REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE OF EID UL ADHA . In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. -Say : Verily, my Salât (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allâh, the Lord of the Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (Holy Quran 6 :162) - Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, When (will come) the Help of Allâh? Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allâh is near! (Holy Quran 2 : 214 ) Qulzam-E-Hasti Se Tu Ubhra Hai Manind-E-Habab Iss Ziyan Khane Mein Tera Imtihan Hai Zindagi (From the sea of existence you arose like a bubble; In this dwelling of loss, life your test.) -It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allâh, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allâh for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad ) to the Muhsinûn (doers of good). (Holy Quran 22 : 37) -When they entered unto him, and said: Salâman (peace)! [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: Indeed! We are afraid of you. . They (the angels) said: Do not be afraid! We give you glad tidings of a boy (son) possessing much knowledge and wisdom. . [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: Do you give me glad tidings (of a son) when old age has overtaken me? Of what then is your news? . They (the angels) said: We give you glad tidings in truth. So be not of the despairing ones. . [Ibrâhim (Abraham)] said: And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray? (Holy Quran 14 : 52 - 56 ) -So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. . And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allâh), so look what you think! He said: O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Inshâ Allâh (if Allâh will), you shall find me of As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.). . Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allâh), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); . And We called out to him: O Abraham! . You have fulfilled the dream (vision)! Verily! Thus do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers ). . Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial . And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice ; . And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times. . Salâmun (peace) be upon Ibrâhim (Abraham)! . Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers ). . Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (Holy Quran 37 : 101 -111) Ye Faizan-e-Nazar Tha Ya Ke Maktab Ki Karamat Thi Sikhaye Kis Ne Ismaeel (A.S.) Ko Adaab-e-Farzandi (Was it booklesson, or father’s glance, that taught The son of Abraham what son should bear?) .And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrâhim (Abraham) [i.e., Allâh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allâh) said (to him), Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of mankind. (Holy Quran 2 : 124 ) Torh Deta Hai But-e-Hasti Ko Ibraheem-e-Ishq Hosh Ka Daru Hai Goya Masti-e-Tasneem-e-Ishq (The Ibrahim of Love is the destroyer of the idol of existence The ecstasy of Tasnim of Love is the cure of awareness). Introduction - The word Eid means a recurring festival. The name of Eid al-Adha means the Feast of Sacrifice. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the lunar month of Dhul-Hijjah.On the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims proceed to the plains of the Mount of `Arafah, outside Makkah and they spend their time totally in worship. Dunya Ke Butkadon Mein Pehla Woh Ghar Khuda Ka Hum Uss Ke Pasban Hain, Woh Pasban Humara (Among the idol temples of the world the first is that house of God; We are its keepers; it is our keeper). This is the core of the worship of Hajj, without which no Hajj is said to have been performed. On that evening, pilgrims proceed from Arafah to Muzdalifah.Early in the morning of the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the pilgrims having offered their prayers at Muzdalifah, proceed to the three pillars to cast seven stones at the symbols of Satan. This ceremony of casting stones has been performed since the days of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him). It is a ceremony which indicates that one should cast away the evil of Satan repeatedly and resolve never to listen to him again, nor to succumb to temptations. In fact, the word for the casting process in Arabic is rajm, which means throwing of stones.Then, pilgrims return to Mina, with a pure slate of mind and heart, where they perform the sacrifice of animals. This process commemorates the event when Prophet Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his most beloved treasure, his son…It was his only son, whom he begot in old age after sincerely having implored Allah, for a son for a very long time. It was Ismail--his beloved and righteous son--who was destined also to become a prophet. He is known as Adh-dhabih, or the chosen sacrifice of Allah.Hajj is, in fact, considered a re-affirmation of the faith of Prophet Ibrahim, whom is considered the father of all prophets.For those who did not go to Hajj, this year--like most of us--it is celebrated as a feast. We begin with the prayers of Eid, following which, sacrifices of animals are made and the meat is shared with the poor.It is a pity that over scores of years, the act of sacrifice has lost its meaning. It has become a mere ritualistic performance among Muslims who sometimes slaughter goats, sheep and cows annually and mechanically, without understanding the underlying significance.There is a difference between mere charity and sacrifice. Charity is a regular all-time practice of helping the needy and no particular day is fixed for it. This is while sacrifice is an annual ritual, which is to be performed on the prescribed days commencing with Eid al-Adha. The religion of Islam is a system of conduct; universal and eternal. Its mission is not purely dedicated to worship and self-purification, nor is it confined only to regulating mans relation with God. But it is practical religion designed to regulate the relation between man and God and between man and his fellowman as well as to point the way of happiness and prosperity to mankind in this world and the life hereafter. It regulates the spiritual side of mans life as well as his physical life. It is a moral code as well as social law, political as well as financial. It is the law of the individual and of the society.It contains laws that scholars term devotions and transactions. These two, although different entities and distinct from one another, do not contradict one another. Indeed, they are complementary to one another; each helps to promote the end of the other. Devotions, although they appear to be of personal merit, are designed to help man and when heartily and attentively performed do actually help him to be a good social citizen. Likewise, when actuated by good motives, transactions help to purify and elevate the soul of man. Thus, spirit and matter, this world and the hereafter, the individual and the society - all have become so dependent upon one another, so related to one another, that none of them can reach its ultimate perfection or realize its end without the others. The perfection of each is the primary condition of the perfection of all. This trend of thought in which the welfare of the soul is conceived as dependent upon the welfare of the body and vice versa, the rights and duties of the individual are inseparable from those of the society, and mans duty to Allah has become connected with his duties to the society - this trend of thought is never absent in any single aspect or branch of Islamic legislation. It is to be found everywhere as it is to be also found in the periodical religious occasions and celebrations.The Eid is a real occasion for joy and rejoicing. It is a legitimate joy, yet it is not a personal joy or physical pleasure. In order to realize its design, it must be communal and manifest spiritual values.It is a season in which those who have must give generously to those who have not. It is not the wild joy which makes man slave to his habits and carnal desires. It is a joy which makes man thankful and appreciative of Allahs bounties and benefits to him. It is a joy for being enabled to fulfill ones duty to Allah and to his fellowman. It is therefore, spiritual and social rejoicing. If anyone of the two is lacking, the celebration will not be complete.The Eid of Sacrifice or the Great Eid is of this kind. It is the Eid of the Pilgrims who were fortunate enough to fulfill their religious duty by visiting the House of Abraham, the place which the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) loved and blessed and promised the same blessings to those who with sincere hearts and clear consciences pay visit to it. It is a demonstration of ones gratitude on being enabled to fulfill his religious duties or that some of ones fellow men have been awarded this privilege. All Muslims being, as they should be, a resonant box, share this joy. It is, therefore, one of the manifestations which demonstrate the feeling of brotherhood among all Muslims.Each one of them is jubilant when he is enabled to perform his pilgrimage as he is also jubilant because his brother has performed such duty. It is one of the designs of Islam, as is here partly explained, that this spiritual unity between the Muslim communities should survive and remain always powerful. This can be further demonstrated when we observe that other religious duties which have the same function have been here made obligatory in conjunction with that Eid. This Eid is connected with pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is a token of collective faith and gathering where Muslims, divesting themselves of wealth, family, ties and all amenities of life, take refuge collectively onto Allah, for the sake of Allah and in memory of the Resurrection. By so doing every year, they can strengthen their feeling of brotherhood, exchange goods and ideas, know one another, understand and appreciate the difficulties of one another and thereby take effective steps to help one another. It is also connected with Eid prayers, where all people of every community - men and women, boys and girls - gather together for one and the same purpose, entertain one and the same feeling, and with one and the same end in mind: that is, to answer Allahs call.They go out in appreciation of Allahs benefits and endowments, graciously extended to them. Friends can thereby renew their friendship, enemies can forget their past quarrels, and all determine to lead a new life which would help every individual to realize his end. On such occasions no discrimination can be found or felt anywhere. There is nothing except one community, one feeling and one aim. It is also connected with sacrifice; camels, sheep, cows and the like are to be slaughtered as sacrifices on this day. Not because Allah stands in need of the flesh and blood of such sacrifices, but to satisfy the needs of those who were deprived of such nourishment during the year, so they can get plenty for their immediate needs and be able to reserve for their future needs. Their sustenance is thus guaranteed, and they can heartily share the happiness of the occasion with the rest. It is, therefore, an occasion for the soul to rid itself of that covetous attitude which may possess it and to cultivate in it the commendable habit of generosity. Sacrifice in Islam therefore is not an appeasement of Allah . It is ultimately and purely for the benefit of the poor but has been made a religious duty, and in this particular way so that it may be easily accepted. It is to give man an opportunity in which he can assist those who are not as fortunate as himself in life and help them to rise again in the society and flourish. It is only through the immunity of want and the possibility of leading an honorable life which the society guarantees to the individual that society can live, prosper and retain its stability. That is why the religion of Islam has put upon wealth and wealthy persons specific responsibilities. Sacrifice is one of these responsibilities which must be fulfilled to safeguard the welfare of the individual and of the society. The Eid of Sacrifice is also called the Great Eid because the purification of the soul which is likely to be achieved thereby is much greater. People were becoming good, or susceptible to being good, through the month of fasting, and this was largely increased by sincere giving in charity after the fasting. Their souls became more elevated through preparing themselves for this upcoming religious occasion and performing all the religious duties associated with it - sacrificing for the sake of the poor, and performing the pilgrimage. They willingly forsake their private affairs, their sons and daughters and wives and all worldly matters. They stand on the Mount of Arafat with a vast multitude of Muslims as if they were on the Day of Resurrection when every worldly matter is denounced and forgotten and the mind of the Hajj becomes entirely attentive to the greatness and majestic splendor of the situation as if he were actually standing in the august presence of Allah. He, along with everyone, is so engrossed in the contemplation of the Divine Being that they have lost all ideas of self. This is the highest level of devotion to which man as a man can possibly aspire. It is the highest stage of self-control which is the principal root of all human virtues. It is because the greatest blessing of God may then be felt and enjoyed that it is called the Great Eid. Baraheemi Nazar Paida Magar Mushkil Se Hoti Hai Hawas Chup Chup Ke Seenon Mein Bana Leti Hai Tasweerain (But it is difficult to create the insight of Abraham (A.S.); Desire insidiously paints pictures in our breasts).
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 17:35:25 +0000
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