Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha means the festival of sacrifice. The purpose of this yearly festival is to develop the spirit of sacrifice within a person. However, the real meaning of this sacrifice is not just to slaughter an animal. Slaughtering an animal is only a symbol of the real sacrifice, not the real sacrifice itself.
The sacrifice is in memory of Prophet Abraham. Every year, we remember this in our lives. Now consider the event involving Prophet Abraham. God had a special plan to fulfil through him. That plan was to settle his son Ishmael in a barren area of Arabia, where at that time, there was nothing but desert and mountains. In this tough environment, through generations, a strong nation would grow—full of the highest human virtues and equipped with every form of practical capability. Once this vibrant generation was raised, it would be used to bring about a new revolution, one that would provide the upcoming great reformer, Prophet Muhammad, with a powerful team of dedicated people.
In ancient Arabia, settling a child in such a place was equal to sacrificing him. This reality was shown to Prophet Abraham in a dream, as if he was slaughtering his son Ishmael. It was a symbolic dream. But Prophet Abraham, with full obedience, got ready to actually fulfil it. This proved that he was fully willing to give his child for God’s great plan without hesitation.
God gave a ram at that time and told Prophet Abraham to slaughter it as a replacement to fulfil his dream, and to send his son into the desert for the real sacrifice. In that difficult environment, a new generation would be raised. When this generation is ready, it would lead a great revolution through its efforts and bring the world into a new age. From this generation came the Sahaba (Companions of the Prophet), who possessed superior character and sparked the great revolution in the world.
Eid al-Adha is a day to retell the story of Prophet Abraham as a festival. Prophet Abraham recounted it in a special way during his time. In the future, this Abrahamic act will continue, although its forms may vary.
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, when a person sacrifices an animal, he says in Arabic words whose meaning is:
“Surely my worship, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all for God, the Lord of the worlds. O God, You gave this, and I return it to You.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3121)
This shows that the real sacrifice is the sacrifice of one’s self. The real sacrifice is that a person hands over his whole self to God without trying to save it. He is slaughtering an animal as a symbol, making a promise to hand himself over to God, just like Prophet Abraham gave his son to God’s plan and sacrificed a ram as a replacement. For Prophet Abraham, the slaughter of the ram was symbolic. In the same way, the sacrifice of an animal on the day of Eid al-Adha or during Hajj is also a symbolic act, not the main goal.
For this symbolic slaughter, the animal is the most natural choice. It means using a daily-life act for a big lesson. According to God’s Shariah, a person often slaughters animals for food. That same act has been given a new title on this day. It’s like turning an ordinary act into a source of a powerful lesson.
Eid al-Adha is a day to remember the story of Prophet Abraham as a festival. He reenacted it in one form during his time. In the future, this Abrahamic act will continue, but its forms may change. The symbolic act will always be the same, that is, the slaughter of an animal on Eid al-Adha. However, in spirit, the forms can vary. Whatever type of sacrifice Islam requires at a given time, it should be performed then.
Right now, in the present time, the big problem of Islam is that nearly all the highly capable people of the Muslim community are caught in the love of instant gratification. They are not ready to work for long-term goals. They are putting all their efforts into things that bring fame. Work that gets published in newspapers, that brings immediate popularity, that gives a high public image—all the highly talented people are rushing toward such things. They are not ready to dedicate themselves to serious and quiet constructive work.
People sacrifice animals on the day of Eid al-Adha, but when it comes to real sacrifice—where they must offer their own selves and talents—they are not ready to dedicate themselves.
Today, what Islam requires is the same kind of sacrifice. We need to let go of worldly temptations and sacrifice for the eternal blessings of the Hereafter.
Using the method of animal sacrifice as a symbol for this needed action is like including this lesson in our everyday lives. According to God’s law, a person often slaughters an animal for food. On the day of Eid al-Adha, the same animal slaughter has been turned into a symbolic act in memory of Prophet Abraham. In this way, something that already happens has been made a source of a great lesson.
On the day of Eid al-Adha, people first pray two units of Salah and then sacrifice an animal. These are two ways of expressing the same truth. Prayer is a promise of surrender and submission—and so is the sacrifice. In Salah, a person demonstrates surrender through bowing and prostration (ruku’ and sajdah). In sacrifice, he shows it by sacrificing his wealth and his self. Through Salah, a person says, “Wherever I need to bow before God, I will bow.” And through sacrifice, he declares, “Wherever I need to give my life, I will give it.”
In chapter 108 of the Quran, Al-Kawthar, Prophet Muhammad—and, by extension, his entire Ummah—is instructed to offer sacrifice. The translation of this chapter is:
“We have given you abundance. Pray to your Lord and sacrifice to Him alone. It is the one who hates you who has been cut off.” (108:1-3)
Al-Kawthar means great and abundant good. That is, many blessings and goodness. The Prophet of Islam was given this Al-Kawthar in its perfect form. Later followers will be given Al-Kawthar according to their practical efforts.
The Prophet stood up with a pure message of truth. This kind of mission always demands sacrifice. This mission is surely the hardest task in the world. And the Prophet completed this mission through the greatest sacrifice. He had to give up everything in the path of this message.
He was cut off from his own people. His financial life was ruined. The future of his children became uncertain. Except for a few people, no one supported him. But he continued to strive with all kinds of sacrifice. Until finally, God sent him the glad news: We have given you Al-Kawthar—meaning, all kinds of the highest success, in this world and the next, have been written for you forever. This prediction of the Quran came true completely in the years that followed.
Eid al-Adha commemorates the day of the pledge of sacrifice, which opens the door to all noble achievements. In this world, true greatness belongs only to those who are prepared to fulfil their responsibilities in every situation—those willing to endure hardships and make sacrifices to carry out the duties entrusted to them.
All India Radio, New Delhi, 23 June 1991.
