EID AL-ADH-HA
means ‘the
festival of sacrifice’ and it is celebrated on the 10th day
of the 12th month of the lunar calendar known as the month of
Dhul-Hijjah.
On this day, the
pilgrims to
Mecca proceed to Mina after
remembering and praying to Allah (SWT) at Mash’ar al-Haraam also
known as Muzdalifah. In Mina, the pilgrims:
These rituals are
performed in compliance to the command of Allah (SWT).
The reason why this
day is known as Al-Adh-ha is because it was on this day that
Allah (SWT) put Prophet Abraham (as) to a very big test of sacrificing
his son Ishmael. Abraham (as) succeeded in this trial.
On 8th of
Dhul-Hijjah, Prophet Abraham (as) saw a dream that he was sacrificing
his son Ishmael (as). This day is known as Yaum al-Tarwiyah. The
dream was repeated on the following day known as Yaum al-‘Arafah
and this convinced Prophet Abraham (as) that it was the command of Allah
(SWT) and that he had to discharge it accordingly.
He (as) told
his wife Hajrah to prepare Ishmael for a journey to a friend’s house,
and provide him with a rope and a knife, and then both, the father and
the son set out. Ishmael was 13 years then. When they reached between
the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, Abraham (as) disclosed his dream to
Ishmael (as) and sought his opinion in the matter. Quran describes this
beautifully in the following manner.
Prophet Abraham (as)
prayed:
“O
Lord! Grant me a righteous son. So We gave him the glad tidings of a
forbearing son. When (his son)
reached (the age of) working with him, he said, ‘My son! Verily I saw a
dream that I was sacrificing you. So what is your opinion?’ The son
said, ‘Father! Do what you been commanded. If Allah wills, you will find
me of the steadfast.”
(37:100-102)
Shaytan appeared in a
form of an old man and tried to persuade Abraham (as) against offering
his only son as a sacrifice. When he failed, he then persuaded Ishmael
to save himself and escape. Father and son, both of them understood the
scheme of Shaytan and chased him away by way of throwing stones at him.
Finally they arrived
at the spot of sacrifice. Before laying his son on the ground, upon his
request, Prophet Abraham (as) tied the hands and the legs of his son and
blindfolded himself lest he is disturbed by the pain and restlessness of
his son. Abraham (as) then took the knife and enacted the command of
Allah (SWT). When he (as) removed his fold, he saw his son standing by
his side and in his place; a lamb lay slain before them. Abraham (as)
trembled fearing that his sacrifice was rejected. Then he heard a voice
and Quran says: