... Happy Salah.
Waiting for my own meat

maclatunji: The significance of Id Al-Kabir

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

“…Thus We have subjected these animals to you so that you may be grateful. It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Him but your piety”- (Q22: 36-37)

THE ‘Id al-Kabir is the great festival. It is great because of the merger which it evolves between the profane and the sacred. This is a festival which predates Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W); it is a festival instituted by the Almighty through the agency of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail (upon them be peace and blessings of Allah).

Here goes the story, the story of faith and the faithful. He started out as a believer; a lonely believer in the Almighty at a time humanity chose to disbelieve in Him. He started out by asking his mother who his Creator and God was. His mother told him it was his father, Azar.

Prophet Ibrahim was not contented. The notion that his father was his god appeared jejune to him. So he asked his mother once again who was the Creator of his father? His mother told him it was Nimrod, the emperor, the king of the time.

“If Nimrod is the god of my father, who was his own creator?” Nobody could provide a categorical answer. But Prophet Ibrahim knew the answer. He knew that his Creator is neither a human being nor a Jinn. He knew his Creator had no beginning and no end. He knew that his Creator is both undated and beyond spatial limitations. He knew that his Creator is He who fashioned and created the cosmos out of nothing.

Thus he chose to believe in Him. He chose to believe in the Almighty. But to believe in the Almighty is to make a difficult but extremely rewarding choice. To believe in the Almighty at a time humanity had turned apostate is to run the risk of oppression and humiliation. Thus he was tormented and punished by the idolatrous community in which he was born. But he knew that adversity is a precondition or prerequisite for posterity, not the other way round. He knew he would win but he had to endure tribulation. Thus he was thrown into a burning fire but the power to burn was taken away from the latter by the Almighty.

He, therefore, emerged from the inferno unscathed. By coming out of the fire unhurt, Prophet Ibrahim became an eternal model for all pretenders to faith. He became an exemplar in our on-going battle against earthly principalities. Brethren, when someone proposes to oppress, torment and subject you to untold suffering, the Id al-Kabir takes place every year to remind you of the emptiness of that threat once you stand for and with your Creator.

Brethren, let us quickly fast forward to the family established by Prophet Ibrahim, a family of faith, piety and perseverance. He was the patriarch, Sarah was the wife, the extremely contented and humble mother of Ishaq, from whose womb the Jews emerged. Hajar was also the other wife, mother of Ismail from whose womb Ismail emerged. Prophet Ibrahim’s family featured a man, two women and two sons all of whom were individually destined to impact human history in extremely dissimilar and similar ways. In other words, every action of these characters, while they were on earth, was destined to be a signifier. They were all involved in creating history without actually knowing it; they ‘transacted’ spiritual-mundane businesses which eventually became models till eternity.

For example dear brethren, Prophet Ibrahim dreamt he offered his son, Prophet Ismail, as sacrifice to the Almighty. He proceeded to inform him of what he saw and the latter, without hesitation, encouraged his father to carry out the Divine inspiration without prevarication. Why was Prophet Ibrahim blessed with such a child who was ready to travel with him in the wilderness of spirituality? Why was he blessed with such a faithful child? My teachers suggested it was pay-back-time for him. Yes. Prophet Ibrahim was equally dutiful to his parents; the Almighty therefore would not and could not have blessed him with another son other than a lovely and dutiful one. My brother where and how is your father today? Pause a moment and ask yourself: where and how is your mama now?

Thus in that lonely desert that day, father and son got together to do what the father deemed to be the bidding of the Almighty. He wanted to sacrifice his son; the son wanted to offer himself to the Almighty. Father desired to please the Almighty; the son wanted to curry the favour of the Owner of the heavens and earth. Meanwhile the mother of the son, Hajar, occupied a lonely space. In silence, she bore the pain of the inevitable loss of her son. In silence, she opened up her hearts to the Almighty.

Ismail was the only fruit of her womb. She had hoped he would be alive to take of care of her tomb. But there she was, all alone, as she submitted her desires and aspirations to the Almighty, the owner of her womb and tomb. She knew He was there watching over her son as he went through the most painful experience in submission and devotion.

Brethren, Id al-Kabir is around to remind us, once again, of how the Almighty usually intervenes to turn a situation of hopelessness to that of hope and happiness. Prophet Ibrahim was told: “You have indeed affirmed the dream” and consequently a beautiful ram was given to him as ransom for his son. Thus sacrifice became not an end in itself but a means towards a nobler end: an end to the sacrifice of humans in history, an end to the ascension of pernicious authorities in humans which usually make them go against the Will of the Almighty, an end to greed, self-conceit and inane glorification of the ephemeral and not the eternal.

Sacrifice of animals on this day reminds the servants of the Almighty of their utter weakness in relation to every entity in the universe. Were it not for the WILL and favour of the Almighty, how could we by ourselves control and exert our authority over these sacrificial lambs?

Thus, on this hallowed day, prepare to observe the Sunnah of our leader. Take a bath before Fajr prayers and put on new clothes (or the best available). It is Sunnah for men to use perfume, not only on Id days, but always.

Observe fasting while going to the praying ground. Set out early. Stop on the way to offer seats in your car to your brethren. Do not wait to be asked before you offer such assistance. In low voice, say the glorification of the Almighty. Remember Id al-Kabir signifies our arrival for a religious duty; it also signals our constant departure to walk with our Creator.

Somebody asked me “who knows tomorrow?” A brother intervened and said, “nobody does”.” But who owns tomorrow?” he queried again. “It is the Almighty.” We all chorused. May He who knows and owns tomorrow dispel our sorrow and lead us out of this tunnel to under-performance and pettiness.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/friday-worship/135202-the-significance-of-id-al-kabir-

no be to chop ram?

I wish all my muslim brethren a successful EID celebration

nobleens: ple

Insulting words like dis shouldn't be used on people nor on their beliefs.......
No wonder dem slap one of ur teeth comot.

scientology: JESUS is the final sacrifice for mankind...NO NOTHER SACRFICE CAN BE MADE except that of the slained SON OF GOD.....U HIDE THIS POST U WILL BE CURSED

My brother from another mother, pls note that posting statements like this on purely Islamic topics only make you look foolish. You believe in Jesus alone but we believe in all the prophets including Jesus becos our Quran instructs us to. Pls keep to your believe while we keep to ours and traditional worshippers keep to theirs. This is what all religions preach, it is also called civilization and tolerance. We may eat together, drink together, work together and even sin together (may God have mercy on us), but we may not believe in the same religious doctrines. Finally, the next time you make this mistake, I will not be this gentle.

I have a question for anyone who can provide

if ibrahim is the father of ismail and isiaka... how come their descendants hate each other so much

Am just a bit confused, why the swap in the accounts of Abraham(Ibrahim) sacrificing Isaac; the story read that it was Ismail that he wanted to sacrifice.
The beliefs of the muslim vs christains (at least the OT bible) are a bit familiar but at the same time not so familiar.
If I can use deductive reasoning, it then means that the beef between the two religion has been long in coming.

simpleseyi:

My brother from another mother, pls note that posting statements like this on purely Islamic topics only make you look foolish. You believe in Jesus alone but we believe in all the prophets including Jesus becos our Quran instructs us to. Pls keep to your believe while we keep to ours and traditional worshippers keep to theirs. This is what all religions preach, it is also called civilization and tolerance. We may eat together, drink together, work together and even sin together (may God have mercy on us), but we may not believe in the same religious doctrines. Finally, the next time you make this mistake, I will not be this gentle.

the "mistake" is for ur own good....besides what has what i said got to do with ur faith

Maclatunji, I respected you more than this, how can you post a write up on something this sensitive without reading it first? Now someone asked a question and you're directing him to the author. Am disappointed.

pickabeau1: I have a question for anyone who can provide

if ibrahim is the father of ismail and isiaka... how come their descendants hate each other so much

.Abraham was married to Sarah and they didn't have a child.God promised them a son.Sarah couldn't wait so she got Abraham to impregnate one of her maids and she bore ishmael.
The child was described as a wild child.Sarah later had the promised child,Isaac.There was a prophecy that the hand of one will be against the other.
It's the fulfilment of Scriptures as we see it today.

Happy Eid Mubarak to all my muslim brothers and
sisters, including my fellow Christians friends in the
house. May we all witness many more on earth
Inshallahu.. Cheers !!!!

Am glad I read this wondderful piece. It is very informative. So in all this celebration is about having faith in God even in the face of adversities just like abraham when he wanted to sacrifice his only son.

Why is the meat taking longer today na? By this time last year, I had a bucket load of orishirisi meat. Anyways, Merry Eid ul kabir abi Na Eid ul adha (una dey confuse me) to all peace loving Muslims and may u have cause to celebrate next year and years beyond.

Ask4bigneyo: Does anyone hav idea on how i can get LONDON USED RAM coz d price of ram is too xpensive here...?

You are high on some banned substance

scientology: JESUS is the final sacrifice for mankind...NO NOTHER SACRFICE CAN BE MADE except that of the slained SON OF GOD.....U HIDE THIS POST U WILL BE CURSED

Well said at the beginning but Christ will not curse for ignoring is call... the assignment is tell them not to curse them.

jay bee:
Why can't you guys just let people be for crying out loud?

Do you and let others do whatsoever pleases them.

It's a free world and everyone is entitled to own choice

You are right there on the bolded cos the choice made is wat determines our end.

It was but yesterday you were a baby and so soon you are growing too, and before you know it you've become a lady or a man with children too.

Then your health and strength begins to fail you and you say now what shall i do, because the days and years you may have wasted, baby memories hunting you.

So you see my brother that life is so short, it passes so quickly and soon its gone, you just have one life to live on earth, so remember your creator while you have breath!

Stay blessed and remain rapturable

Bro Maclatunji and Jarus... Chilling.

^Incorrect, in Islam, that is not the story

Eid Mubarak

@ kablooee, don't mind maclatunji, he is fond of copy copy.

Alhamdulilah!

Jazakum Lahu Khaeran Tbaba1234 for your timely intervention.

Going forward, a repeat of this nature from two highly respected Nairaland Muslims,moderators?will attract fines

kablooee: Maclatunji, I respected you more than this, how can you post a write up on something this sensitive without reading it first? Now someone asked a question and you're directing him to the author. Am disappointed.

Sympathizer, pls drop it.

This is Islam, the two parties are now on the same page.

ire4me: @ kablooee, don't mind maclatunji, he is fond of copy copy.

Thank you for contributing your mb but this is not time for personality attack.

Pls come to my house for Eid celebration.