'Eid-ul-Adha' Sermon 2024

 

The Pilgrimage & the Eid Festival

In Islam, Muslims around the world celebrate two Eids: Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the end of the blessed month of Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Adha which marks the end of the Hajj through a sacrifice of sheep or cattle or even camel, also known as sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (as), his son Isma’il (as) and his wife Hajra (ra). It is more commonly known as the festival of Udhiya (Arabic) or Qurbani (Urdu).

Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, comes in the last month of the lunar calendar, Dhul-Hijjah (which literally means, Month of Hajj). The Hajj is an exceptional occasion where Muslim unity appears in its finest form. The Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) sees itself united in the same spirit of sacrifice and in the same garment: two simple unsewn white cloths. Therefore, we bear witness to the unified state of Muslims, the same state that must be manifest in every Muslim throughout the world.

 

So, with the Hajj, all differences disappear, all barriers are broken, and Muslims follow the same course, the same routine for the performance of the rites prescribed by Allah. This scene of unity is a balm of warmth to the heart, comforting for the unified Islamic soul.

Muslims around the world gather around the Sacred House of Allah, the original Mosque of Allah for the worship of Allah by the human race. And it is towards the Ka’aba that one turns for daily prayers, not as an act of worship of the Ka’aba itself or the pieces of the Black Stone found there, but we turn to the Master of the Ka’aba, an Invisible and Almighty Master Who created us all. Usually, Muslims who live in all the countries around the world [even the remote ones] face the direction of the Ka’aba, a point called “Qibla”. But during the Hajj, Muslims destined to be Hajjis (pilgrims) travel through lands and seas to arrive in Arabia for the Great Pilgrimage (Hajj). The Hajj (Great Pilgrimage) should not be confused with the Umrah (Small Pilgrimage).

While Hajj includes Umrah, but Umrah is not Hajj – it is only the initial part of Hajj. All pilgrims must perform the rituals of Hajj, including being in the state of Ihram, performing Tawaf, Sa’ee between the hills of Safa and Marwah, standing in Arafat, spending the night in Mina, stoning the Jamraat [which symbolizes stoning Satan], etc., and of course, the Hajj includes the Animal Sacrifice (Sheep, Cattle or Camel) as well. While Umrah includes getting into the state of Ihram, doing Tawaf and Sa’ee, but this small pilgrimage does not include all the other rites that we [Muslims] do during Hajj.  

Dressed in their white attire, which indicates purity of heart and soul, beautiful are the moments when all the pilgrims move from Mina to Arafah and stand just like Prophet Ibrahim (as) and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did, thus testifying to unity and ardent desire to please Allah.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Hajj is ‘Arafat, Hajj is ‘Arafat, Hajj is ‘Arafat. The days of Mina are three: but whoever hastens to depart in two days, there is no sin on him, and whoever stays, there is no sin on him (2:203 [or 204 – when the verse Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim is included as a separate verse])”. And whoever sees (attends) the Arafah before the rising of Fajr, then he has performed the Hajj.” (Tirmidhi)

 

Hazrat ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab reported: One day a Jew said to me: “O Leader of the believers! There is a verse in your holy book which is read by all of you (Muslims) and if it had been revealed to us (we, Jews), we would have taken the day on which it was revealed as a day of celebration.” ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab asked: “What is this verse?” The Jew replied: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (5:3 [or 4]) ‘Umar replied: “Without doubt, we know when and where this verse was revealed to the Prophet. It was Friday and the Prophet (pbuh) was standing in Arafat (i.e., the day of Hajj).” (Bukhari)

 

Therefore, Hajj is performed at a specific time and place and it is prohibited to perform it at any other time or in any other place. The Holy Quran says: “The pilgrimage is done during well-known months. Let him who undertakes to do so (know this): no sexual relations, no debauchery, no quarrel during the Hajj. Whatever good you do, Allah certainly knows. And take your provisions; but truly the best provision is piety. And fear Me, O you who are endowed with reason!” (Al-Baqarah 2:198)

 

So when Eid-ul-Adha comes, it mainly marks a ritual sacrifice. The immolation of an animal – ox, cow, sheep, goat, camel – which represents a momentous episode in the life of two illustrious prophets of Allah, Ibrahim (as) and Isma’il (as), as well as the mother of the latter, Hajra (ra).

 

After seeing in a dream that he was sacrificing his only son Isma’il, Ibrahim (as) waited until he reached an age of understanding to communicate to him the divine order therein, i.e. , the sacrifice of Isma’il. When the time came to ask his opinion, the boy with a big heart and faithful to the worship of Allah did not hesitate to submit to the divine will.

 

So, Ibrahim (as) placed him on his forehead on the altar; everything was ready. Hazrat Ibrahim (as) had a sharp knife in his hand so that his son would not suffer too much. But before he had time to slit his throat, the angel Gabriel (Jibreel) intervened to stop him in his tracks. He announced to him that his sacrifice had already been accepted and commanded him by order of Allah to replace Isma’il (as) with a ram. And it is this rite which is adopted by the entire Muslim Community throughout the world on the orders of Allah as well as His Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

 

Therefore, Muslims who have the means should make it their duty to perform Qurbani/ Udhiya. It is such an act which is also necessary for those who are in the holy land to perform the Hajj. The Qurbani, in fact, is one of the rites encompassing the entire Hajj.

 

Qurbani can be performed for three days during the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th days of Dhul-Hijjah. This Qurbani symbolizes the EID-UL-ADHA festival which brings the fear of Allah to its peak, as well as joy, fraternity, solidarity, and morality on the part of the one who performs it by pleasing his Creator, Allah the Almighty.

 

This act of sacrificing an animal should not be perceived as flesh and blood are necessary to Allah. On the contrary, it is piety of the heart that reaches Allah. As Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Neither their flesh nor their blood will reach Allah. But what reaches Him on your part is piety.” (Al-Hajj 2:38)

So, every year, we bear witness to this devotion, to this desire to please the Creator, among the rich but also among the poor and those of the middle class. They save their money for this purpose – that is, to leave for Arabia for the fulfilment of the fifth pillar prescribed by Islam, an act which symbolizes a return to the original purity of man – especially his soul. 

To achieve this purity of soul, the pilgrim must connect to Allah through his intention, his prayer and his sincerity. A pilgrimage that is done only for the eyes of people (for ostentation – Riya) is not a valid pilgrimage (whether for Umrah or Hajj). Allah looks at the sincerity of the heart and the intention therein.

So, O Muslims! Do not waste the blessings of Hajj by flattering yourselves, whether by your money and other wealth, or even by having accomplished this pillar of Islam. Remain pious, humble and sincere because your piety, humility and sincerity towards Allah breathe (i.e. is indicative of, or necessary for) the glory of Islam. The pure Islamic Universe will be reflected in you, and you will one day be able to return to Allah, pleased with Him, and He also pleased with you. I pray that Allah accepts the Hajj of all pilgrims this year, and that Insha-Allah, the day will come when this blessing will be granted to us [the sincere Muslims of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam]. Insha-Allah, Ameen.

----Eid-ul-Adha Sermon delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Al Mahdi Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius on 17 June 2024~10 Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH.