Eid Al-Adha

This khutbah was shared to me by a friend through email.

Today is a day of celebration: and as Muslims we should feel great joy today. But what is the reason for our revelry, the reason for our celebration, the reason for our joy?

Today is Eid Al-Adha – the celebration of the sacrifice. And this is the season of Hajj – when the Muslims have come from around the world to the house of Allah in humility and submission. But let not the meaning of this great occasion be lost on those who have stayed behind.

What does it mean that we commemorate an event when Allah asked Ibraheem to prepare to slaughter his only son? Why should there be joy in our hearts on this day?

In Islam we have three Eids: three celebrations – the Eid of Al-Fitr after Ramadan, the

Eid Al-Adha that we are in now, and the Eid of Jumuah every Friday.

The Eid Al-Fitr is really a celebration that we were able to pass the test of Ramadan – that we submitted to our Lord, followed his commandments, even if difficult, and emerged gaining his mercy Insha'Allah. We realized during the days of Ramadan that

the greatest pain is from a heart that is empty and preoccupied. We strove to rectify that – as we stood during the nights seeking Allah's mercy, imploring him for forgiveness.

The Eid of Jumuah is a celebration that we were able to follow Allah's commandment to

“come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business and every other thing” (62:9)

We are celebrating that no matter where we were and what we were doing we acknowledged that the remembrance of Allah was greater – and we came to that.

The pattern that is emerging here is that we, as Muslims take joy in having held to the commandments of Allah and obeyed him with sincere obedience.

And now we turn to the Eid that is upon us: Concerning the act of sacrifice, Allah(S)

says:

“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.” (Al-Hajj 22:37)

So Allah has qualified sacrifice as an act that demonstrates TAQWA (piety, godconsciousness).

And why does sacrifice do this? How does the sacrifice of an animal

demonstrate piety? The essential element here is that Allah asks man to give something up – an animal that he owns, for no reason other than Allah has commanded it. Now many of us would say that sacrificing a sheep does not take very much Taqwa, and this is where the story of Ibrahim comes in to play, because the sacrifice that we do, is really

in commemoration of the one that he was commanded to do.

Concerning what happened to Ibrahim, Allah says that

“Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial.” (As-Saffat 37:106)

So the trial that was placed on Ibrahim is very clear – and a story that we can gain much from.

After his people tried to burn him in the fire, and Allah saves Ibrahim, Ibrahim asks Allah for righteous offspring. And then Allah grants him this child. And we all know that soon after Ismail is born, Ibraheem his commanded to leave the baby and his mother in the middle of the desert all alone. But Ibraheem would travel back occasionally to visit the family. And after sometime has passed, and Ibrahim has watched his child

grow from infancy into a young lad that can now accompany his father – Ibrahim has a dream.

Allah says:

“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 Allah), so look what you think!' He said: 'O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha Allah (if Allah wills), you shall find me of As-Sabirin'.” (As-Saffat 37:102)

And we know, as the Prophet Muhmmad(S) said, that the dreams of the Anbiya (the prophets) are true, so as soon as he had seen this dream, he knew that it was true and that this dream was revelation from Allah.

What can we gain from this? We know that Ibrahim had a deep longing for a righteous son, and Allah gave him one – and yet, just as that son begins to blossom, begins to grow into a young man, Ibrahim is asked to give him up. And this is not the first time – as soon as Ismail was born Ibrahim was commanded to leave Ismail and his mother in the desert. So this is the second time that Allah has tested Ibrahim with his love for this child. But this trial is even more severe than the first, because previously, although Ibrahim had to leave them, he still had the comfort of knowing Allah would care for them, and he did have the chance to visit them. But this time he is confronted with the trial of actually separating himself permanently from his beloved son.

What does this tell us?

It reminds us that each of us will be tried in that which is most beloved to our hearts.

For what is the purpose of a trial other than to test how attached your heart is to Allah.

And one of the best ways to test that is take away whatever you love the most next to Allah. In this situation a person can have two responses – if the love they had for the created thing was greater than their love for the creator, they will fall into despair;

because the thing that filled their heart has been taken away. But if their love for the creator is greater than anything and that is what fills their heart, they will find solace in knowing that the promise of Allah is true and that there will come a time that they will be rewarded for their patience.

So Ibraheem's willingness to implement the command of Allah, in spite of the fact that it would separate him from what he loves shows the greatness of his love for Allah.

If Ibrahim had been ruled by emotions or had valued his own intellect over the command of Allah he would have begun questioning – questioning WHY? or even Giving up thinking that the test was too hard and falling into disobedience.

But no, this is Ibraheem The Khalil, the close friend of Allah. And the one who is close to Allah is the one that recognizes the greatness of Allah over his creation, and the one that submits to him without hesitation, without second guessing Allah's commandments.

And this is the description that Allah has given to all true believers:

"it is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision." (Al-Ahzab 33:36)

And this is what Ibraheem knew. This is what Ibraheem understood. And This, this is what Ibraheem acted upon. This is what made Ibraheem the Khalil (The close friend) of Allah. This is what made Ibraheem an example for us.

So the question I would pose to each and everyone of us here today, Brothers and Sistersis: Are we really believers when we find resistance in our hearts to the commands of Allah?