Author: M. Asim Ismail Zahi
Qurbani (Sacrifice): Its Importance, Virtues, Philosophy and Etiquette (Part 7)
2nd doubt: Instead of buying a sacrificial sheep, buy oxygen cylinders for hospitals!
Answer:
A: In this doubt, we witness the fallacy of the “false dichotomy” that says either sacrifice or get oxygen cylinders; while there is also a third way: both sacrifice and get oxygen cylinders; why should we replace one with the other!
If someone asks you: Do you run away when you steal, you do not have to choose between the two options of running away and not; because there is also a third option: do not steal!
B: Meat is consumed “a lot” throughout the year by the rich people of Australia, America, Israel, etc. But why do you object to it like this and try to prevent it by spreading doubts when we want to put this meat on the table of the poor?!
During Eid al-Adha, the meat of sacrificial animals is distributed among the poor who have not eaten nutritious and protein-rich food throughout the year and only during Eid al-Adha do they get meat, which is a food required for human body.
We should say to the protesters of Eid al-Adha and those who spread this doubt: Do your hearts feel pain for the patient who needs an oxygen capsule; but do you not feel pain for the poor person who suffers from malnutrition and lack of energy?!
C: To those who say: Do not sacrifice; but buy capsules for hospitals, say: By the name of Allah, buy them yourself and take them! Then you will see that they are not sacrificing anything; but rather, they are also giving a capsule to the other side. They do not give hospitals and only talk nonsense, the person who sacrifices gives at least some food to the needy.
Educational lessons of sacrifice (Qurbani):
1. Submission to the command of Allah Almighty:
Although the appearance of sacrifice is cutting off the head of the animal; in reality, it is the ultimate submission, devotion, love and affection of the servant for his master. Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), who had emerged from the fiery furnace of divine testing many times, this time also had to take heart and submit to the command of the truth and slaughter the child who had been waiting for him for a lifetime and was now a thriving teenager with his own hands. He had to prepare his child for this task before anything else, so he turned to Ismail (PBUH) and said: “یا بُنَی إِنِّی أَری فِی الْمنامِ أَنی أَذْبَحُک فَانْظُرْ ما ذا تَری” Translation: “My son, I dreamed that I had to slaughter you, what do you think?” [1]
His son, who was a copy of his selfless father and had learned the lessons of patience, perseverance, and faith in his school during his short life, welcomed this divine command with open arms and good will and said to his father frankly and decisively: “يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ” Translation: “O father! Carry out whatever command you have been given, and you will find me, Allah willing, among the patient.” [2]
The father frankly raised the issue of slaughter with his 13-year-old son and asked him for his opinion so that he would have an independent personality and free will. He never wanted to deceive his son and invite him to this great field of testing blindly; rather, he wanted his son to participate in this struggle. The elder participates with satisfaction and tastes the joy of submission and contentment like the father!
The son also wants the father to be firm in his determination; therefore, he does not say, “Slaughter me”; rather, he says, ” Carry out whatever you commanded!” And he especially addresses the father with the address “O father” to show that this does not diminish the feelings of filial and paternal affections in the slightest; because the command of Allah Almighty governs everything.
On the other hand, he upholds the highest standards of courtesy before Allah and never relies on the power of his faith, will, and decision; rather, he relies on the will of Allah Almighty, and asks Him for success in steadfastness and endurance, and in this way, both father and son pass the first stage of this great test with complete victory.
This selfless son, in order to help the father in carrying out his mission and to reduce the suffering and sorrow of the mother, when he brings her to the altar among the dry and burning mountains of the land of “Minna”, He said: “My father! Tie the rope tightly so that I do not stumble while carrying out the divine command, I fear that my reward will be reduced, my dear father! Sharpen your knife and quickly pass it over my throat so that it will be easier for me (and you) to bear. O father! First, take off my shirt so that it does not get stained with blood and my mother sees it and her patience runs out.” Then he added: “Convey my greetings to my mother and if you do not see any obstacle, take my shirt to her, which will comfort her and ease her pain; because she will find the smell of her child in it and whenever she misses it, she will hug it and relieve the burning inside her. [3]
The critical moment came, and the divine command had to be carried out. When Ibrahim saw the position of surrendering his child, he hugged him and kissed his cheeks and both of them cried at that moment; a cry that expressed the emotions and the introduction of the desire to meet Allah Almighty.
The Quran says the same thing in a short and meaningful sentence: “فَلَمَّا أَسْلَما وَ تَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِینِ” Translation: “When they both surrendered and prepared, and Abraham placed his son’s forehead on the ground.” [4]
Some have said: The meaning of the sentence “placed his forehead on the ground” was that he placed the son’s forehead on the ground at his own suggestion, lest his eyes fall on the son’s face and the father’s emotions become excited and prevent him from carrying out the command of Allah the Almighty.
In any case, Abraham, PBUH, placed the son’s face on the ground and moved the knife and placed it quickly and powerfully on the son’s throat, while his soul was immersed in excitement and it was only the love of Allah the Almighty that led him on his path without hesitation; but the sharp knife did not leave the slightest mark on the son’s tender throat!
Satan’s Struggle:
Satan was frightened and wanted to do something that would prevent Abraham (PBUH) from emerging victorious from this battlefield, so he came to his mother “Hajar” and said to her: Do you know what Abraham (PBUH) has in mind? He wants to slaughter his son today! Hajar said: Go, don’t say impossible things, he is more merciful than to kill his son, in fact, is there a person in the world who would slaughter his son with his own hands? Satan continued his temptation and said: He claims that Allah Almighty has ordered him. Hajar said: If Allah Has ordered him, then he must obey and there is no other way but to be content and submit!
Then he came to his son and began to tempt him, but he did not get any results from him either; because he found Ismail (PBUH) completely submitted and satisfied; finally he came to his father and said to him: Abraham! The dream you saw is a satanic dream, so do not obey Satan! Abraham, (PBUH), who recognized him in the light of faith and prophet hood, shouted at him: Get away, enemy of Allah.
The highest quality of a servant before his Lord is submission. The Holy Quran says about this characteristic of Abraham, PBUH, which is in fact the root of his other qualities:”إِذْ قالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعالَمین” Translation: “When his Lord said to him: submit to the truth! (He accepted the command of his Lord wholeheartedly and) said: I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.” [5]
And in another verse, he says: “وَ مَنْ أَحْسَنُ دیناً مِمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَ هُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَ اتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْراهیمَ حَنیفاً وَ اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْراهیمَ خَلیلاً” Translation: “Whose religion and ritual are better than the one who submits himself to Allah, and he is a good person and follows the pure religion of Abraham? And Allah chose Ibrahim as his friend”. [6]
Continues…
Previous Part
[1]- Surah As-Safaat, verse: 102.
[2]- Surah As-Safaat, verse: 102.
[3]- Omarzahi, Abdul Hakim, The Rules of Sacrifice (Qurbani) and Miscellaneous Issues, p. 68, Miscellaneous Issues, published by FIPA, Winter 2010.
[4]- Surah As-Safaat, verse: 107.
[5]- Surah Al-Baqarah, verse: 131.
[6]- Surah An-Nisa, verse: 125.
