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The
Story of Ibrahim’s Sacrifice*
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Brothers
and Sisters, all of us know the story of Ibrahim’s sacrifice and
we say that it was a test by Allah (Glorified be He). But do we
really understand what Ibrahim went through? Do we appreciate what
it was like to be Ibrahim? Can we grasp in thought what happened?
Why is it that we regard Ibrahim as the father of faith? What was
it that he achieved?
Ibrahim
(peace and blessings be upon him) is distinguished in the Qur’an
with the title of Khaleel Allah (the intimate friend of Allah). In
the Qur’an Allah says: [For Allah did take Ibrahim for (an
intimate) friend] (An-Nisa’ 4:125).
He
is also described in the Qur’an as a model: [Ibrahim was indeed a
model. Devoutly obedient to Allah, and true in faith, and he joined
not gods with Allah] (An-Nahl 16: 120).
Ibrahim
was born among the star- and idol-worshiping people of Chaldea, in
the home of Azar, his father, the idol-maker of the tribe. Ibrahim
was among the kuffar (unbelievers), but not of them, like a
spring of tawheed (monotheism) arising out of the swamp of shirk
(polytheism). The Qur’an tells us [Lo! Ibrahim said to his father
Azar: Do you take idols for God? For I see you and your people in
manifest error?] (Al-An`am 6:74).
From
the revolt in the house of Azar, his father, Ibrahim went on to
challenge the polytheism of his people. Indeed Ibrahim is known as
history’s great idol-smasher, as the founder of monotheism, and
as the crusher of ignorance.
There
are numerous verses in the Qur’an that describe how Ibrahim
argued against idol worshipers, his rational arguments against
skeptics and those who worshiped celestial bodies, how he dealt
with unbelievers, how he preached to his people. For instance,
Allah says: [Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed
with Abraham about his Lord, because God granted him power? Abraham
said: “My Lord is He who giveth life and death.” He said: “I
give life and death.” Said Abraham: “But it is God that causeth
the sun to rise from the East: Do then cause it to rise from the
West.” Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected Faith.
Nor doth God give guidance to a people unjust.” (Al-Baqarah 2:
258)
In
another example: [We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim his rectitude of
conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. Behold! he said to
his father and his people, “What are these images to which ye are
(so assiduously) devoted?” They said, “We found our fathers
worshiping them.” He said, “Indeed ye have been in manifest
error-ye and your fathers.” They said, “Have you brought us the
Truth, or are you one of those who jest?” He said, “Nay, your
Lord is the Lord of heavens and the earth, He who created them
(from nothing): I am a witness to this (truth). And by God, I have
a plan for your idols-after ye go away and turn your backs.” So
he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they
might turn (and address themselves) to it. They said, “Who has
done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!”
They said, “We heard a youth talk of them: he is called Ibrahim.”
They said, “Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that
they may bear witness.” They said, “Art thou the one that did
this with our gods, O Ibrahim?” He said, “Nay, this was done
by-This is their biggest one! Ask them, if they speak
intelligently!” So they turned to themselves and said, “Surely
ye are the ones in the wrong!” Then were they confounded with
shame; (they said:) “Thou knowest full well that these idols do
not speak!” (Ibrahim) said, “Do ye then worship, besides God,
things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? Fie
upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides God! Have ye
no sense?” They said, “Burn him and protect your gods, if ye do
(anything at all)!”] (Al-Anbiya’ 21: 51-68)
As
usual, when falsehood is defeated on intellectual grounds, it
resorts to plotting and oppression. The response of his people to
his da`wah is given in Surat Al-`Ankabut: [So naught was the
answer of (Ibrahim’s) people except that they said: Slay him or
burn him] (Al-`Ankabut 29: 24). Ibrahim could have given up his
message and his beliefs to save himself from the fire of Nimrod.
But he chose martyrdom. He chose to die for Allah’s message to
live. He chose to step into the fire of ignorance and tyranny in
order to save humanity from the fire of ignorance and tyranny. So
he was cast into the fire.
But
Allah had a different plan for Ibrahim and he was unhurt, by the
grace of Allah (Glorified be He): [But Allah did save him from the
fire. Verily in this are signs for people who believe] (Al-`Ankabut
29: 24). Allah also says: [We said, “O fire! Be cool and a means
of safety for Ibrahim” (al-Anbiya’ 21: 69). His miracle did not
refrain the idol worshipers from continuing for very long years
their plots, persecution, abuse, cruelty, and isolation against
Ibrahim; but he remained uncompromising, unshakable in his beliefs,
patient in his suffering, gentle in his manners until he made his hijrah
(immigration) to the lands of Aram and Canaan.
He
left the land of his fathers to become a stranger in the land of
promise.
Brothers
and sisters, it was indeed a land of promise. A land where Ibrahim
continued a lifetime of struggle, da`wah, movement, bearing
alone the heavy responsibility of the mission of tawheed in
an age of darkness, oppression, prejudice and ignorance. Ibrahim
did not have children. And through-out his century of prophethood
and service of Allah, as Ibrahim grew older, his desire to have a
son grew stronger. The now old Prophet Ibrahim desperately longed
for a son but his wife Sarah was barren.
[“O
my Lord! Grant me a righteous son!”] (As-Saffat 37: 100) was his
call to Allah.
Against
every expectation, Allah fulfilled His promise of making Ibrahim
the seed of a great line of prophets, the root of the great
universal religions. [So we gave him the good news of a forbearing
boy] (As-Saffat 37: 101).
Allah
brought mercy to the agedness, loneliness, hopelessness, and
anguish of his trustworthy Messenger. For Ibrahim, Isma`il was not
just a son for a sonless father; he was the end of a life of
waiting, the reward of a century of suffering, the fruit of his
life, the hope after despair, and the young boy of an old father.
Isma`il
being the promise of future generations was in some sense the whole
world for Ibrahim.
So
there was joy and rejoicing in Ibrahim’s house as Isma`il was
quickly growing under the sun of his father’s love.
But
Allah decided that it was not to remain so.
Brothers
and sisters, Ibrahim was to be tried once more. Ibrahim had a
vision in which he was commanded by Allah to slaughter his only
son.
Brothers
and sisters, why should Ibrahim, whose entire life was devoted to
prophethood, to jihad, to removing ignorance, to laying the
foundations of tawheed, be tried once again?
Is
it because man should not rest?
Is
it because man should not be deceived by 100 years of jihad and
victories?
Is
it because he should not think of himself without weakness?
Is
it for the fact that whatever we fix our eyes upon in this world
will blind us?
And
finally, is it because the higher the spiritual height we reach,
the greater is the danger of falling?
Brothers
and sisters, it is not possible to convey in words what it must
have meant for Ibrahim to be commanded by Allah (Glorified be He)
to sacrifice his only son Isma`il. The magnitude of the pain does
not allow the imagination to enclose it. It inspires fear and
trembling.
How
could Ibrahim take his beloved son, the fruit of his life, the joy
of his heart, the meaning of his living and staying, his Isma`il,
and hold him on the ground, put a knife to his throat and kill him?
If
it were only the slaughter of Ibrahim at the hand of Isma`il, how
easy! But no! The young Isma`il must die and the old and aged
Ibrahim must remain!
Ibrahim,
the steel-like idol-smasher must have felt torn apart!
Within
him, there must have been a war, the greatest jihad. Which war? The
war between Allah and Isma`il! The difficulty of choice!
Which
should Ibrahim choose?
Love
of Allah or love of self?
Prophethood
or fatherhood?
Loyalty
to Allah or loyalty to family?
Faith
or emotion?
Truth
or falsehood?
Conscience
or instinct?
Responsibility
or pleasure?
Duty
or right?
Tawheed
or shirk?
Advancing
or remaining?
To
become or to be?
And
finally, Allah or Isma`il?
What
should Ibrahim choose?
Brothers
and sisters, Ibrahim did not choose immediately. He doubted and
wavered under the crushing force of pain and anguish. Only after
the third vision did he finally decide to carry out Allah’s
command. This is reflected in the Hajj ritual of stoning the three
idols representing Iblis, who tempted Ibrahim to disobey Allah.
When
a truth enhances one’s earthly life, most people become seekers
of truth. But when a truth opposes life and leads to problems,
loss, and dangers, the seekers of truth are few in number.
Iblis
works wherever he finds traces of fear, weakness, doubt, despair,
envy, selfishness, and even great affection towards someone or
something. Iblis sometimes blows logical reasons, intellectual and
religious justifications to achieve his ends.
For
instance, we may imagine that, under the powerful crush of his pain
and distress, Ibrahim could have used many justifications. Perhaps
the meaning of dhabh (slaughter) is just metaphorical and
means kill your ego. Perhaps Isma`il might be a general noun and
not Ibrahim’s son. Perhaps “slaughter Isma`il” actually means
“slaughter the love of Isma`il.” Ibrahim could have also tried
many interpretations of his vision.
But
Ibrahim Khaleel Allah, the intimate friend of Allah, had faith in
Allah and he knew that Allah (Glorified be He) demanded the
sacrifice. Ibrahim’s conscience would make a mockery of all these
logical justifications and reasons.
Ibrahim
chose the love of Allah over the love of self, prophethood over
fatherhood, loyalty to Allah over loyalty to family, truth over
falsehood, conscience over instinct, responsibility over pleasure,
duty over right, tawheed over shirk. He preferred advancing
to remaining.
Ibrahim
chose Allah and gave up Isma`il.
Brothers
and sisters, in Mina, an amazing and frightening conversation
between a father and a son took place.
Ibrahim
said to Isma`il: [“O my son, I see in a vision that I offer you
in sacrifice. Now see what is your view?”] (As-Saffat 37: 102)
What
frightening words for a child to hear!
Isma`il
could have kept silent. He could have asked Ibrahim to refrain.
But
Isma`il also had faith. He submitted to Allah’s will. Realizing
his father’s distress, Isma`il gave him these comforting words:
[“O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me, if
Allah so wills, patient and constant.” (As-Saffat 37: 102)
Allahu
Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Ibrahim
consulted his son, who willingly offered himself to Allah’s
command. The choice of Ibrahim was sacrifice. That of Isma`il was
self-sacrifice, martyrdom.
This
gave Ibrahim strength. Ibrahim tied his heart to Allah, he took the
Isma`il of his life in one hand and the knife of his faith in the
other and he walked until he reached the place of sacrifice.
Ibrahim was suffering while believing and at every moment it was
possible for him to retract and turn back. Yet he laid Isma`il on
the ground, putting his face away from him to give strength to his
crushed soul and paralyzed hand. And so he slaughtered Isma`il.
But, by Allah’s grace, the knife did not cut.
Ibrahim
received a sheep and was called by Allah: [“O Ibrahim! You have
confirmed the Vision; thus indeed do We reward those who do right;
this is indeed the manifest trial!”] (As-Saffat 37: 104-105)
Allahu
Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Brothers
and sisters, Ibrahim gained everything and kept Isma`il. This means
that the God of Ibrahim is not thirsty for blood like the Aztec
gods or Hindu gods were thirsty for blood.
It
is the people, the servants of Allah, who are hungry, and hungry of
sheep meat.
Brothers
and sisters, this means that from the very beginning Allah did not
want Isma`il to be slaughtered. He wanted Ibrahim to be the
slaughterer of Isma`il. When he became so, the slaughter became
useless.
Allah,
from the beginning, wanted Isma`il to be the slaughter of Allah.
And when it happened, his sacrifice became useless.
Mankind
has needs but Allah has no needs. He is Self-Sufficient. Allah
(Glorified be He) in His wisdom raised Ibrahim to the highest peak
of sacrificing his Isma`il without sacrificing Isma`il. Allah
(Glorified be He) promoted Isma`il to the highest peak of being the
great sacrifice of Allah without bringing any harm to him.
This
event is not about the torment and torture of mankind but about the
perfection of humanity, the freedom from the prison of instinct and
selfishness and about the elevation of spirit.
This
momentous event also teaches us, through Ibrahim, that human life-
Isma`il’s, Ibrahim’s, everyone’s-acquires its meaning and
value from Allah, the Source of Creation, and not from nature. It
signifies that the good things in life, represented by Isma`il,
derive their value not from the mere fact that they exist and can
be valued, enjoyed, and delighted in, but from Allah, the Source of
Creation Himself. Ibrahim was, in some sense, giving back Isma`il
to receive him again on the proper basis.
Brothers
and sisters, different people prioritize differently their loyalty
to Allah, to the family, and to the nation or state. A secular mind
owes absolute duty to the nation (and the family); whereas a
religious conscience owes absolute duty to Allah. For a secular
mind, Ibrahim was willing to MURDER Isma`il, but for a religious
conscience he was willing to SACRIFICE Isma`il. Ibrahim therefore
instructs that we should owe absolute duty only to Allah and it is
our relationship to Allah that ought to transcend and determine our
relation to family and nation and not vice-versa.
Brothers
and sisters, there still is a lot to understand and discover about
this momentous event. These are only a few possible meanings. Only
a few, and just possible, because as Ibrahim taught us to be less
complacent and more critical about having attained faith. We should
be less complacent and more critical about having attained
understanding.
Brothers
and sisters, the Isma`il of Ibrahim was his son. But for you, who
is your Isma`il? What is it? Your degree? Your reputation? Your
position? Your money? Your home? Your car? Your beloved? Your
family? Your knowledge? Your title? Your dress? Your fame? Your
soul? Your spirituality? Your beauty? Your strength? Your career?
How
does one know?
Well,
you know this yourself. One can only give its signs to you.
Whatever
is in your eyes that holds the place of Isma`il in the eyes of
Ibrahim!
Whatever
weakens you on the way of faith!
Whatever
stops you in your movement!
Whatever
brings doubt to your responsibility!
Whatever
has enchained your freedom!
Whatever
leads you to compromise and justification!
That
very thing that deafens your ears before the Message of Truth!
Whatever
calls you to remain with yourself!
Whatever
causes you to flee from your duty!
Whoever
or whatever keeps you behind in order to remain with her, him, or
it!
Brothers
and sisters, these are the signs of our Isma`ils. Let us search for
them in ourselves and let us slaughter them to move towards Allah
(Glorified be He) and to remove the real knife from the throat of
oppressed Muslims all over the world particularly in Palestine,
Chechnya, Iraq and Kashmir.
Brothers
and sisters, let us revolt against the heartless worshipers that we
have become.
Remember
our `eid is not a `eid of victory. It is the `Eid of Sacrifice (Adha).
*
Excerpted with slight modifications from www.Islaam.com
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