In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Wishing you and your family a joyous and blessed Eid al-Adha.
Islam has two major holidays, Eid al-Fitr (Post-Fasting Festival) and Eid al-Adha. This day is meant to be a recognition, thankfulnesss, and rejoicing for the material and spiritual favors of Allah to His creation.
The word Eid itself is an Arabic word, whose root connotation is ‘that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing.’ Its particular usage in Islam, for the two major holidays, is because these two days are meant to be days of rejoicing.
It is said, “True rejoicing is not (merely) in wearing new clothes, but in becoming true in one’s devotion to Allah.”
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “They are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah.” [Reported by Bukhari in his Sahih, an authoritative collection of the sayings of the Prophet.]
In this same spirit, the Qur’an mentions that,
قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةً مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ﴿١١٤[Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:114]
Isa, son of Maryam, said: ‘O Allah, Lord of us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast (eid) for us, for the first of us and for the last of us and a sign from You. Give us sustenance, for You are the Best of Sustainers.
The recognition of the material and spiritual favors of Allah to His creation during Eid al-Adha is manifested by the ritual slaughtering necessary for all able Muslims to perform, following the sunna (way) of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).
This is a manifestation of total submission to the command of Allah: one submits one’s mind, wealth, and body to the Command and Pleasure of Allah. On this day, Muslims all over the world thank Allah for the gift bestowed on them.
قُلْ إِنَّنِى هَدَىٰنِى رَبِّىٓ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِّلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۚ وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿١٦١﴾ قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِى وَنُسُكِى وَمَحْيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِى لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٦٢﴾ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿١٦٣﴾ قُلْ أَغَيْرَ ٱللَّهِ أَبْغِى رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۚ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴿١٦٤[Qur'an, An-'Am 6:161-164]
Say, "Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path - a correct religion - the way of Ibrahim (Abraham), inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated others with Allah." (161) Say, "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. (162) No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims." (163) Say, "Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." (164)
The lessons of the way of the Prophet Ibrahim, where, in utter submission to the Divine Command, he was about to slaughter his very own son, Isma'il (peace be upon him) until at the last moment Allah sent an animal to be slaughtered instead, are many:
1. Complete submission to the command of Allah, out of thankfulness, love, and true slavehood. On this day, able Muslims slaughter an animal, whose meat is eating, and distributed to family, friends and the poor, and go early in the day to perform the Eid prayer.
2. Recognizing one’s blessings and thanking Allah for them: Muslims are encouraged to wear their best clothes, give gifts (especially to children) and celebrate with family, friends, and neighbors.
3. Remembering the plight of the poor and giving in charity: On Eid day, it is especially recommended to give in charity.
In this and other ways, Muslims seek to join between worldly and spiritual celebration, for it is said, “True rejoicing is not (merely) in wearing new clothes, but in becoming true in one’s devotion to Allah.”
The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “For every people there is a feast and this is our feast.” [Reported by Bukhari in his Sahih]
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢[Qur'an, AleImran 3:102]
O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.
May Allah make us of those who are thankful and not make us die except as Muslims. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.
Wassalaam
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