Let us start with the verses of the Noble Qur’an relating to
the sacrifice.
Sura al-Saffat verse 99 to 109:
“Ibrahim said ‘I will go to my Lord who will guide me’ and
he prayed ‘Lord grant me a righteous son’ We gave him the glad news of the
birth of a forbearing son. When his son was old enough to work with him, he
said, ‘My son, I have had a dream that I must sacrifice you. What do you think
of this?’ He replied, ‘Father, fulfill whatever you are commanded to do and you
will find me patient, by the will of Allah’. When they both agreed and Ibrahim
had laid down his son on the side of his face (for slaughtering). We called to
him, ’Ibrahim, you have fulfilled what you were commanded to do in your dream.
Thus do We reward the righteous ones. It was certainly an open trial. We
ransomed his son with a great sacrifice and perpetuated his praise in later
generations.Peace be with Ibrahim”
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 Hazrat Ismail was
born.
A time came when disagreement grew between his two wives and
at last one day Hazrat Ibrahim brought Hazrat Ismail, who was still an infant
and Bibi Hajerah to the place where the present city of Makkah
is located. He left some food and water and left.
When water was finished, Bibi Hajerah went in search of
help. She first climbed the Mount Safa Mount
Marwah
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 this verse in The Noble Qur’an Sura al-Hajj verses
26-27 “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).
What was his decision. By the way he saw that dream 3 times. Unlike regular
people, Prophet’s dreams are real and a command by 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 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
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 has the knowledge 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
Hussain. In Karbala, when Imam Hussain (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 Hussain (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, Imam Hussain (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 way,
he replied that in the face of death, he will be found among “the patient ones”.
In Karbala , the grandsons of Imam
Ali (a.s.) were welcoming death!
Similarly, once Hazrat Ibrahim inquired from Allah as to how
He revives the dead as stated in the Noble Quran, Sura al-Baqara verse 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.” Imam Ali (a.s.)’s faith in Allah was at
the zenith of faiths 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 life-time. However, every Muslim should slaughter a goat or any
allowable halal animal every year.
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