The Reality of Sacrifice
The reality of sacrifice is that you give what you have so you can receive what you don’t have yet. Sacrifice teaches this lesson: if you want to gain something, you must have the courage to lose something. If you want to live, be prepared to face death. Sacrifice is not a lifeless ritual. It is a living reality that is as deeply connected to life as the eternal laws of nature are connected to our universe. Sacrifice is not the end of action—it is the start of action. A small act can become meaningful when it represents a greater principle. This also applies to sacrifice. On the surface, it might seem like just offering an animal to God. But in reality, it is a powerful act because it symbolises something deeply significant—it is not just a fleeting or hollow ritual. Sacrificing an animal shows a person’s dedication—a dedication to give up everything, even their life, for a higher cause.
To illustrate how a small act can symbolise something much greater, I will share an example from recent history. In November 1962, India faced a foreign attack on its eastern border, posing a serious threat to national security. Fear spread throughout the country. At that time, one event demonstrated the spirit of sacrifice. In Ahmedabad, 25,000 young people made a collective pledge. They decided to fight to protect their country and resist any foreign attack—even if it meant risking their lives. After deciding this, each of them contributed one paisa from their own pocket. In this way, they collected 25,000 paisa. They then presented this amount to India’s Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. While handing over the money, they told the Prime Minister that these 25,000 coins symbolise 25,000 youths dedicating themselves to the nation—committing themselves to you. Each person had given just a small coin, which usually holds little value. But their contribution became incredibly meaningful because it represented a profound truth. Their 25,000 coins stood for 25,000 lives. Through these coins, it was as if they were offering their own lives to the country. By sacrificing one coin as a symbol, they were essentially showing their willingness to give their lives. Similarly, animal sacrifice is a symbol of commitment—a promise that a person is prepared to sacrifice everything, including their life, for a noble divine cause.
This world has been made by God in such a way that those who give up their own selves—are the ones who gain from this world. Sacrifice is a yearly reminder of this divine law, which we need to include in our daily lives. In sacrifice, a person slaughters an animal in God’s name. Then he eats its meat and feeds others as well. Eating from the food given by God is a daily human need. No one can live without eating. So, this common daily act is made special for one day, to become a great lesson. Sacrifice is a symbol of the fact that a person is ready to pay the price required to gain real success on God’s earth.
This sacrifice is not something outside of the system of the world. It is a law of nature. Let us understand this with an example. If the seed of a tree is kept in cold storage, it will always remain a seed. But when that seed is put into the soil, something amazing happens. From that tiny seed comes a big tree that gives many more seeds—again and again. It makes the earth green and beautiful. People feel joy when they look at it. It gives many different benefits. What is the difference between the seed in cold storage and the seed in the soil? The difference is what we call sacrifice. The seed in the soil gives itself up—and so it becomes a great tree on earth. But the seed in storage does not give itself up—so it remains small and unimportant. A seed sacrifices itself, and then becomes a tree. A tree sacrifices its best part, and then makes a flower bloom. A flower sacrifices its beauty and then produces a valuable fruit. A fruit gives itself up—and then becomes the flesh and blood of the human who develops the earth and explores the skies.
All the possible successes that are kept for humans in this world—the only way to reach them is through sacrifice. To become excellent in knowledge, to reach the top level in business, to get a high position in politics, to grow in morality and humanity, to lift a family or a nation—all of this is only possible through sacrifice. The Creator of this world has made it in such a way that nothing great is achieved without the effort of sacrifice. If someone thinks they can achieve something big just by speaking big words or by doing small and casual actions, then that is only wishful thinking. This kind of success never becomes a reality in God’s world.
So, how can it be possible in such a world that God becomes pleased without any sacrifice? Just as God has set a rule for finding or not finding anything in this world, He has also revealed the rule for finding or not finding Him. That rule is only sacrifice. The same condition that applies to finding something in this world also applies to finding God. If a person wants to please their Lord, they must sacrifice themselves for their Lord. God only grants everything to those who give everything to God. Without paying the price of sacrifice, no one can receive anything in the system that God has created.
The rule for success in this world is the same rule for success in the Hereafter. And because the life of the Hereafter is far more valuable than this life, the sacrifice required for it is also much greater. According to Islam, our life is divided into two parts. A small part—a very small one—is in this world. And the bigger part—much bigger and forever—is in the Hereafter, which will come after death. The success of that world also depends on sacrifice, just like in this world. The next world is like a colony of the best and most mature human beings. Those who prove themselves to be the best in thought and action today will live in the gardens of Paradise in the Hereafter. And those who cannot show high human values will be thrown into the painful environment of Hell.
What does it mean to become a good person? It means that a person begins to live on a divine level. They develop God-oriented qualities within themselves. For this purpose, a person must fight against satan. They must fully clean their life from the influence of satan. This is a path of continuous sacrifices. Only that person will find a place in God’s Paradise who develops the courage to make these sacrifices. For this, it is necessary that a person removes all useless thoughts from their mind and gives space only to the right and true thoughts—even if this mental cleansing feels like sacrificing their most beloved ideas. For this, it is necessary that a person builds their character on truth, even if it means giving up worldly benefits and personal interests. For this, it is necessary that a person bows to truth, even if it costs them their position of greatness. For this, it is necessary that a person makes truthfulness and principle their way of life, even if it means becoming unpopular in the world.
Throughout history, certain lifestyles have become widespread in the world. Some types of relationships are created. Some cherished ideas capture people’s minds. People base their lives on these things. They attach themselves to a specific set of thoughts and actions, believing: I have joined the best group and tied my future to it. But when the call of truth comes to them, they feel as if this call opposes their personal interests. They believe it wants to break their relationships. They feel that the ideas they trusted—those ideas are proving to be useless. Because of this, accepting the call of truth becomes a significant act of sacrifice. It is like offering your entire life at the altar of truth. But this is the sacrifice that makes a person loved in the eyes of God. It is the sacrifice that unlocks the gates of eternal Paradise for someone. Sacrificing your own self is the only cost of Paradise. Without this sacrifice, no one reaches God’s Paradise.
All India Radio, New Delhi,
1st November 1971.
