By Nasir Yusuf Jibril, Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin and Bilyaminu Gambo Abubakar
Eid-el-Ad-ha, also known as the Eid of Sacrifice, is the second festival celebrated each year by Muslims all over the world after Eid Ul Fitr. The festival is being celebrated on the 10th of Zhul Hajj, the last month of Islamic calendar. Muslims on this day are expected to sacrifice sheep, goat, cow or camel. The meat of the sacrificial animal is expected to be divided into three portions. The first portion is for the family, second for friends and relatives while the last part is for the needy.
The festival is celebrated to commemorate the spirit of obedience and sincerity of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). It was reported that Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) had severally dreamt that Allah (SWT) ordered him to slaughter his only beloved son named Isma’eel as a sacrifice. He informed his wife, and later the son too, the development and they had all agreed to obey the order from their Creator.
“And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, ‘O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so see what you think.’ He said, ‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.’” (Qur’an 37:102)
While trying to slaughter his son, Iblis (The Devil) appeared and asked him, how dare was he to slaughter his son? Ibraham (A.S) pelted the devil seven times and then moved to another place to slaughter the son, here too, Iblis followed him, he again pelted him with seven stones and moved to the third place. As he was about to put a knife on the neck of his beloved son, Allah (SWT) sent a sheep to replace Ishmael.
“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.” (Qur’an 37:107)
What transpired above was one of the numerous tests and challenges Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) underwent during his lifetime. Recall that Prophet Ibraham (A.S) was the son of Aazar, the idol worshipper and seller. At about seven years old, the little Ibrahim started questioning idol worship. He was once reported to have asked his father, “how could you worship what could not help or harm you?”
“O my father, why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees and will not benefit you at all?” (Qur’an 19:42)
He then advised Aazar in a respectful way to stop worshipping Iblis, and follow him, he would show him the guidance.
“O my father, indeed there has come to me of knowledge that which has not come to you, so follow me; I will guide you to an even path.” (Qur’an 19:43)
The father -Aazar got angry at one point and threatened to stone his little son, Ibrahim if he had continued asking silly questions.
“He said, ‘If you do not desist, I will surely stone you, so leave me for a long time.’” (Qur’an 19:46)
Furthermore, his community too decided to burn him to ashes as a punishment for destroying their deaf and dumb gods – idols. After setting one of the hottest fire on Earth, the idol-worshippers catapulted Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) from a far distance into the fire. His prayer was ” HasbunAllahu Wa Ni’imal Wakeel meaning “Allah is enough for me.”
“And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.” (Qur’an 65:3)
Allah then asked the fire to become cold and peaceful to Ibrahim (A.S).
“We said, ‘O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham.’” (Qur’an 21:69)
The fire had answered the order from its Creator and untightened him from the ropes and made him feel comfortable in it. Ibrahim (A.S) later walked out from the fire majestically without being hurt. The idol-worshippers were shocked and realized that the real Lord was with him but unfortunately none of them accepted to follow Ibrahim (A.S) but his little nephew, Lot (A.S). They (Ibrahim and Lot) decided to migrate (first migration in the world for freedom of worship) from Iraq, where they were born, to somewhere in the Middle East.
“Indeed, I will go to my Lord; He will guide me.” (Qur’an 37:99)
When Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) married his beautiful wife, Sarah and left for Egypt, the King of Egypt, Nimrod, attempted to sleep with Prophet Ibrahim’s wife but with supplication and absolute trust in Allah by Ibrahim (A.S), Saratu was protected and the arrogant King was paralyzed. Allah then gave Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) Hagar and then revealed the whole set of laws while Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was at the age of 80. In the laws, he was ordered by Allah to circumcise himself which he did without questioning. Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) prayed to his Lord to grant him a child and his prayer was answered and he got his first son, Isma’eel through Hajar.
“My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous. So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy.” (Qur’an 37:100–101)
They were happy and joyous but his wife Sarah was jealous and wanted Hajar and her child to leave. Allah then ordered Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) to go and abandon the duo in a desert, the present-day Mecca, when Prophet. Isma’il was barely a year old.
“Our Lord, indeed I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your Sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer.” (Qur’an 14:37)
Hajar asked Ibrahim (A.S) that was he commanded by Allah (SWT) to keep them there? Then Prophet Abraham answered Yes and had his way. Hajar and her son exhausted the bottle of water that Ibrahim (A.S) gave them. She, therefore, moved back and forth seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa to search for help. She later returned to her son who was starving and dehydrating to give him shelter. Allah SWT sent angel Jibril to dig a well known as Zam-Zam at the exact place the little Prophet Isma’eel was kicking his legs.
The aforementioned were some of the tests and challenges Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) went through and he had successfully passed them. What are the lessons to be learnt from this Man of Honour? Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was a symbol of bravery in which he challenged his father, his community and the most powerful King of his time – King Nimrod on the need to abandon their idols and worship Allah, The Creator. Prophet Abraham (A.S) also symbolized sacrifice, patience, perseverance, patriotism, respect, determination, commitment, dedication, trust, truth, justice, sincerity and obedience to Allah at the expense of his happiness.
“Indeed, Ibrahim was a nation [in himself], devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associated others with Allah.” (Qur’an 16:120)
The question is, what then did he get in return for demonstrating these unique qualities?
Allah has declared in the Holy Qur’an, the book in which Prophet Ibrahim’s name was mentioned 73 times in 25 different chapters, one of which was named after him, that “I shall make you the leader amongst men.”
“Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people.” (Qur’an 2:124)
Thereafter, all the prophets who came after him were from his two sons, Prophets Ishaq and Isma’eel. All the children of Israel, the Jews, Christians and Muslims look up to their father, Prophet Ibrahim (A.S). He was the only Prophet that Allah (SWT) asked Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to emulate his exemplary lifestyle.
“Then We revealed to you, [O Muhammad], to follow the religion of Ibrahim, inclining toward truth.” (Qur’an 16:123)
Moreover, the desert Abraham (A.S) abandoned his beloved wife and son became the city in which the last and final messenger, Muhammad (SAW), was born. The Masjid built by Ibraham (A.S) and his son, Ishmael continues to be the direction millions of Muslims face to perform their prayers. The well of Zam-Zam dug for his abandoned family still pumps water which is being drunk by millions of people. The seven times movement between the mountains of Safa and Marwa, which was done by Hagar, forms part of Hajj activities. Additionally, the three different places he relocated while trying to slaughter his only son then, Isma’eel became a place of Ibada known as Jamrats where every Pilgrim goes there and stones the devil seven times as Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) did thousands of years ago.
Indeed, Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) was a true leader who, despite the tests, challenges and calamities befell on him, never turned away from his Lord but rather became more committed and dedicated to his religion so as to lead by example for us to follow.
The writers can be reached via Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin, ibrahimaliyu5023@gmail.com, Nasir Yusuf Jibril, nasirjibril2018@gmail.com and Bilyaminu Gambo Abubakar bilyaminugambokonkol01@gmail.com.
