Significance of Eid al-Adha

Congratulations to you on the auspicious feast of Qorban or Eid al-Adha that marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Prophet Abraham's great sacrifice of his son, Ishmael, who by the command of God Almighty was saved at the last moment. Following is a special feature on this auspicious occasion:

In verse 120 of Surah Nahl of the Holy Qur'an, God Almighty says:

"Surely Abraham was an exemplar, obedient to God and upright; and he was not of the polytheists.

We also read in verse 4 of Surah Momtahanah or the Examined One:
"Indeed, there is for you an excellent exemplar in Abraham and those with him when they said to their people: surely we are clear of what you serve besides Allah, and enmity and hatred have appeared between us and you forever until you believe in Allah."

As is clear the Words of God are self-explanatory concerning the monotheistic stature of Prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him), and the annual Hajj pilgrimage that reaches its climax amidst the celebration of Eid al-Adha or Eid Qorban, the Feast of the Sacrifice. The Hajj is undoubtedly the glorious manifestation of monotheism, universalized by Abraham on God's command after he and his firstborn son, Ishmael, were ordered to rebuild the ancient edifice of Adam, the Holy Ka'ba, which was in a state of ruin in the wilderness of Mecca following the deluge of the days of Prophet Noah (Peace be upon him). When God asked him to proclaim the pilgrimage for mankind he wondered who will come to the remote wilderness of Mecca, but was told that people will come from all over the earth, from every beaten track, on various means of transport. Today, millions of people from around the world pour into Mecca, almost the year round, peaking during the annual Hajj, to tread in the footsteps of Abraham and to circumambulate the Ka'ba, the focal point of monotheism. They ritually stone the symbolic satans at Mena and they sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel, on the 10th of Zilhijja in commemoration of Abraham's sacrifice of Ishmael that was miraculously substituted by the command of God with a ram before the anxious father's knife could reach the patient son's throat.

As God Almighty says in verse 107 of Surah Saaffaat:

"And We ransomed him with the Great Sacrifice."

The Muslims are proud to call themselves as heirs of Prophet Abraham in view of the fact that the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), was the direct descendant of Prophet Ishmael and revived for mankind the forgotten Abrahamic legacy.

This is an excellent heritage indeed, but are the Muslims, especially the Hajjis, truly observing the example set by that Immortal Iconoclast, who in his youth had smashed the idols of Babylon and underwent the ordeal of fire that miraculously turned into a garden to the horror of that hegemonic tyrant Nimrod?

Are they really aware of the Great Sacrifice that ransomed Ishmael in antiquity?

The questions are worth pondering on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, which ought not to be a mere soulless ritual.

A true adherent of the School of Abraham cannot submit to each and everyone, especially the satanic and hegemonic Nimrod-like powers of the day, and then call himself a Muslim by paying lip service to Islam on the assumption that he or she recites the Qur'an, performs the Hajj, and prays punctually facing the Ka'ba.
No, the Hajj and Eid al-Adha have a greater message. They want us to be free persons in the service of God only. The might and grandeur of the godless cannot overawe us. We should turn over the folios of history to see the fate of those who opposed monotheism. There are no signs today of the elaborately carved and richly decorated temples of Babylon built by the powerful who toyed with the life of human beings, while Abraham's simple cubed-shaped structure, stands majestically in Mecca.

We should also ask ourselves as to who saved the sanctity of the Edifice of Adam and Abraham?

The holy Qur'an says it was the Great Sacrifice. But this Great Sacrifice cannot be an insignificant ram, as the ignorant might believe although for the time being Ishmael was saved by the substituting of a ram. Ishmael's real ransom had to be greater than Ishmael himself, since Abraham's slaughtering of his son in antiquity in obscure Mecca would not have served any divine purpose.

We find the answer in the full limelight of history, when we reflect on events that ensured immortality for Islam and the endeavours of all previous Prophets of God.

In fact, it was on the 10th of Moharram in the year 61 AH, corresponding to 680 of the Christian calendar that God's words of the Great Sacrifice to ransom Ishmael came true on the plain of Karbala besides the River Euphrates. Here the son and successor of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael and Mohammad (peace upon them), was mercilessly slain thirsty after witnessing the tragic slaughter of his brothers, kinsmen, companions and two sons of his own sons, an 18-year old youth who resembled his beloved grandfather the Prophet, and a 6-month old infant.
Thus, Imam Hussein (Peace be upon him), the son of Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), was the Great Sacrifice that not just ransomed Abraham and Ishmael but salvaged Islam and all humanitarian values.

These are the points to ponder during Hajj and on Eid al-Azha, especially of the events of this year when the terrorists supported by the US and Israel have been exposed as beasts and brutes, even if they try to masquerade as Islamists and Jihadists in Iraq and Syria, in a bid to tarnish the image of Islam.

Here we present you a fine poem on the Eid-e Qurban by Iran's English language poet, Dr. Hassan Najafi:

Whither the Feast, sorrows are in our breast

Glory of the Day, the Feast is opprest.

The Prophet is vilified, Qurban burnt.

Inadvertent are the Muslims to feel the brunt.

Sentiments of Muslims are everywhere hurt

How long the slumber? Why play with dirt?

Disunity has long lulled you to sleep

If you don't wake up, your lot will be to weep.

Swiftly the show will pass from the view

Though bright but transient, to us not new,

This proves the truth of the Prophet