Eidul Adha: Leading Purpose of Sacrifice
By: Md Salman Alam Qasmi
The month of Dhul Hijjah is the last and most sacred month according to Islamic calendar. There are two special acts of worship performed in this month. First one is that millions of Muslims from all over the world go on pilgrimage to Makkah during this month to perform the Hajj. Second one is Eidul Adha, Sahib Nisab Muslim (Financially Capable Muslim) commemorates the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim and Ishmael by offering animal sacrifices. This sacrifice is made to seek Allah’s pleasure.
The story of Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) sacrifice is unparalleled. When he was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his small son, Prophet Ismail (as). He willingly accepted this command and laid his neck on the ground. Witnessing Ibrahim’s (as) unwavering devotion, Allah replaced Ismail (as) with a ram, making this act of sacrifice a tradition for all Muslims throughout the world forever.
Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) entire life exemplifies sacrifice and obedience to Allah. He sacrificed everything for the sake of Allah—parental affection, wealth, comfort, and even his homeland. He bravely faced the fire of a king of his age. His name was Namrood. Ibrahim (as) left his wife and child in a barren desert, and was ready to sacrifice his son. His life teaches us that nothing should be hindrance in our obedience to Allah.
The true purpose of sacrifice is to present our lives and wealth for Allah’s pleasure. Allah does not need the meat or blood of the sacrificial animals rather He seeks our piety and sincerity. The Quran states: “It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him” (Al-Hajj 37:22).
This piety and sincerity form the essence of sacrifice, and Allah accepts sacrifices only from those who are pious. Sacrifice reminds us to live our entire lives in obedience to Allah. If these sentiments are absent, merely shedding the blood of animals will not achieve the desired objective. After making a promise of obedience with Allah, we should not mix it with obedience to others or follow our desires. Reviving the tradition of Prophet Ibrahim (as) is not just about consuming more meat; it is about aligning our lives with his exemplary principles.
May Allah grant us understanding of the true spirit and essence of sacrifice and enable us to act upon it completely. Ameen.
