“Recall that when his Lord put Ibrahim to test in certain things and he fulfilled all of them,
He said, ‘I am going to make you the leader of mankind…”
[Qur’an, 2:124]
The notion of sacrifice, which means offering something to a deity in homage, is as old as life on earth. The first sacrifice was offered by the two sons of Adam AS. Every nation and religion has since practiced this act as a ritual in its own way. The true meaning of sacrifice, however, is to sincerely do whatever it takes to realize the Will of the Creator. It may be in the form of offering something, facing hardship or persecution, or giving up things that we love.
Islam mandates its followers to cultivate a spirit of selfless sacrifice to demonstrate their undivided devotion to Allah SWT. For instance, the Qur’an reminds that: “You can never attain piety unless you spend (in the way of Allah) what you love….” [Q, 3: 92] In other words, if Allah’s pleasure is desired, then you must be prepared to give up for Him whatever other things you may hold close to your heart. All forms of sacrifice inspired by causes other than this aspiration are rarely selfless.
This theme is constantly repeated in the Qur’an, such as: “…you should exert your utmost in Allah’s Way with your wealth and yourselves…” [Q, 61: 10] Essentially, if the true peace and wellbeing of humanity is the cause, and Allah’s pleasure is the only motivation, then there is no limit to the degree of sacrifice one must be willing to endure. Muslims are warned: “Do you think that you will enter Paradise without undergoing such trials as were experienced by the believers before you…?” [Q, 2: 214] Of course, the confession of Islam has never been without its price. Even the Prophets and their followers had to go through immense pressure and hardship for being the exponents of their faith.
Thus, starting from Prophet Adam, Muslims have struggled in various forms to live by the convictions of their faith. This is every Muslim’s mission of life and can be accomplished only with a vision of Allah’s Sovereign, perseverance, and spirit of sacrifice. Prophet Ibrahim AS has been recognized by Allah SWT as an embodiment of all such attributes. He is a symbol of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and sacrifices for the cause. The Qur’an refers to him as a nation by himself for his unwavering submission to his Creator: “The fact is that Ibrahim was a community in himself: he was obedient to Allah and had turned to Him solely, and he was not of the idolaters…” [Q, 16: 120, 121] He was a community by himself for when there was none to worship Allah SWT, he stood up as the sole standard-bearer of Islam. He performed a task that was stupendous enough to have been performed by a whole nation.
The series of tests and sacrifices Ibrahim as was subjected to in establishing his loyalty to his Master is diverse, protracted, and breathtaking. It stemmed from his critical observation of his surroundings. For people of wisdom, everything in nature has a lesson to offer: “Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the difference of night and day are signs for people of understanding.” [Q, 3: 190] At an early age Ibrahim as engaged open-mindedly in a process of soul searching and uncovering the truth about this universe and its Creator. He set out on this expedition without any predispositions or pre-conceived notions. Allah SWT has inspired rationality in the conscience of every human soul as its first guide and assures those who are seeking the truth their way to success: “And (by) the soul and Him Who perfected it and inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. He is indeed successful who causes it to grow; and he is indeed a failure who suppresses it. [Q, 91: 7-10]
His first challenge was his own home environment. His father (Azar) was not just an idolater, like many of his community members, he used to craft and sell statues. Ibrahim AS did not know as yet who the truly worthy of worship was, but he had the awareness that the stone worshipping was contrary to human intellect. He raised his voice against the status quo and expressed early on his feelings to his father by saying: “…I see you and your people in manifest error.” [Q, 6: 74]
As he restlessly continued his search for the guidance, Ibrahim as systematically renounced all those objects that people had accepted as their deities; the moon and the sun among them. His thesis was: ‘The entities that lack permanency are themselves dependent on some higher authority external to them for their own existence; hence, cannot be sovereign.’ He defended this thesis each time he rejected a false god. Ultimately, he reached the inescapable conclusion that the only sovereign is He Who has created everything else; and declared: “Lo! I have turned my face in exclusive loyalty toward Him Who has created the heavens and the earth…” [Q, 6: 79] This deductive, yet logical, approach to reach Allah SWT is unique to Ibrahim as and, for this reason, he is recognized by Allah SWT as an institution of Tawheed and the founder of monotheistic faith.
Inquisitively though he was settled and knew who his true Lord was, his bigger challenges to demonstrate his total submission to his Master were yet to come. His first invitation toward Tawheed was to his own father. He reminded him of the absurdity of shirk (polytheism) and of bowing to statues who could neither hear nor see nor could they help their devotees in any way. The Qur’an recalls that encounter when Ibrahim as said to his father: “…O my father! Why do you worship that which neither sees you nor hear, and which can be of no avail to you? I have received that knowledge which you have not got; so follow me, I will lead you to the right path. ” [Q, 19: 42-43]
Unfortunately, those who are victims of their own arrogance see their positions threatened by such invitations and often become combative in response. Azar was no exception. He replied: “O Ibrahim! Have you renounced my deities? If you do not desist from it, I will stone you to death; get away from me forever.” [Q, 19: 46] But those who are sincere in their approach remain in control of their emotions and always stand on higher ground. Ibrahim as exhibited that character and remained respectful to his father. Since he could not live with an idolater father he chose to leave home. This was his first and very painful sacrifice for Islam. He bade farewell to his father with utmost politeness: “…peace be unto you; I will pray to my Lord to forgive you...” [Q, 19: 47] Tenderness was part of his personality as the Qur’an recognizes: “…soft hearted, God-fearing and forbearing.” [Q, 9: 114]
While his departure from home, made him only stronger and resolved to combat shirk and other moral ills of the society, his adversaries also grew harder in their hostilities. In the pursuit of his mission, however, no hurdle was too high for him to overcome and no sacrifice was too big to offer. His perseverance, trust in Allah SWT, and devotion to cause were just unsurmountable. He passed test after test and offered whatever sacrifice he was called upon. For criticizing idol worship, his entire community turned against him. He defied a despotic ruler, who was playing god. He smashed their idols to show to them that their idols could not even defend themselves, let alone help the faithful worshippers. For this crime, he was tossed into a roaring fire. The Archangel Gabriel (Jibril) offered to help. Ibrahim AS rejected the offer because Gabriel had not been sent by Allah SWT to help. This was, in fact, another test for Ibrahim as of his total reliance in the Almighty, Who then directly ordered the fire to cool off on Ibrahim: “…O fire! Be cool and become peace for Ibrahim.” [Q, 21: 69]
Despite having witnessed that the fire had burned itself out and Ibrahim as was absolutely unharmed, no hearts were changed. Arrogance had blinded them. He was, instead, forced into exile for reminding them of Accountability on the Day of Judgement. He made all these sacrifices to carry on his message; and if that was not enough, Allah SWT subjected him to yet more arduous tests. He was ordered to abandon his wife and infant (Ismail) in a burning desert without food, water, or shelter.
Finally, and most unnervingly, he was commanded to slaughter his, then the only, son to demonstrate his loyalty to Allah SWT beyond imagination: “Said he (Ibrahim) unto his son, ‘I see you in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice…’ Replied the son, ‘Do, my father, as you are commanded…” [Q, 37: 102] Ibrahim as proceeded as commanded to offer the sacrifice of his son. It was Allah’s infinite mercy and graciousness that He accepted the sacrifice before Ibrahim as could even move the knife on Ismail’s throat and called upon him to stop. Objectively, Allah SWT wanted the whole world to know that when Ibrahim AS declared that: “Lo! I have turned my face in exclusive loyalty toward Him (Allah)…” [Q, 6: 79], he indeed meant that. Nothing could stand between him and his Lord after that proclamation.
With his credentials of Tawheed established and commitment tested, his next historic assignment was to rebuild the symbol of Tawheed and reinstitute its concept and practice. The Ka’bah had been destroyed during the Great Flood of Noah and for thousands of years there was no Ka’bah on the face of the earth. Allah SWT granted Ibrahim as the honor of re-erecting it on its old footings. It is narrated that the Archangel Gabriel brought Ibrahim as to the original site of Ka’bah: “Call to mind when We assigned to Ibrahim the site of the House (Ka’bah)… [Q, 22: 26] Both Ibrahim as and the son Ismail cleared the site and raised the walls of the Ka’bah on the same foundations: “Recall when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House, praying: Our Lord! Accept this (service) from us …..” [Q, 2: 127] and revived the concept and practice of monotheism in the Arab society.
Being the followers of Ibrahim AS, Muslims are instructed to fashion their lives in the mold of this icon of Tawheed and remain prepared to face any challenges posed by the adversaries of the truth: “…Follow the way of Ibrahim, as one by nature upright…” [Q, 16: 123] Like any other tenet of Islam, it is not humanly possible to fully comprehend the divine wisdom behind sacrifice. Our knowledge is limited to our times, and even that is subject to constant shifting. Nevertheless, the history of nations amply reveals that dedication to purpose and sacrifice for the cause is the key to living with honor and dignity by any people. There is nothing for a Muslim more honorable than to strive in the cause of Islam and endure inevitable harsh realities. Again, commands Allah swt: “And strive for Allah with your utmost. He has chosen you for His service…Therefore, be steadfast in the religion of your father Ibrahim…” [Q, 22: 78] In Islam, there is no such thing as an innocent bystander or an apathetic attitude. Pious people can not accept to live in a filthy environment. To the extent possible, a Muslim must resist anti-social and immoral activities for self-protection and in the interest of the common good.
Thus, the difficult tests that Ibrahim as had to go through are numerous and outlandish. Ever since he confessed the Sovereignty of Allah SWT, his whole life was a continuous chain of sacrifices to uphold that conviction. He sacrificed everything valued in life and endured every danger conceivable in the way of the Truth. It is only when he had passed these trials and proved himself capable of performing the great responsibility of providing guidance Allah SWT exalted him to the extraordinary position of the moral leader of mankind. He said: “…I am going to make you the leader of mankind…” [Q, 2: 124]
As he stood out alone for Allah’s Sovereignty, the Sovereign too, in yet another way, singled him out for mankind. The 10th Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar is dedicated to honoring Ibrahim as in recognition of his ultimate manifestation of the infinite essence of monotheism. Allah SWT has proclaimed this majestic day as Eid-ul Adha – the feast of sacrifice. Obviously, the most befitting way to honor the legacy of a leader is to revive the purpose he lived for and exhibit the spirit of the sacrifice he endured in its pursuit.
Islamic Point of View 