A peaceful Eid Mubarak

WHEN the companions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) enquired: “What is the reality of this sacrifice (of animals)?” the Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied: “It is the practice of your forefather Ebrahim (Abraham).”

Indeed Ebrahim, the friend of God, had before him a task of the greatest magnitude. His is an account of a childless man, miraculously blessed with a son at an advanced age. A man with a heart filled with the unbounding love only a father might have for his six-year-old son running through the fields by his side. Then arrives the test, the demand, the ultimate trial… The command arrives from God; your son is to be sacrificed as proof that the love of God supersedes all others. Here stands one of the mightiest messengers of God, with a task that would buckle the knees of the strongest of men. To give his own life would be a mere trifle in front of the ordeal facing Ebrahim.

Does the man of God waver? Does his determination slip? Does his faith falter? No, nay, never! With an iron resolve, Ebrahim executes the task in front of him. Yet, try as he might, the knife, sharp as a razor, simply would not cut. And then the voice calls out from the unseen: “Oh, Ebrahim, indeed you have passed (the trial seen in your) vision.” The son of Ebrahim was then substituted with a sacrificial ram.

In honour, in remembrance and to derive a spiritual lesson, Muslims are required to emulate the sacrifice of Ebrahim, May God’s peace be upon him.

Qurbani is an annual reaffirmation of our pledge to God, a pledge that states: “Verily my prayer, my sacrifices, my life and my death are surrendered to God; the Sustainer of the worlds.” (Qur’an, Chapter 6, Verse 162). Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated every year on the 10th of Zul Hijjah (the 12th month of the Islamic calendar year). This year the date corresponds with today.

The Jamiatul Ulama KZN would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslims a joyous and peaceful Eid Mubarak.