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Spirit of sacrifice

CHENNAI: Every religion has a history. Among the aspects common to most of them is sacrifice. The incident which culminated in the sacrifice of Hazarath Ismail (PBUH) by Hazrath Ibrahim (PBUH) about 2793 years before migration (Hijrath) has been detailed in the Holy Koran.

It was the 9th night of Zilhaj when Hazrath Ibrahim (PBUH) saw in a vision — a command of Allah to His Apostles — that he was offering his only son in sacrifice. Hazrath Ismail (PBUH), also a Prophet, readily consented. It was the trial of will of not one but both father and son. Ibrahim (PBUH) was confounded by filial affinity but implicit obedience to the command of Allah prevailed.

Hazrath Ibrahim (PBUH) laid his son Ismail on the ground and raised the knife to cut his throat and when he opened his eyes, he saw his son standing safe and a lamb lying in lieu. Ibrahim (AS) was overwhelmed with joy over the deliverance of his son but had doubt as to whether his sacrifice had been rejected.

Thereupon Allah said “And we ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And we left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times.”

The fact of the matter is that “Allah does not require the flesh and blood of animals,” much less of human beings. But He does require something very dear to one, in sacrifice.

According to interpretations, in the figurative sense, Great Sacrifice means the Supreme Sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) in 60 A.H. in Kerbala. To commemorate the sacrifice performed by Hazrath Ibrahim (PBUH), Muslims the world over sacrifice a prescribed animal on 10th Zilhaj which coincides with the ritual performed during Haj on the same day.

The Islamic ideology of equality is depicted in the stipulation that the meat thus obtained has to be divided into three parts, out of which one is retained for the family, the second is distributed to the neighbours and third is given to the poor and the destitute so that the poor may also have a sumptuous meal on this auspicious day.

The present day generation should learn a lesson from Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid), emulate Ismail (PBUH) by obeying parents.

Mir Mazher Hussain,

Chennai

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