The Eid-ul-Adha is not a celebration like any other. It is not a celebration of joy and rejoicing like Eid-ul-Fitr. On the contrary, it marks the spirit of sacrifice of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), the great prophet, ancestor of our beloved Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh).
This great sacrifice was perpetuated to serve as a lesson to humanity. Everyone knows this story. I myself have delivered several sermons on the story of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) and his son, Hadhrat Ishmael (as). Read the sermons I have delivered in previous years on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha; I don’t have to come back to the same topic again.
What we don’t know and what we need to know is the lesson to be learned, especially from this sacrifice. Without this particular sacrifice, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) could not have established himself as the Comrade of Allah (Khalilullah). Imagine yourselves; after having become a father at an advanced age when you had no children, after having made many supplications (duahs) to Allah (swt) to give you a child, an heir of your own seed, and behold! When Allah (swt) grants you this child, and where He accepts your invocations, He now tests you to know how much love you have for Him… Is the love that you have for this child stronger than your love for Allah? So He tests you in this way.
[In this world] How many couples are there who have not had children, even since the beginning of their marriages when they were still young. They went to great lengths to have a child by seeing medical specialists, gynaecologists for medicine and thus spending a lot of money in order to have children. And there are also some that I know who have pleaded a lot with Allah and asked to do duahs in their favour and how by the grace of Allah, Allah accepts their efforts on the medical side as well as their prayers and whereby they had also placed their trust in Him, and thus Allah gave them a child. And because of that, a child who is unique to the family, then [imagine] how much he will be pampered and raised with all the love one can give. He will receive everything needed for his studies, and all the expenses made on him are done with great joy. So [imagine] when all of a sudden a misfortune strikes where the parents lose that only child! How hard this situation is for the mother and father. These kind of events/ misfortune, make us realize that everything belongs to Allah. He can all of a sudden take it all back from us. He does what He wants, without being accountable to anyone.
So now, for a moment, ponder over the situation of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), where at such an advanced age, Allah gave him a son. He had an extraordinary love for Allah; his belief in one God, his trust and his devotion were extraordinary where he had to go through many trials. When you read the Holy Quran, you see mention of the sacrifices that Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) had to make. He made his people and even his father understand that: You are worshiping what you have yourselves fabricated [carved]; and he tried to get them to think hard about it by saying: “Wallahu khalaqakum wa maa ta’-maluun.” [It is Allah Who created you and [also] all that you fabricate.] He wanted to lead them on the right path, and believe in one God Who created everything [The Absolute Creator]; so here is what they said: “Qaalubnuu lahum bunyaamat fa-alquuhu fil-jahiim.” [They said, “Construct for him a furnace and throw him into the burning fire!”] (As-Swaffat, 37: 97-98).
This is the kind of reasoning that these troublemakers use, those whose hearts are tied to their idols. You see that whenever Allah sends His Messenger, His Prophet, there are these kinds of troublemakers. In our time also there are these kinds of wicked and fanatical Mullahs. For example, there is a Mullah in Tamil Nadu who said that his caliph took pity on me; according to him I should have received the death penalty. You see! Whenever a Messenger comes to lead people, lead mankind to Allah, their hearts are [already] attached to their idol, but divine humiliation will fall on those kind of troublemakers, those wicked people, those Mullahs.
So here [in the context] where Allah (swt) rescued His friend (Khalilullah), Allah says: “Fa-araadun bihii kaydan-fajaal naahumul-asfaliin!” [They contrived an evil plan against him, but We abased them all.] And at that moment Hadhrat Ibrahim said: “Innii zaahibun ilaa Rabbi sayahdiiin” [I am going to my Lord; He will show me the way.] (As-Swaffat, 37: 99-100).
And what happened?
He befriended Allah, with such a friendship through his faith where this faith became so strong, so great, and furthermore his trust in his Creator became so special that there is no exact word to describe the exceptional trust he had in Allah. And despite his advanced age, he demonstrated the great extent of his humanity, and armed with his trust in Allah and his prayers, things that people conceive of as impossible have become possible.
And this was proved whereby the Holy Quran has made mention of this, of the prayer of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), such a prayer which he had made with complete trust in Allah. There was no doubt that Allah (swt) would perform this miracle and that it would remain as an example until the Day of Judgment. This prayer is: “Rabbi habli minas Saalihiin” [My Lord! Grant me [offspring] from the righteous.] Indeed, his prayer was answered by Allah where He said: “Fabash-shar-naahu bi Gulaamin Haliim.” [So, We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.] (As-Swaffat 37: 101-102).
Allah (swt) even said that Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) was a servant who had a lot of faith in Allah, on one God and Allah (swt) showed mankind how much the faith of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) was of superior [excellent] quality. If Allah (swt) had not revealed this whole story - the story of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as), then would we have known all this? Allah established this story in the Qur’an and mentioned the dream of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) where he saw himself slaughtering his son Hadhrat Ishmael (as). Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) wanted to make this dream come true, but he waited until his son reached the age of understanding, the age of maturity when his son was old enough to travel with him. And so he told him that dream, that is, that he saw himself slaughtering him [Ishmael] and then he said to his son, “So tell me what you think?” And so see also the spirit of sacrifice of his son! Certainly Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) also wanted to know the heart and the extent of the faith of his son about this divinely-inspired dream because Allah had announced to him that he would have a forbearing son, one who would have a gentle temperament. So the son said to his father: “Yaaa’abatif al-maatu maar: satajidunnii inshaaa-allaahu minas-saabirin.” [O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.] (As-Swaffat 37: 103).
Think about this for a moment when a father is getting into old age; [imagine being] asked [by divine order] to sacrifice the being you love with all your heart - your only child! You obey this order, and with courage you take your sharp weapon, ready to slaughter your child! Who is ready nowadays to do this act for such a high motive: to please the Supreme Creator? Was Allah the Merciful thirsty for the blood of Ishmael (as) or He only wanted to see the sincerity of His servants?
Allah (swt) saw the sincerity of His servants when both (father and son) submitted to Allah’s order and when Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) put Hadhrat Ishmael (as) down on the forehead to sacrifice him, and it was at this very moment that there was the Takbir Tashreeq: ”ALLAHU AKBAR, ALLAHU AKBAR, LAA ILLAAHA ILLALLAAHU, ALLAHU AKBAR, ALLAHU AKBAR WA LILLAHIL HAMD.” Allah (swt) commanded Jibrael (as) to bring a compensation and Jibrael (as) saw the act of Ibrahim (as) where he was ready to slaughter his son. He [Jibrael (as)] understood that the love of Allah was stronger than his love for his son, and so [to stop him], Jibrael (as) began to recite: “ALLAHU AKBAR ALLAHU AKBAR.”
When Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) heard this voice, he knew that this was indeed good news. He started to shout: “LAA ILLAAHA ILLALLAHU, ALLAHU AKBAR” and Hadhrat Ishmael (as) understood that this was a compensation [for the initial sacrifice], and he began to recite the following words, singing the praises of Allah and thanking Allah: “ALLAHU AKBAR, WA LILLAHIL HAMD.”
Allah (swt) did not need this human sacrifice. It was not His intention to really let father and son make this human sacrifice where his son’s blood would flow, otherwise this act would go down in history where a prophet and in addition a father slaughtered his son because of a dream he had, Nawzubillah Min Zaalik. Allah (swt) is not a cruel God. He wanted to make mankind know the exceptional love that Ibrahim (as) has for Him, a love that is way beyond the love for his own child, and Allah mentions this in the Quran: “O Ibrahim, You have confirmed the vision (the dream that I showed you and your faith in Me [Allah] is very great).” It was then that Allah said: “Inna kazaalika najzil-muhsiniin” [This is how We reward those who do good.] (As-Swaffat 37: 105-106). And Allah said that this was really a test/ trial that He subjected Ibrahim (as) and also Ishmael (as).
So, to commemorate Ibrahim’s spirit of sacrifice on his son, Allah (swt) did not make his sacrifice go in vain. Allah says: “Wa fadaynahu bizibhin aziim; wa taraknaa alayhi fil aakhiriin; Salaamun alaa Ibraahim.” [And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice. And We preserved for him a good name among posterity: “Peace be upon Ibrahim”.] (As-Swaffat 37: 108-109)
See this sacrifice of Ibrahim (as) and how his fame was perpetuated among posterity where Allah (swt) blessed him again and gave him another son, Hadhrat Issac (as), another prophet and in the descendants of these two boys there were prophets. This is why Allah (swt) says: “Kazaalika najzil-Muhsiniin” [This is how We reward those who do good.] (As-Swaffat 37: 111).
And you saw that in the lineage of Issac (as) there were prophets and when the people in this lineage rejected those divine favours and blessings, Allah (swt) snatched from them those same favours and blessings and gave them to the descendants of Hadhrat Ishmael (as) because it was the latter who had offered his neck in sacrifice. Allah (swt) sent the greatest prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) in his offspring, and He sent him [Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh)] with the perfect divinely-raised religion, for it is Allah Himself Who perfected this religion and gave ISLAM as its name and a Book which does not contain any doubt [which is all truth and clear] and which is a guide only for the Muttaqeen (those who fear Allah and want to follow the straight path). And this divine grace and favour will continue until the day of Qiyamah [Judgement].
So it is Waajib (obligatory) to recite the Takbir Tashreeq as from the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah after the Salah of Fajr until the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah after the Salat of Asr (that is, during 23 Salat when you are in your house, the mosque, while travelling, whether for men, women or children; you must all recite the Takbir after each Salah, after the Salah of Eid (3 times). Recite the Takbir aloud after the Salat in congregation, but women should do it in a low voice. If it happens that the Imam forgot to recite the Takbir after the Salah, it is up to the Muqtadis (following, the congregation) to recite the Takbir.
So Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) did not receive the title of Khalilullah easily. He had to face many trials in his life, very hard trials, but by the grace of Allah he faced them in a remarkable way. Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) demonstrated patience, submission and a quite extraordinary self-control. You will recall his belief in Allah when the enemies threw him into a great fire to kill him and also the divine order he received to abandon his wife [Hadhrat Hajra (ra)] and his son Hadhrat Ishmael (as) in a dry and deserted valley (which would later become Mecca).
The main lessons we learn from the behaviour, reactions and gestures of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) are precisely his unlimited submission to Allah’s command. In other words, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) was ready to sacrifice everything to submit to Allah’s will. It is this weapon that we must forge/ develop to protect ourselves in this (spiritual) environment where we live, and where it becomes more and more difficult to practice our Deen (religion, Islam).
We must be able to sacrifice our desires for greater submission to Allah, but also for Allah to help us, protect us and make us stand firmly on our feet. Insha-Allah.
A sacrifice (Qurbani / Udhiya) that took place over 4000 years ago in a desert near the Holy House, the Ka’aba, see how Allah (swt) kept the spirit of that sacrifice alive. It is in this very sense that Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) said [explanation]:
Look how my companions have become like stars and now they are no longer grains of sand that you used to trample on; they are no longer the ones you used to drag on hot sand; they are no longer exposed to the sun and where you used to place stones on them. By the grace of Allah, see the stage that they have reached, the stage that Allah has raised them. They have become stars for all time to guide you.
Look at the life of the Sahaba [companions] of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh), O my disciples! This will comfort you, for you too will become the stars of this era. This is a new chapter in the history of human life for this century: Arise and Create A New World.
By the grace of Allah we are the slaves of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh), and with the help of Allah see how brilliantly we will reopen this chapter to the whole world. Let these Mullahs bark like dogs because the caravan will continue to move on. These Mullahs, as Allah said in the Qur’an, they are such asses who are afraid before the Lion of Allah. All over the world where there are my disciples, we are ready in all circumstances to answer the call of Allah: Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. We also respond present for the sacrifice. We are not afraid of any creature whose heart is attached to its idol, and we are not afraid to stare at those Mullahs whose hearts have deviated completely from Tawheed [the oneness/ unicity of Allah]; where they have neither respect for the Tawheed, nor love and respect for our beloved prophet (pbuh). They have trampled upon the teachings of Allah and His Prophet (pbuh).
Remember how during this year in the month of Ramadan some Ahmadis Mullahs have stooped low where they rejoiced over the death of a poor person, aged 83 and said hurtful, insulting and provocative words [against him and those circumstances], but Alhamdulillah we know the value of the month of Ramadan; a month of patience. We take a beautiful patience to receive a beautiful reward.
The Ahmadis Maulvis scream like satans, and here [in the Divine Manifestation] Marhoom Kaja Maideen’s daughter-in-law, Jasmine Saheba heard a voice in Urdu saying that Kaja Maideen has become a martyr (Shaheed) and she received other messages as well, Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah. Into what baseness have these Ahmadis Mullahs fallen? They have trampled on the words of Nabi Kareem (pbuh).
I place a single Hadith in front of those Mullahs who have become attached to their idol. In the Bukhari Shariff, Abu Musa (ra) relates that he asked the Holy Prophet (pbuh): “Who is a good Muslim?” The Holy Prophet (pbuh) replied: “He who avoids harming his Muslim brother with his tongue and hand.”
For lack of time, I would have quoted to the attention of these deviated Mullahs another Hadith but they are still in kindergarten; then let them learn this Hadith by heart and put it into practice and along with it, to do a lot of Istigfaar [ask forgiveness] with/ from Allah (swt) so that they can let go of the rope of their idol and grip strongly the rope of Allah, Insha-Allah.
----Extracts from the Eid-ul-Adha Sermon of 01 August 2020~10 Dhul-Qaddah 1441 AH delivered by Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.