By Haroon Balogun

Over four thousand years ago, precisely on the tenth of Zhul-Hijjah the father and his beloved son walked side by side.  A young lad possessed forbearance and the old man was full of determination and spirit in submission to Allah.  Their purpose was to carry out the orders of their Lord. Nothing was dearer to them than the service of Allah.  Nothing was dearer to both the father and son than to keep their covenant with Allah even if it was the hardest thing to do in life.

They proceeded towards Mina, old Ibrahim clutching  to a sharp knife.  Many a thought and memories of the past must have crossed in their minds, but they resolved to carry out the painful mission.  Finally they reached a special spot.  The Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) looked at his loving son whereas Prophet Isma’il (peace be upon him) cast a glance at his father obediently and cheerfully. The father laid his son prostrate on the ground.

He was standing beside him.  His heart was beating violently.  He was shaking with emotions when he drew the knife across the neck of his son.  It was a moment of action, an action that was very hard to put into practice.  Allah in His infinite mercy, saw the genuineness of Ibrahim and His Son and gave out a ram in place of human sacrifice for no man shall kill another man. And Allah says: “O’ Ibrahim! you have indeed shown the truth of the vision.

Surely do We reward the doers of good.” (37:105) So the moment of suspense came to an end and both the father and the son expressed a deep sense of happiness and gratitude.  The Quran says: “Ibrahim was indeed a paragon of virtue, obedient to Allah, ever inclined to Him and he was not of those who set up equals to Allah.  He was ever grateful for His favours, We chose him and guided him to a straight path; and We bestowed on him good in this world and in the Hereafter, he will surely be among the righteous.” (Q16: 121-123)

Prophet Ibrahim and his son (a.s) offered us great lesson and a pathway for genuine faith and submission to Allah (SWT). Since, Eid-il-Adha has become the ritual of animal sacrifice is one of the compulsory sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) following the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim. (a.s).  It is a sacrifice that we offer with fervour and enthusiasm on the 10th of Zhul-Hijjah.

While its import and essence is to show taqwa, piety to the Creator, it can also be viewed in the same way with sadaqah since the meat of ram, goat, sheep, cow or camel are distributed for eating.

Allah says in the Quran: “The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.

It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His Guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.” (Q22:36-37). What is important is imbibing the lessons of piety and applying it to our daily lives.

We must note that this sacrifice is merely symbolic. The blood of the animal can not extinguish our sins neither can it make make anyone more righteous. Animals and humans are not of equal value. So, almighty Allah does not need the blood, neither does He have anything to do with the meat. The flesh and blood [of your sacrificed animals] does not reach God; it is only your piety that reaches Him. What is absolutely necessary is the piety, and the will to always submit to His ordinances.

That is why the killing of a ram is not the ultimate on this occasion but the state of your heart to Allah. It is laughable when people who rarely pray five times daily or seldom fast or not disposed to alms-giving, but in a show of wealth, bought and slaughtered the biggest ram in the market for sallah. That is not part of the intents and purposes of the feast. It is a reflection of our faith, our willingness to submit to the will of Almighty Allah, to worship Him at all times and care for others.

We should also show gratitude to Allah for preserving our lives. The ram which replaced Ibrahim’s son was an illustration of a reward for total submission to the will of Allah. It is also a symbol of Allah’s love for us and that He is capable of intervening in our affairs at the critical moment and providing solutions to our problems.

The occasion should provoke us to think about how we can continue to live in peace and harmony with others, how we can give Islam the right image. The food that we eat on this day should remind us of those who are displaced.  About 1.5million are currently displaced in Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.  Remember the poor, the deprived, widows and the less privileged. Let us begin to work for the pleasure of Allah by giving succour to the downtrodden.