In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Allah Almighty mentions in the Qur'an about our great father Ibrahim and his son, Isma'il (peace be upon them),
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿١٠٢[Qur'an, As-Saffat 37:102]
My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous." (100) So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. (101) And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast." (102)
فَلَمَّآ أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُۥ لِلْجَبِينِ ﴿١٠٣﴾ وَنَـٰدَيْنَـٰهُ أَن يَـٰٓإِبْرَٰهِيمُ ﴿١٠٤﴾ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ ٱلرُّءْيَآ ۚ إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٠٥﴾ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلْبَلَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْمُبِينُ ﴿١٠٦﴾ وَفَدَيْنَـٰهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿١٠٧﴾ وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ ﴿١٠٨﴾ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ﴿١٠٩﴾ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١١٠﴾ إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١١١[Qur'an, As-Saffat 37:103-111]
And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, (103) We called to him, "O Abraham, (104) You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (105) Indeed, this was the clear trial. (106) And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice, (107) And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: (108) "Peace upon Abraham." (109) Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (110) Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.(111)
As we celebrate Eid al-Adha, let's remember what this celebration commemorates and how it should transform, not just what we do to celebrate this day but also what the true essence of joy means to us.
Our great father Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was able to pass some of the most incredible and seemingly insurmountable trials to prove His total submission to Allah, body and soul. He was willing to give up his body when he was being thrown in the fire. He was willing to give up a huge piece of his heart when he placed a knife on his dear son's neck. These are just two of the several tests this great father of ours passed with flying colors.
We will undoubtedly be tested in life. Some of those tests will be ones that bring us discomfort, pain and sorrow and others will involve pain coming to those we love. We celebrate that Allah hasn't given us the kind of tests He gave our father Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and that if Allah can assist him through those impossible tasks, rest assured He will see each of us through our own trials.
At the heart of this celebration is the slaughtering of animals for sacrifice. When we slaughter our sacrifice (or watch others slaughter the sacrifice), reflect on what this action symbolizes, and slaughter with ihsan (excellence and proficiency), as taught by the Prophet of mercy (Allah bless him and grant him peace). How many a time we see sacrificial animals suffer because of poor slaughter. Be merciful to these animals and learn properly how to slaughter animals before you slaughter.
Abu Yaala Shaddad bin Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said :
"Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."
And let us help those in need around us and include them in our celebration and make them feel like they're not alone.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was told to feed the one in misery (البائس), the poor (الفقير), the one who won't even ask despite desperate circumstances (القانع), and the one who is so dragged down by difficulty that he has to give up his self self-esteem and ask (المعتر).
لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَـٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْلُومَـٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ ﴿٢٨[Qur'an, Al-Hajj 22:28]
That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor. (28)
وَٱلْبُدْنَ جَعَلْنَـٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ فِيهَا خَيْرٌ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَآفَّ ۖ فَإِذَا وَجَبَتْ جُنُوبُهَا فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْقَانِعَ وَٱلْمُعْتَرَّ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرْنَـٰهَا لَكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٣٦[Qur'an, Al-Hajj 22:36]
And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good. So mention the name of Allah upon them when lined up [for sacrifice]; and when they are [lifeless] on their sides, then eat from them and feed the needy and the beggar. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may be grateful. (36)
When revelation told us to take care of these people in our midst, we were being taught to show them a reason to be joyous and made our joy inseparable from theirs.
This is how a believer celebrates and becomes true in his devotion to Allah.
May Allah help us realize the true joy of this Eid and transform our hearts to love only Him and be grateful and merciful. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.
Wassalaam
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 1
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Par 2A
Mercy Halal Islamic Slaughter Part 2B
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