The story of Prophet Ibra’him
(a.s.) and his son Prophet Isma’il (a.s.) is narrated in the Glorious Qur’an in Sura al-Saffat Ayah 99 to 109 as stated below:
“And he said: “Verily, I am going to my Lord, He will
guide me. My Lord grant me a righteous son. So We gave him the glad tidings of a
forbearing boy. And when he (the son) reached (the age of working) with him, he
said: O my son! Verily I see in a dream that I shall sacrifice you. Now see
what is your view?’ He said, O my father, Do what you are commanded; you will
find me, Allah willing, of the patient ones. So when they both submitted (to
our command) and he (Ibra’him) laid him (his son) prostrate on his forehead
(for sacrifice), And We called out to him: O Ibra’him! Indeed you have proved
true the dream; verily thus do We reward the doers of good! This is indeed the
manifest trial. And We ransomed him with great sacrifice. And We left (praise)
for him among generations (to come) in later times. Peace be on Ibra’him.”
Hazrat Ibrahim is called the
“Father of Prophets”. He was in his seventies but did not have any children
with Bibi Sarah. Both were very fond of children. Bibi Sarah advised him to
marry their servant Bibi Hajerah (Hagar) so that they can have a baby in the
house. Hazrat Ibrahim married Bibi Hajerah and Prophet Ismail was born.
A time came when disagreement
grew between his two wives and at last one day Prophet Ibrahim brought Prophet
Ismail, who was still an infant and Bibi Hajerah to the place where the present
day Makkah is located. He left some food and water for them and departed.
When water was finished, Bibi
Hajerah went in search of help. She first climbed the Mount Safa and looked
around then ran to the opposite side and climbed the Mount Marwah. She kept on
running between these mountains in search of water but found nothing. Hazrat
Ismail was dragging his feet on the ground and to her surprise she saw a spring
of water erupted near his feet. She quenched the thirst of the baby. During the
Hajj, Muslims repeat her act of running between these mountains. The spring is
still there and is called Zamzam and Hajjis drink this sacred water and take
with them. The Glorious Qur’an Sura
al-Baqarah Ayah 58 says: “Safa and Marwa (Names of these mountains) are
reminders of Allah. It is no sin for one who visits the Sacred House (In
Makkah) to walk seven times between Safa and Marwa. Whoever willingly does a
good deed in obedience to Allah, he will find Allah All-knowing and fully
Appreciative.”
When Hazrat Ismail grew up
then Allah commanded them to reconstruct The House of Allah; The Kaabaa. Hence,
these two prophets extended the walls of Kaabaa. Allah then revealed Ayah 26-27 in Sura al-Hajj: “When
We prepared for Ibrahim the place to build the Sacred House, We told him not to
consider any thing equal to Me and to keep the House clean for those walking
around it, those standing, bowing down, and prostrating in prayer. (We
commanded Ibrahim), Call people for Hajj. They will come on foot and on lean
camels from all the distant quarters.”
When Hazrat Ismail was about
14 years of age, one day Hazrat Ibrahim told him that he had a dream which
showed as if he was sacrificing him (Ismail), and asked for his decision. By
the way he saw that dream 3 times. Unlike normal people, Prophet’s dreams are
real and a command of Allah to do certain act. Hazrat Ismail was also a prophet
and he was fully aware that it was a command of Allah. He replied to his father
that he should comply with Allah’s command and that, by the Will of Allah, he
will be among the patient ones.
Next day Hazrat Ibrahim
picked up a knife and a rope and took Hazrat Ismail along with him and both
proceeded towards Arafaat, a suburb of Makkah. When Hazrat Hajerah inquired as
to why he was taking a knife and a rope, he replied that he might need it at
his friend’s house to slaughter a goat. At Mina, Shaytan tried to persuade him
to abandon the sacrifice. He refused to listen and as he was bothering the
prophet, he threw stone at him (Shaytan) 7 times. During Hajj, Muslims go to
the place “Jamaraat” and repeat the sunnat-e-Ibrahimi and they also throw
stones 7 times. Prophet Ibrahim had blind-folded himself so that he may not
witness the pain and distress of his son. He also tied-up Hazrat Ismail’s hands
and legs to reduce struggle during the sacrifice. He placed the knife on Hazrat
Ismail’s throat and kept cutting. When he had finished the sacrifice and
removed the blindfold, he was both surprised and delighted to see his son was
safe. Instead, a goat was slaughtered.
Allah is All-Knowing and is
aware of our intentions and in this case also Hazrat Ibrahim was blindfolded
and he thought he had sacrificed his son but by Allah’s order he was replaced
by a goat.
As mentioned above, Sura al-Saffat verse 107 “We
ransomed his son with a great sacrifice”. This great sacrifice was the
Martyrdom of Imam Husayn. In Karbala, when Imam Husayn (a.s.) was talking to
his son, Hazrat Ali Akbar, The Ismail of Karbala, and forecasted that they all
were going towards death. Hazrat Ali Akbar asked “Father, are we not on the
Right Path?” When Imam Husayin (a.s.) replied in affirmative then he said “We
are not worried about death”. Similarly, when Hazrat Qasim ibne Hasan wanted
permission to go to the battlefield to sacrifice his life for his uncle, Imam
Husayin (a.s.) asked him “Qasim! How do you see death?” He replied “Sweeter
than honey”
For a moment, just compare these youths. Hazrat Ismail
was a prophet and when his father narrated his dream about sacrifice in Allah’s
path, he replied that in the face of death, he will be found among “the patient
ones”. In Karbala, the grandsons of Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.)
were welcoming death!
Once Hazrat Ibrahim inquired
from Allah as to how He revives the dead as stated in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Baqara Ayah 260 “When Ibrahim prayed ‘ Lord
show me how you bring the dead back to life,’ the Lord said, ‘ Do you not yet
believe? Ibrahim replied ‘I believe but want more confidence for my heart’
Allah told him,’ Take four birds, induce them to come to you, cut and scatter
their bodies leaving parts on every mountain top, then call them and they will
swiftly come to you.’ Know that Allah is Majestic and Wise.”
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.)’s faith
in Allah was at the zenith of faith as he said “There will not be any change in
my faith even if the curtains are lifted!”
So every year, Muslims from
all over the world congregate in the Holy City of Makkah to perform Hajj and
repeat all the above-mentioned acts including running between the Mounts of
Safa and Marwa called “Sa’ee”, throwing stones to the three Shaytaan called ‘Rammi-e-Jamaraat”, slaughters a goat and
drink water of Zamzam.
Every Muslim, who can afford
should perform Hajj at least once in his life-time. However, every Muslim
should slaughter a goat or any allowable (halal) animal every year on the eve
of Eid-al-Azha.
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu
Translation) by Ayatullah Nasir Makrem Shirazi
The Glorious Qur’an (English
Translation) by Ayatullah Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi
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