Muslims all around the world are all set to perform “Qurbani”. All those Muslims who can afford a sacrificial animal are under obligation to sacrifice an animal as prescribed by the Islam. Most of the people see this ritual merely associated with money. No doubt the money plays an important role in it. But it’s not about money it’s something way beyond.
Let’s go back to from where it emerged. Hazrat Ibrahim ( AS) had no child upto the age of 86 . But he used to pray to Allah to grant him a child. When we look at science, it’s impossible to have a child at this age. When Hazart Ibrahim (AS) used to pray for a child at this age his wife Hazrat Sarah (ra) used to wonder how at this age they can become parents. But Allah isn’t bound by any restrictions. At the age of 86 Allah blessed Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) with first son. At the time of Ismail’s birth, Ibrahim’s wife, Sarah, was unable to bear children, so Ibrahim had married her handmaiden, Hajar (Hagar), who became Ismail’s mother. Later, when Ibrahim was 100 years old, his second son, Prophet Is’haq (Isaac), was born to Sarah. A very important thing to note. Not only at the 86 but at the of 100 Allah blessed Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) with a child. This must be a clear understanding for all those waiting for a miracle to happen. When you have firm belief anything can happen. But the condition is that your belief should be only and only on Allah no one else.
When Allah blessed Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) with Hazrat Ismail (AS) . He was put to test by Allah. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was asked to leave his wife Hajra and his infant son Ismail (Ishmael) in the barren, uninhabited valley of Makkah (in the Arabian Peninsula).At the time, this location was an empty desert with no water or vegetation. He left them with only a small leather bag of dates and a skin of water before returning to Palestine. This faithful act eventually led to the settlement of Makkah and the construction of the Kaaba. When Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) completed the construction of Kaaba. He was asked to call People to come for Haji. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) seeing the barren land and no one around asked “Ya Allah who will hear my call”. Allah replied “You do it and leave rest to me”. It’s said the lakhs of people who go to perform Haji is in the response of the same call. And the same call shall be responded till the day of Judgement.
Muslims who have gone to Perform Haj shall have to run between the mountains of Safa and Marwa. One of the essentials of Haj. The running between the mountains is linked to event when Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) left his son and his wife alone on the order of Allah. She ran between the mountains when they ran out of water. It’s from where the Zamzam water has originated.
We need to pause here and think. Father gets a son after 86 years of wait. And he’s being asked to let the same son at the place where there’s no one other than them. What do we grasp from the event? Allah tests to check the level of Imam. And that tests are not for those who Allah is annoyed with. But for those who Allah loves.
It’s mentioned in Quran multiple times that those who are the believers are tested by Allah so that their rewards are increased. Same was done with Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). He was first made to wait for 86 years before he was blessed with a child and then he was asked to abandon the same son alone with his wife at a place where there was human being living. It was just Hazrat Ismail(AS) and Hazrat Hajira (ra). For Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) the tests weren’t over. There was much more to come. Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) had a dream and in the dream he was asked to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismail for the sake of Allah. When he woke up in the morning, he went to his son Hazrat Ismail (AS) and told him about the dream. To which he said “If it’s from Allah I am ready.” It’s reported that Shaitan went to Hazrat Hajra (ra) and told her that “Your husband had a dream where he got command from Allah to sacrifice Ismail for me”. To which she replied “When it’s from Allah. I have no problem. I won’t stop them ”. There are many stories associated to the event of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) but all at the end lead to same goal and that’s the trust of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) on Allah. The only thing that Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) had in his mind was that how shall his actions please Allah and no one else. When Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) made Hazrat Ismail lay down and tried to make a cute on his neck the knife failed to it. After many attempts he with angry threw the knife which hit a stone and it broke into two. After a brief time Allah sent a animal and asked Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice it. Is it that the only purpose of sacrificing an animal is to fulfil the requirements? No, the basic fundamental purpose of it’s to teach us that when it’s an order from Allah you have to sacrifice your most loved thing. And that too without giving it a second thought. As Allah has mentioned it clearly in Holy Quran that if you love your wealth, your hard earned wealth, your cultivated lands, your children , your parents and your wives more than me. The wait till I send down trouble for you.
It’s very important to understand we as Muslims should have order of Allah the most important and beloved for us and that’s what the sacrificing of animals teach us.
Raqif makhdoomi is a law student and a human rights activist.
