— Abul Faiz Azmi
Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha each year with great reverence and respect, but very few realize that this festival is less a festive occasion and more a day of profound reminder. It reminds us that we, too, must strive to adopt all of the noble qualities of our forebear, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), in our lives. We should dedicate our entire existence, just as he did, for the sake of upholding the exalted word of Allah, and endeavor to build a society like the one established by the Beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), which remains an exemplary model for all generations until the Day of Judgment.
We know that Allah, Lord of Glory, sent more than 124,000 prophets and messengers to this world, of whom only twenty-six are mentioned by name in the Holy Qur’an. Among these, two stand out whose lives are explicitly described as models for us: our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and our patriarch Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Allah Most High says:
“There has indeed been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.”
— Al-Aḥzāb 33:21
And regarding Ibrahim, He declares:
“There has certainly been for you in Ibrahim and those with him an excellent model.”
— Al-Mumtaḥanah 60:4
Each year, Allah reminds Muslims of the unparalleled act of devotion carried out by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son, Prophet Isma‘il (peace be upon him)—an act whose equal the world cannot replicate. The entire life of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is filled with sacrifices. Once a year, Muslims offer Qurbani (the sacrificial offering) to Allah, and through this ritual they recall all the sacrifices that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made in the cause of truth. Some of the salient aspects of his sacrifices include:
Declaring the Truth
The greatest sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was that, without any fear or hesitation, he proclaimed: “There is no god but Allah.” He opened his eyes in the city of Ur—today’s southern Iraq—among an idol-worshiping people. According to Sir Leonard Woolley’s book Abraham, in Ibrahim’s time the people of Ur worshiped almost five thousand deities.
From the moment he became cognizant of his surroundings, he began to exclaim that neither the moon, nor the stars, nor the sun could be his Lord, for they all set and disappear. He cried out that he would only prostrate before the One who is the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and everything therein. Spontaneously, he proclaimed:
“Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of the polytheists.”
— Al-An‘ām 6:79
The household into which Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was born was no ordinary one. His father, Azar, was the chief priest of that time and a close adviser to the reigning king, Nimrod. As such, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) could have succeeded his father and enjoyed every worldly luxury, but he chose otherwise. He endured every hardship and, all alone, raised the banner of truth. He ceaselessly endeavored to dissuade his people from idolatry and to invite them to the worship of the one true God. He would present arguments to them; when they grew frustrated, they argued with him and tormented him. The Qur’an recounts:
“But his people argued with him. He said, ‘Do you dispute with me concerning Allah while He has guided me? And I fear not what you associate with Him unless my Lord should will something. My Lord is encompassing of all things in knowledge, so will you not remember?’”
— Al-An‘ām 6:80
To demonstrate the futility of idolatry, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) destroyed the idols of his people. In punishment for this, they cast him into the fire and later forced him to emigrate. Even his father threatened to stone him:
“If you do not cease, I will surely stone you, and let me not be among the helpers of you.”
— Maryam 19:46
These were the trials that Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) endured for the sole purpose of declaring the majesty of Allah alone. It was an era when every direction was dominated by forces of falsehood. Nimrod, who claimed divinity, employed every stratagem to coerce Ibrahim (peace be upon him) into recognizing his false deity, but this devoted servant of Allah never wavered. He remained steadfast, proclaiming “Allāhu Akbar” (Allah is Greatest) in the face of the ruling powers. If we examine the current times, we observe that in the name of “wisdom” and “prudence,” people have trivialized this Abrahamic religion. Across the globe, the forces of falsehood have attacked Islam and its adherents, striving to obliterate this religion of mercy. In these dire times, many so-called leaders of the Ummah sit in the laps of oppressive rulers, preaching “wisdom” and “prudence,” yet their actions only reinforce the tyrannical systems they claim to marginalize.
Ibrahim A.S., the father of our nation, had a long arduous life filled with trials and tribulations
The Arduous Trek into the Desert with His Wife and Son
When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) migrated to the Levant, he was already advanced in age. When his son Isma‘il (peace be upon him) was born, he received a divine command: to leave his infant son and his wife Hājarah (may Allah be pleased with her) in a barren desert.
Obedient to Allah’s command, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) left his wife and nursing infant in Makkah—a place of nothing but sand as far as the eye could see, with no sign of water or greenery. Neither Ibrahim (peace be upon him) nor his devoted wife complained; they bowed their heads in submission to the Divine Will. Carrying their child, they entered the parched, waterless wilderness, where Isma‘il (peace be upon him) was reared and nurtured. There, Hājarah (may Allah be pleased with her) exemplified unwavering obedience to Allah, steadfast loyalty to her husband, and tireless dedication to the upbringing of her child. One might ask: since Isma‘il (peace be upon him) was also a prophet, did Allah not alone ensure his upbringing supernaturally, thereby rendering the mother’s role inconsequential? On the contrary: Hājarah (may Allah be pleased with her) responded to Allah’s command without any worldly provisions. She could have remained in the fertile pastures of the Levant or entrusted her child to a wet nurse, but she did not. Without hesitation, she surrendered to Allah’s command—this is the measure of true faith. Obedience and servitude are due to Allah alone, regardless of how bleak the circumstances. Relegating one’s service to Allah under the guise of “difficulty” or “prudence” does not suit a true believer. The quintessential example of this is the episode of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his family.
The Sacrifice of His Son
When Isma‘il (peace be upon him) reached young adulthood, Allah Almighty issued another command to Ibrahim (peace be upon him):
> “O Ibrahim, sacrifice.”
— Aṣ-Ṣaffāt 37:102 (as context)
Promptly, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) placed his beloved son upon the ground and, in complete submission, was ready to slit his throat. In so doing, he demonstrated that for the sake of Allah, one may sacrifice everything—yes, even one’s dearest and most cherished child. Allah says:
> “You will not attain righteousness until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend—indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”
— Āl ‘Imrān 3:92
All acts of worship in Islam, whether individual or communal, aim to cultivate taqwā (God-consciousness). This is also stated in the Qur’an regarding the sacrifice:
> “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety [in yourselves].”
— Al-Ḥajj 22:37
This taqwā (piety) is the very essence of sacrifice, and it must be ever-present in the life of a believing servant. Even our supplication when offering the animal reflects our acknowledgment of servitude to Allah and encourages us to nurture taqwā. The Qur’an recounts the willingness of Isma‘il (peace be upon him):
> “And when they both submitted [to Allah] and he placed him [upon his forehead],
And We called to him, ‘O Ibrahim,
You have fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.
Indeed, this was the clear trial.
And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.
And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations.
Peace upon Ibrahim.
Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.”
— Aṣ-Ṣaffāt 37:103–110
Allah saved Isma‘il (peace be upon him) and provided a ram in his place, which Ibrahim (peace be upon him) then sacrificed. From that day forward, for every able Muslim, following Ibrahim’s example, the Qurbani (sacrificial offering) became obligatory.
Detailed image of the Maqam e Ibrahim in Kaaba
The Sublime Tradition of Sacrifice
Sacrifice is a magnificent Sunnah (prophetic practice). Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) performed it repeatedly during his ten-year stay in Madinah and commanded his Companions to do likewise. Ḥadīth narrator ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed in Madinah for ten years, and during all those years he offered Qurbani annually without fail.
(Tirmidhī, Abwāb al-Aḍḥiyah)
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
> “There is no righteous deed on the Day of Dhul-Ḥijjah 10th that is more beloved to Allah than the shedding of sacrificial blood. On the Day of Resurrection, the one who offers the sacrifice will come with his animal’s hair, horns, and hooves, and all these will be a source of reward. Before the blood reaches the ground, it is already honored in Allah’s sight. So offer your sacrifices with joy.”
(Tirmidhī; Chapter on the Virtue of Āḍḥiyah)
‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“There is no act of spending in charity more excellent than spending on an Udḥiyah (sacrificial animal) on the Day of ‘Eid al-Adha.”
(Sunan al-Dār Qaṭnī; Chapter on Sacrifices; Sunan al-Kubrā by Bayhaqī, Vol. 9, p. 261)
Where Is Our Spirit of Sacrifice?
Every Muslim upon whom Qurbani is incumbent must, once a year, emulate Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) by making this pledge to Allah:
> “I have turned my face, wholly submissive, toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, and I will not be of those who commit shirk.
Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And of that I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”
— Al-An‘ām 6:79, 162–163
Yet, these pledges often remain hollow declarations. On one hand, we claim to be of the lineage of that Prophet who was a Khalīl-ullāh (Friend of Allah) and was venerated by others— even Jews and Christians—from the very beginning. This noble Messenger rejected all false gods from his early years, but we continue to do all that Allah has forbidden. We loudly proclaim obedience to Allah, yet knowingly we place our hopes in every form of false deity. Instead of embracing Islam as the clear religion, we seek superiority in other faiths—faiths from which Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) dissociated himself. We make great fanfare of gathering on Fridays and the two ‘Eids to feast and share meat, but we forget that on this same day, Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) almost sacrificed his son for Allah’s sake.
In our present times, many non-Muslims and even adherents of other faiths ask: “Why should we slaughter an animal? If we truly want to please Allah, we could spend that money elsewhere.” This attitude persists because we lack knowledge of the history, significance, and essence of Qurbani, and our offspring know little of it as well.
In memory of the sacrifice made by Ibraheem A.S., Muslims all around the world sacrifice cattle
Why Should We Offer Qurbani?
For many years, intellectuals and some fellow countrymen have questioned why Muslims should “waste” their wealth on Qurbani, arguing that the money could be spent on sponsoring the poor, building hospitals, or founding educational institutions that benefit both Muslims and others. Some national and political organizations also state that if one is unable to afford a sacrificial animal, one may pay its fidyah (compensation) later.
It must be crystal-clear that Qurbani is an act of worship to Allah, intended solely to seek His pleasure. This obligation existed for earlier communities, too. Allah says:
> “And We have ordained for every nation a sacrifice, [saying], ‘Proclaim to them the name of Allah when they sacrifice [their offerings].’ But for our own sake, it was decreed that they should do so. When your Lord judged, ‘I will surely cause you to prosper among others, and your offspring after you,’ they said, ‘Will You appoint for us only those who are humble and impoverished?…’”
(Hajj 22:34–36)
And He also says:
> “And We have made the Qur’an a judge between them, and a mercy and exalted wisdom for a people who are certain [in faith].”
Furthermore, Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
> “Whoever has the means to offer a sacrificial animal and does not do so, let him not approach our place of prayer.”
(Sunan Ibn Mājah; Chapter on Qurbani; Musnad Aḥmad, Vol. 2, p. 321; Sunan al-Kubrā, Vol. 9, p. 260)
If we glance upon the entire life of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), filled as it was with trials and tests, we see in him the perfect father and responsible guardian; in Isma‘il (peace be upon him), the patient and obedient son; and in Hājarah (may Allah be pleased with her), the devoted and submissive wife. These very qualities—father, son, and wife—are indispensable for the formation of a righteous society, which in turn brings prosperity to families, tribes, and cities.
It is time for self-evaluation: Those of us who are fathers or guardians—do we train our families such that if we declared, “I am going to do what Allah has commanded,” they would readily comply? Those among us who are of Isma‘il’s age—do we strive to be as obedient as he was? And for our sisters—wives and daughters—do we exhibit the devotion and obedience of Hājarah (may Allah be pleased with her)? If a father lacks the qualities to properly train his family, a son fails to emulate Isma‘il’s obedience to his parents and Allah, and a daughter or wife falls short of Hājarah’s devotion, then there is undoubtedly a flaw in our Qurbani. Our intentions are not pure. We perform this sacred obligation merely for show and for the sake of eating meat. We treat it like a once-a-year “tax” to free ourselves from obligation.
Let Us Make a Pledge
If such is not our state, then let us resolve that before we lay the knife upon the animal’s throat, we will fully prepare ourselves inwardly. We will cultivate the patience and all the virtues of sacrifice that resided in Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). We will pledge to manifest obedience to Allah so completely that,
should the time come to abandon home, to separate from wife and children, and to risk one’s life in the way of Allah, we shall not retreat. From this day forward, we shall abandon all false deities—those we worship unawares or upon whom we place our hopes—and shall refuse any compromise that leads us away from Islam or dilutes Shariah. We pledge, like Ibrahim (peace be upon him), to be the architects of this world: to free suffering and groaning humanity from all forms of bondage and to invite them to the worship of the One Lord. We will stand them up in the field of action, so that they too may proclaim openly:
> “I have turned my face, wholly submissive, toward Him who created the heavens and the earth, and I will not be of those who commit shirk.
Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. And of that I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.”
— Al-An‘ām 6:79, 162–163
If this comes to pass, then surely the day is not far off when the world will blossom once more, and all people will come to know their true Lord.
— Abul Faiz Azmi
