What is the importance of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)?

Eid al-Adha is one of the important festivals of the Muslim community. It is the festival of sacrifice according to the Holy Quran. As depicted in the book, Allah ordered Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his own son Prophet Ismael. As the devotee of Allah, he was ready to sacrifice his only son and the almighty was so happy with his decision that he exchanged Ismael with a ram in time of slaughter. In this way, Abraham proved his devotion to Allah.

To remember this sacrifice, the Muslims devotees around the world on that day sacrifice Qurbani Bakra. It is the ritual to sacrifice the domestic animal which is most dear to them. If they don’t have any, then they have to buy goats a few days before the Eid to sacrifice on that day.

It is also a way to spread love and brotherhood among all. The sacrificed animal has to divide into three parts. While one part they have to keep for themselves, the other two parts have to be distributed among poor people and friends & family.

The importance of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) is to understand the real meaning of sacrifice.

The historical background of Eid al-Adha is that the Prophet Ibrahim /Abraham (may Allah be pleased with him) had a dream in which he was sacrificing his young son, Ismail/Ishmael (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Prophet Ibrahim, a great believer in Allah, took his dream literally and wanted to sacrifice his son. But, according to the tradition, Allah the Almighty sent his angels and asked him to sacrifice an animal instead of his son.

During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims honor and remember Ibrahim’s (may Allah be pleased with him) trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel & goat.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. It is to divide among those who honestly deserve the share of it rather than consuming all among ourselves.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with apologizing for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations:

"It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your devotion that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)

After the five pillars of Islam, Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi (sacrifice) is the most important activity. This sacrifice is the legacy of Prophet Ibrahim who combines the Prophetic patronage from three religions i.e. Jewish, Islam and Christianity. The festival also symbolizes the trial of faith and loyalty towards Allah. It enlightens ours path with true spirit of righteousness and rectitude.

A sacrifice, usually taken to be the slaughtering of animals, is more than that. The physical act of sacrificing of the animals is just a ritual, is just a tradition and is just a sacred practice whereas the essence lies far beyond it and the spirit of it goes far beyond common human perception.

The act symbolizes our will to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. It is to train us how to surrender ourselves to the will of Allah for the sake of serving humanity. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our heart and share with others.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated for certain number of days but its impact is required to last the entire year. Eid al-Adha is like a symbolic rehearsal of high values and it is essential that these values be translated into practical life all the year round. We must be reminded all the moments of our living by how religiously we have gone through the act of sacrificing.

Perhaps, most of us think of the spiritual sacrifice as giving something up, but we have to look inside ourselves to see why we are sacrificing something in the first place.

In fact, sacrifice is an act of submission to Allah. It is to submit to the will of the Almighty. Sometimes Allah asks us to sacrifice something important to us in order to learn that there is something greater beyond it. But sadly we fail to translate the essence of its sacrificial values in our life!

Furthermore, we need to practice the spiritual effect of sacrifice so that we learn to rely on Allah's provisions rather than the things we have built for ourselves. It is a part of submitting to Him.

Eid is also a day on which Muslims remember the deceased, visit the sick, see relatives and friends, overlook grudges, help the needy and show kindness and generosity to all.

Overcoming the common grievances against each other that prevent our mutual co-existence is the ultimate spirit of sacrifice. It is also a day for rejoicing by getting involved in a good, clean and honest enjoyment.

Sacrifices contribute to the success of our struggle. They strengthen our inner spiritual and moral resources and develop qualities of character which are essential to our struggle at every level of our existence.

Every act of sacrifice nourishes and increases our Imaan, that is to say ‘Faith’, for it transforms a verbal confession and a mental conviction into a living reality. It confirms, and thus increases, our love for Allah, for every step we give up something for the sake of his love.

It reinforces our loyalty and faithfulness to Allah, for all other loyalties become secondary as they are sacrificed for the sake of this loyalty. In short, sacrifices bring us nearer to Allah and develop a sort of invisible communication with the Creator. It makes us feel stronger and firmer.

The process is mutually interactive: the stronger the faith, the greater the will and capacity to sacrifice, the greater the sacrifices, the more internalized and deeper the faith. That is indeed the secret of our good and balanced living.

Sacrifices are essential for the development of all moral qualities, but especially for the development of tolerance, strength, determination, firmness and purpose. These can be summed up in just one word patience (Sabr).

Every sacrifice reinforces the quality of patience, making it grow in quality and strength. Forbearance, in turn, sustains and increases the capacity to sacrifice.

All promises of help from Allah, all assurances of success in this world and rewards in the Hereafter, have been made conditional upon the attainment of sacrifice and patience.

Indeed, sacrifice is the essence of life and we should leave no stone unturned to sacrifice our money, comfort and time for the sake of Allah. We should make an effort to live truly to the expectations of the spirit of sacrifice that the festival of Eid al-Adha stands for.

Sacrifice is the essense of all creation . Happy Eid!

Eid al Adha is the commemoration of the sacrifice of Abraham. Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son Ishmael. It was an extremely difficult arduous task for him because he loved Ishmael the most. However he believed that Allah knows the best and his love for Allah superseded above all and agreed to submit to Allah's will and prepared himself for the holy sacrifice. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled when he He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others by making an intention for the sacrifice, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to Allah. When Abraham was just about to make the sacrifice his son got replaced by a goat and the goat got sacrificed in place of his son. Abraham was surprised to find his son next to him and a goat in his place.
During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat.
The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!” So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance (gentle). And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I see in vision (dream) that I offer you in sacrifice: Now tell me what is your view!” (The son) said: “O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practicing patience and steadfastness!” So when they both submitted and he (Abraham) threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision (command); surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. “Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants. Quran [37:100-111]

So it all comes from these verses of Quran: The history of Eid-ul-Azha. Like any poetry, Quran's verses are always open-ended.

Prophet Ibrahim was failing at having a son. The legend says Allah granted him a son. When his son grew old enough to walk and work with him, Allah asked him to sacrifice his son. Prophet Ibrahim accepted the command, forbearing himself from all the love he had for his son.

It's a festival of Sacrifice
We have goals in life. Goals that don't let us sleep. Goals that take away all the peace of mind and draw us to obsession. These goals--the un-achievable targets require sacrifice. This festival makes no sense for people who are dedicated towards their goals. It's for people who don't realize that only sacrificing the alluring desires will take you closer to your goal.

God is symbol of your goal. The goal demand and asks for sacrifice. The one failing to make the sacrifice will never achieve it.

It's not about killing/slaughtering animals
People confuse with slaughtering of animals with sacrifice. It has more to do with attachment. You should be attached with the livestock that is being slaughter, only then you will feel the truth about life. Nowadays, people buy animal and sacrifice them, which in defeats the purpose of festivity and caveats the whole story and spirituality.

So you want to test yourself and pay a true sacrifice then sacrifice the thing that you just can't get away with. Things that are holding you back from your goal.

In verse 120 of Surah Nahl of the Holy Qur'an, God Almighty says:

“Surely Abraham was an exemplar, obedient to God and upright; and he was not of the polytheists.”

We also read in verse 4 of Surah Momtahanah or the Examined One:

“Indeed, there is for you an excellent exemplar in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people: surely we are clear of what you serve besides Allah, and enmity and hatred have appeared between us and you forever until you believe in Allah.”

As is clear the Words of God are self-explanatory concerning the monotheistic stature of Prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), and the annual Hajj pilgrimage that reaches its climax amidst the celebration of Eid al-Adha or Eid Qorban, the Feast of the Sacrifice. The Hajj is undoubtedly the glorious manifestation of monotheism, universalized by Abraham on God’s command after he and his firstborn son, Ishmael, were ordered to rebuild the ancient edifice of Adam, the Holy Ka’ba, which was in a state of ruin in the wilderness of Mecca following the deluge of the days of Prophet Noah (Peace be upon him).

When God asked him to proclaim the pilgrimage for mankind he wondered who will come to the remote wilderness of Mecca, but was told that people will come from all over the earth, from every beaten track, on various means of transport.

Today, millions of people from around the world pour into Mecca, almost the year round, peaking during the annual Hajj, to tread in the footsteps of Abraham and to circumambulate the Ka’ba, the focal point of monotheism.

They ritually stone the symbolic satans at Mena and they sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel, on the 10th of Zilhijja in commemoration of Abraham’s sacrifice of Ishmael that was miraculously substituted by the command of God with a ram before the anxious father’s knife could reach the patient son’s throat. As God Almighty says in verse 107 of Surah Saaffaat:

“And We ransomed him with the Great Sacrifice.”

The Muslims are proud to call themselves as heirs of Prophet Abraham in view of the fact that the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), was the direct descendant of Prophet Ishmael and revived for mankind the forgotten Abrahamic legacy.

This is an excellent heritage indeed, but are the Muslims, especially the Hajjis, truly observing the example set by that Immortal Iconoclast, who in his youth had smashed the idols of Babylon and underwent the ordeal of fire that miraculously turned into a garden to the horror of that hegemonic tyrant Nimrod?

Are they really aware of the Great Sacrifice that ransomed Ishmael in antiquity? The questions are worth pondering on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which ought not to be a mere soulless ritual.

A true adherent of the School of Abraham cannot submit to each and everyone, especially the satanic and hegemonic Nimrod-like powers of the day, and then call himself a Muslim by paying lip service to Islam on the assumption that he or she recites the Qur’an, performs the Hajj, and prays punctually facing the Ka’ba. No, the Hajj and Eid al-Adha have a greater message.

They want us to be free persons in the service of God only. The might and grandeur of the godless cannot overawe us. We should turn over the folios of history to see the fate of those who opposed monotheism.

There are no signs today of the elaborately carved and richly decorated temples of Babylon built by the powerful who toyed with the life of human beings, while Abraham’s simple cubed-shaped structure, stands majestically in Mecca.