Eid-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, is celebrated
by Muslims all over the world as a major festival
in Islam. It enjoys special significance as it does
not only mark the climax of Hajj or Pilgrimage, the
fifth pillar of Islam but it also commemorates
Prophet Ibraham’s readiness and his son, Ismail’s
consent to be sacrificed following God’s
commandment in a dream.
Yesterday specifically, pilgrims observing the core
of the worship of Hajj gathered at the plains of
Mount of ‘Arafah, outside Makkah where they spent
their time totally in worship and proceeded from
Arafah to Muzdalifah to offer prayers and cast
seven stones at the symbols of Satan and other
devotional course.
This event culminated into today’s occasion, as
Muslims world over offer rams in sacrifice as
ordained by God.
The occasion is not a mere ritualistic performance
among Muslims who sometimes slaughter goats,
sheep and cows annually and mechanically,
without understanding the underlying significance.
The feast of sacrifice dates from the historic event
when Prophet Ibraham was commanded by God, in
a form of a dream vision, to sacrifice his son,
Ismail. While he was in the act of sacrificing his
son, God sent the Arch Angel Gabriel with a huge
ram.
Gabriel informed Ibraham that his dream vision
was fulfilled and instructed him to sacrifice the ram
as a ransom for his son. The story is mentioned in
Chapter 22:37 of the Holy Qur’an.
That became part of the Hajj process as all Hajj
pilgrims are required to make a sacrifice just as
other Muslims at homes observe the ram sacrifice,
feed the poor and share part of the meat to friends
and non-Muslims.
Essentially, Islam’s attitude towards ritual
slaughter is not that of blood atonement, or
seeking favour with God through another’s death,
but rather, the act of thanking God for one’s
sustenance and also personal sacrifice of sharing
food with other humans. Muslims observe the
ritual as a way of acknowledging that only Allah
has the absolute right to take a life and that they
do so as a humble member of Allah’s creation in
need of food.
Above all, it shows the spiritual committment to
the covenant with Allah and absolute submission
to His will at all times, in times of pain and joy.
Although, the solemn pronouncement of Allah’s
name over the sacrifice is an essential part of the
rite, Allah does not take delight in flesh and blood,
rather, it is a symbol of thanksgiving to Allah by
sharing meat with fellow humans.
Eid-ul-Adha is also a harvest day. All the good
work done in the service of Allah are rewarded and
all believers reap the fruits of their good deeds as
Allah grants His mercy and blessings abundantly
without measure.
Again, Eid-ul-Adha transcends all limits of human
life. As an individual Muslim, it marks a day of
victory for the Muslim as he reflects on the
circumstances that culminated into the special day
as well as holds a strong command over his
desires, exercises a sound self-control and enjoys
the test of a disciplinary life.
And once a person acquires these qualities he has
achieved his greatest victory, because the person
who knows how to control himself and disciplines
his passion will not be prone to sin, including
vices such as indecency, jealousy, greed among
others.
As a result, sharing of food with the poor and
neighbours, as well as a reminder of God’s mercy
over us, seeking forgiveness from God, forgiving
others by releasing any feelings of enmity or ill
feeling towards others and ensuring that peace and
tranquility reign in the society is the essence of the
sacrifice. The feat is all about community,
celebration and neighbourliness. Eid Mubarak

BRB