commanded it. Now
many of us would say that sacrificing a sheep does not take very much Taqwa, and this
is where the story of Ibrahim comes in to play, because the sacrifice that we do, is really
in commemoration of the one that he was commanded to do.
Concerning what happened to Ibrahim, Allah says that
“Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial.” (As-Saffat 37:106)
So the trial that was placed on Ibrahim is very clear – and a story that we can
gain much
from.
After his people tried to burn him in the fire, and Allah saves Ibrahim, Ibrahim asks
Allah for righteous offspring. And then Allah grants him this child. And we all know
that soon after Ismail is born, Ibraheem his commanded to leave the baby and his mother
in the middle of the desert all alone. But Ibraheem would travel back occasionally to
visit the family. And after sometime has passed, and Ibrahim has watched his child
grow from infancy into a young lad that can now accompany his father – Ibrahim has a
dream.
Allah says:
“And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: 'O my son! I have
seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what
you think!' He said: 'O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha Allah (if
Allah wills), you shall find me of As-Sabirin'.” (As-Saffat 37:102)
And we know, as the Prophet Muhmmad(S) said, that the dreams of the Anbiya (the
prophets) are true, so as soon as he had seen this dream, he knew that it was true and that
this dream was revelation from Allah.
What can we gain from this? We know that Ibrahim had a deep longing for a righteous
son, and Allah gave him one – and yet, just as that son begins to blossom, begins to
grow into a young man, Ibrahim is asked to give him up. And this is not the first time –
as soon as Ismail was born Ibrahim was commanded to leave Ismail and his mother in
the desert. So this is the second time that Allah has tested Ibrahim with his love for this
child. But this trial is even more severe than the first, because previously, although
Ibrahim had to leave them, he still had the comfort of knowing Allah would care for
them, and he did have the chance to visit them. But this time he is confronted with the
trial of actually separating himself permanently from his beloved son.
What does this tell us?
It reminds us that each of us will be tried in that which is most beloved to our
hearts.
For what is the purpose of a trial other than to test how attached your heart is to Allah.
And one of the best ways to test that is take away whatever you love the most next to
Allah. In this situation a person can have two responses – if the love they had for the
created thing was greater than their love for the creator, they will fall into despair;
because the thing that filled their heart has been taken away. But if their love for the
creator is greater than anything and that is what fills their heart, they will find solace in
knowing that the promise of Allah is true and that there will come a time that they will
be rewarded for their patience.
So Ibraheem's willingness to implement the command of Allah, in spite of the
fact that it
would separate him from what he loves shows the greatness of his love for
Allah.
If Ibrahim had been ruled by emotions or had valued his own intellect over the
command of Allah he would have begun questioning – questioning WHY? or even
Giving up thinking that the test was too hard and falling into disobedience.
But no, this is Ibraheem The Khalil, the close friend of Allah. And the one who is close to
Allah is the one that recognizes the greatness of Allah over his creation, and the one that
submits to him without hesitation, without second guessing Allah's commandments. And
this is the description that Allah has given to all true believers:
"it is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have
decreed a
matter that they should have any option in their decision." (Al-Ahzab 33:36)
And this is what Ibraheemkne w. This is what Ibraheemunder stood. And This, this is
what Ibraheem acted upon. This is what made Ibraheem the Khalil (The close friend) of
Allah. This is what made Ibraheem an example for us.
So the question I would pose to each and everyone of us here today, Brothers and Sisters
is: Are we really believers when we find resistance in our hearts to the commands of
Allah?
* * *
But their story does not end there – Allah continues:

“Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allah), and he had laid
him prostrate on his forehead; And We called out to him: 'O Abraham! You have
fulfilled the dream!' Verily! Thus do We reward the Muhsinoon.” (As-Saffat 37:103-
105)
So the fulfillment of the dream was that both Ibraheem and Ismail submit to Allah and
prepare themselves to carry out his command – once they did this, Allah informed them that
they had what he wanted. From this, we see further evidence of what Allah has told us in
Surah Ash-Sharh:
“Verily, along with every hardship is relief, Verily, along with every hardship is
relief”
When they had both demonstrated the trait that was to be tested, the trial was lifted.
This should tell us that in any trial our first instinct should be to ascertain what Allah
wants us to learn, and then work to bring that change about in ourselves. The purpose of
these trials is not to cause pain
“Allah intends for you ease. He does not want to make things difficult for you.”
(Al-
Baqarah 2:185)
and yet at the same time, we will be tested, as Allah says: