Eidal Adha 2023
The day where Muslims remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim.
One night, he experienced a dream in which Allah (SWT) told him to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (AS). At first, he dismissed it because he thought it was the devil playing tricks on him. However, the same dream occurred again the following night, commanding him to do the same. Ibrahim (AS) then came to realise that this was no fluke and was, in fact, a message from Allah (SWT).
Though he loved his son, Ibrahim (AS) was fully prepared to follow Allah’s (SWT) command and do as He instructed. He took his son to the top of Mount Arafat and brought with him a knife and rope. Upon reaching an appropriate place, he told his son about his dream and what Allah (SWT) had commanded him to do. Being an obedient son, Prophet Ismail (AS) immediately obliged the wishes of Allah (SWT) and his father and asked that his hands and legs be tied so that he may not struggle and that his father blindfolds himself so that he does not have to witness him suffer.Ibrahim (AS) did as Ismail (AS) had said. Blindfolded and with the knife in his hands, he did as Allah (SWT) had asked of him. When he took the blindfold off, to his surprise, he saw the body of a dead ram in front of him. Ismail (AS) was completely unharmed, standing right next to him. At first, he thought that something had gone horribly wrong and that he had disobeyed the order of his Creator. Then, he heard a voice telling him that Allah (SWT) looks after his followers and that he need not worry.
A divine miracle had taken place. Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) had just passed a difficult test from Allah (SWT).
Muslim Aid. (n.d.). Story of Ibrahim. https://www.muslimaid.org/what-we-do/religious-dues/qurbani/story-of-ibrahim/
