“The fact is that Ibrahim was a community by himself—.” [Qur’an, 16: 120, 121]
Abdullah bin Omar bin A’as reports that the Prophet Muhammad saw said: Following the arrival of Adam and Eve on earth, Allah swt ordered them through Archangel Gabriel to build Ka’bah. After they had fulfilled the Divine Will, they were ordered to walk around it performing tawaf (a form of worship). Then Adam was told by Allah swt you are the first human (representing mankind) and this House is the first place established for mankind to worship Me.
The above narration establishes the significance of Ka’bah that this is the first place on earth consecrated and dedicated for the worship of Allah swt and to recognize His Sovereignty over everything else. The concept of Allah’s Sovereignty is central to Islam, which demands a total submission and unqualified obedience to the Creator. The Ka’bah signifies that concept as the origin of man’s spiritual journey on earth in the pursuit of his Creator’s pleasure by serving His cause of unifying humanity under His Sovereignty.
This is the mission of every Muslim in life, and it can be accomplished only with a vision of Allah’s Sovereignty, sense of commitment and a spirit of sacrifice. A person becomes an institution when he internalizes a purpose and becomes a living example of realizing his cause, while allowing nothing to stand in his way as he advances his mission. Prophet Ibrahim has been distinguished by Allah swt as a total embodiment that symbolizes all those characteristics. He is referred to by Allah swt as a nation by himself for his unwavering submission to his Creator. Even when there was none to pronounce the name of Allah swt on earth, Prophet Ibrahim stood out as the sole standard-bearer of Islam. He performed a task that was stupendous enough to have been performed by a whole nation.
Theseries of tests and sacrifices Prophet Ibrahim was subjected to in establishing his loyalty to his Master is protracted and breathtaking. His journey started with his critical observation of the surroundings he grew up in. For people of understanding, as the Qur’an repeats time and again, everything in the nature has a lesson to offer and points to the Divine Unity of Allah swt: “Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the difference of night and day are signs (of Allah’s Sovereignty) for people of understanding.” [Q, 3: 190]
As he restlessly continued his search to uncover the truth about this universe and its creator, he systematically renounced all those objects that people had accepted as their deities, such as the stars, the moon, and the sun. His thesis was that the entities that lack permanency in their status and are subject to changes are themselves dependent on some higher authority external to them for their own existence. Thus, they cannot be sovereign. He defended his thesis fervently 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] In confirmation of his conviction and commitment to Allah’s Sovereignty and its manifestation, Allah swt recognized Ibrahim as an institution of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah swt) and founder of the monotheistic religion.
For raising the voice of truth, his own father rejected him; the community turned against him; and the king, who was play god, confronted him. All evil forces joined hands and tossed him into a roaring fire to burn him alive. Yet, he stood firm at every turn and twist. After it became amply clear to him that, despite all his efforts, the community would not change its thinking and behavior, he went into exile. He got married and as soon as he had a child, Allah swt ordered him to abandon his family in a desert under the scorching sun without a drop of water or a leaf. Again, he showed no hesitation in submitting to the Will of Allah swt . Finally, and most unnervingly, he was commanded to give the sacrifice of his, then the only, son to demonstrate his undivided devotion to Allah swt.
In essence, ever since he confessed the Sovereignty of Allah swt , his whole life was a continuous chain of sacrifices to demonstrate his loyalty to the Divine Will. Each time he emerged reinvigorated and stronger still in realizing the Divine Call. Ultimately Allah swt exalted him to the extraordinary position of the moral leader of mankind.
Allah swt further promised: “We will favor him in this world…” [Q, 16:121] One of the favors that Allah swt has done to Prophet Ibrahim is that He has dedicated the 10th Dhul-Hijjah as the day to honor him in recognition of his ultimate manifestation of the essence of monotheism and has proclaimed this day as Eid-ul Adha, the feast of sacrifice. Obviously, the best way to honor a person is to revive the purpose he lived for and to demonstrate the spirit of sacrifice he endured for the cause.
The Prophet Muhammad saw instituted Eid-ul Adha in the Islamic Shari’ah soon after his Hijrah to Madina, and every year thereafter he observed that day and offered the sacrifice of his animal after the salat. Anas ibn Malik narrates that on the day of Eid-ul Adha the Prophet saw said: “He who has slaughtered before the salat should repeat his sacrifice…” [Bukhari] Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet saw said: ‘He who has the means and yet does not offer sacrifice shall not approach our Prayer-places.” [Ibn Majah] The companions of the Prophet saw asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! What is this sacrifice?’ The Prophet saw replied: “It is the Sunnah (practice) of your father Ibrahim alaihis salam.”
Hajj, a manifestation of Allah’s Sovereignty by a global congregation organized in the plain of Arafat, signifies the unity of purpose to stand together in total submission before the Almighty. The sacrifice of animals by Muslims elsewhere around the world on the 10th Dhul-Hijjah is a token of their commitment to advance that cause.
The history of nations reveals that dedication to purpose and sacrifice for the cause is key to living with honor and dignity. There is nothing for a Muslim more honorable than to strive in the cause of Islam to serve and unify humanity – the family of Allah swt – and endure inevitable harsh realities. The followers of Prophet Ibrahim are commanded: “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]
Islamic Point of View 