The meaning of sacrifice

The meaning of sacrifice
Firdous Islam Choudhury

The second most important festival of Islam is Eid-ul-Zuha, observed on the 10th of Zilhijja, the last month of the lunar calender (March 6 this year). It is also known as Eid-ul-Azha or Eid-e-Qurban. Qurbani, which means sacrifice in Urdu, Hindi and Persian, one of the five pillars of Islam, has originated from the Arabic word `Qurb', meaning closeness to God. Hence Qurbani, or sacrifice, is needed to attain nearness or communion with God. In fact, it stands for not only the slaughtering of a permissible animal in the name of Allah, but the sacrifice of one's own self, one's happiness, comfort and richness, for the sake of others. To sacrifice for the needy is the true essence of this Eid. This Eid highlights the fact that nothing can be achieved without sacrifice. It is believed that the flesh and blood of animals do not reach God, but a person's devotion reaches Him. The Holy Quran says, ``Their flesh and blood reach not Allah, but devotion from you reaches Him''(22:37).

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The sacrifice is also known as Sunnat-e-Ibrahim, as a testimony to Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim. The objective of the celebration is to remind us of the spirit of self-sacrifice shown by him. Indeed, Ibrahim belongs to three religious traditions -- Judaism, Christianity and Islam -- but each has a distinct understanding of what he stands for.

Prophet Ibrahim was born some 4,000 years ago in Iraq. He was childless till the age of 86. After sustained prayers, God bestowed him with a child, Ismail. But the real test began then. Some years later God ordered Ibrahim to leave his wife Hajra and the child in the desert, and he obeyed. It was very hot and the child felt thirsty, but with God's blessing, the mother discovered the holy spring. The mother and child were safely restored.

But God tested Ibrahim again. In Ibrahim's dream, God wanted the sacrifice of his favourite camel, and he sacrificed it. But the next night he dreamt of God again, and to satisfy God, he sacrificed all his camels. But the dream was repeated. The prophet understood that God wanted the sacrifice of his nearest and dearest one, his 12-year-old son Ismail. He was at a loss, so he told his son of the dream. The son said, ``O my father, do as thou art commanded; Thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast'' (37:102). After the child was bathed by his mother, Ibrahim took him away to a lonely jungle. Upon reaching a particular place he laid Ismail prostrate to be sacrificed at the altar. Ismail gave his father a handkerchief to cover his eyes so that his blood ties would not hold him back. As Ibrahim was about to slash the throat of his son, a voice miraculously echoed, ``O Ibrahim, Thou has already fulfilled the dream'' (37:104-105). As he looked upward, the angel Gobreel appeared with a ram to besacrificed, as ordered by Allah, in place of his son Ismail.

The whole incident was symbolic. In fact, it was a trial of the will of the father and the son. Allah does not require the flesh and blood of animals for his own sake, but he does require the giving of our whole being to Allah, a test of sacrifice of our dearest thing. Allah wants to test the love, sincere devotion and absolute resignation of his messenger. Surah Al-Kauthar in Quran read, òf40óFasalla le rabbaka wanhar (108:2) which means sacrifice should not be for one's own appeasement, but for the sake of God. It is said the moment a sacrifice is made, God accepts it, even before a drop of the animal's blood falls on the ground.

The sacrifice of animals is watched by all, including women and children in the family, so that in all of them the spirit of sacrifice and obedience is revived. It is a declaration and confession on the part of the sacrificer that as he had slaughtered an animal which is inferior to him, similarly he is prepared to cheerfully sacrifice his own life when called upon to do so.