Ibrahim's Sacrifice

It is said that Ibrahim (AS) experienced a dream one night, in which Allah
(SWT) told him to sacrifice Ismail (AS), his beloved son. At first, Ibrahim (AS)
believed this was the devil playing tricks on him and he immediately
disregarded it. However, the following night, the same dream occurred again
commanding him to do the same. Ibrahim (AS) then came to realise that this
was no fluke and was, in fact, a message from Allah (SWT). 

Ibrahim (AS) loved his son, Ismail (AS). Yet he was fully prepared to follow
Allah's (SWT) command and do as He instructed. He took his son to the top of
Mount Arafat and brought with him a knife and rope. Upon reaching an
appropriate place, he told his son about his dream and what Allah (SWT) had
commanded him to do. Being an obedient son, Prophet Ismail (AS)
immediately obliged to the wishes of Allah (SWT) and his father, and asked
that his hands and legs be tied so that he may not struggle and that his father
blindfold himself so that he does not have to witness him suffer. 

Ibrahim (AS) did as Ismail (AS) had said. Blindfolded and with the knife in his
hands, he did as Allah (SWT) had asked of him. When he took the blindfold
off, to his surprise, he saw the body of a dead ram in front of him. Ismail (AS)
was completely unharmed standing right next to him. At first, he thought that
something had gone horribly wrong and that he had disobeyed the order of his
Creator. But then he heard a voice telling him that Allah (SWT) looks after his
followers and that he need not worry. 

A divine miracle had taken place. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had just
passed a difficult test from Allah (SWT).

Performing Qurbani Today
Since then, every year, during the month of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the
holy calendar, Muslims from around the world perform Qurbani to remember
what Ibrahim (AS) did. We use his deed to inspire devotion, obedience, and
submission in our own lives. Muslims sacrifice animals (preferably a goat, cow
or camel) using special rules and practices, in memory of Prophet Ibrahim's (AS)
sacrifice. 

Therefore, Qurbani for Muslims is a lesson in obedience and submission. We

must obey Allah's (SWT) command without pause. We must perform the tasks
He has ordained compulsory on all Muslims such as praying Salat, performing
Sawm, paying Zakat and embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage. May Allah (SWT)
enable us to perform the Sunna of Ibrahim year in and year out. Ameen.

Due to the firm faith of both father and son, Isma'eel (AS) was replaced by a
ram and his life was spared by Allah (SWT). In this story, we must, therefore,
remember that Eid ul-Adha is not just a celebration, but the remembrance of
one of the greatest sacrifices in history. 

As we remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim's (AS) sacrifice every year, and

we remember the obedience, devotion, and submission that he showed on
that fateful day atop the mountain, we think of the importance of the
celebration of Qurbani, and what we must do to honour it. For those of us
blessed with enough wealth and prosperity that the giving of the sacrificial
meat is something we can do ourselves.

My beloved brothers our gathering here today was enjoined upon us by Allah, not
for the purpose of socializing, nor to eat or to dress-up, even though these are all
part of the celebration .

However we are gathered here to praise Allah and glorify him together as a
community and thank Him for Hiss enumerable blessings upon us.

Allah says in surah Baqarah: “SO complete the appointed days and Then Magnify
(Glorify) Allah for guiding you So that you may be grateful [servants of Allah]”

My brothers Gathering lets us not be misled by the word ‘celebration’. We are

not like other people. While their celebrations are to indulge in dunya and to
forget about greater issues, we celebrate by giving up dunya and contemplate on
the greater issues. We muslims celebrate by sharing with others from what Allah
has blessed us with. We celebrate By Praising and glorifying Allah and doing
Shukraana (giving thanks to Allah by sharing with others). And in our celebration
we do not ignore or forget our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate than us
or who are suffering. The spirit of Eid is giving up some of our dunya. This is why
the meat is not all carried home and stored in our freezers. The meat is meant to
be given out to the poor. So from our entire sacrifice – be it one share in an
animal or a whole animal- we only get to keep one third, and the rest is for
others. And then we should Thank Allah for His blessings of wealth and health
and, then also to thank him for blessing us with the generosity and good spirit to
give for His sake. This is not a day to see ourselves above anyone or to boast
about the size of our animal above others. Rather it a time to Humble ourselves
and recognize that we were not able to do the sacrifice except by the Grace and
blessing of Allah. A sacrifice is to give up yourself and your wealth for other than
yourself. Perhaps your neighbour’s $100 sheep by be greater in the sight of Allah
than Your $2000 bull. Maybe it was more of a sacrifice for him to get that than
you to get yours. Maybe you could have afforded a $4000 but you were looking at
the price rather than the sacrifice.

Allah says Surah Al Hajj verse 37: “It is not the flesh and blood of your sacrifice
that pleases God. What pleases God is your piety.

God has made subservient to you the sacrificial animals so that perhaps you will
glorify Him; He is guiding you. (Muhammad), give the glad news (of God's mercy)
to the righteous people.” The spirit of the competition is more than just size. The
spirit is to prove to Allah that you are willing to give up yourself for the wellbeing
of the ummah and how far you are willing to go in seeking His pleasure.

Allah mentions in Surah Baqarah: “You will never achieve righteousness until you
give from that which you love.”

It is not without a reason that this celebration is in commemoration of the stories

of Ibrahim (as). His entire life was a sacrifice for the sake of Allah. If we read the
life of the Prophet Ibrahim, it is not just the incident of the sacrifice of his son but
every incident in his life is one of great sacrifice and complete dependence upon
Allah and for this reason he was called Khaleel ul Allah (Friend of Allah).

So let us say like Allah SWT taught us to say in the Quran: “Say: truly my prayer
and my service of sacrifice, my life and death are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of
the Worlds” (al-An’am v 162).

Let this day serve as a reminder for us that every day is a day of giving and
praising Allah, a day of sacrifice. Let us not forget in our duas those of our
brothers and sisters who are suffering and in need that we cannot reach
physically. Call upon Allah as your witness that if you could have reached them
you would have done what you can to ease their suffering. Doing the sacrifice
does not mean it will automatically be accepted so let us make dua that Allah
accept our sacrifices and all our strivings and good deeds