Every month of Zulhijjah arrives, we are reminded of the tale of Prophet Ibrahim AS, on Allah’s orders, willing to slay his beloved son, Prophet Ismail AS. This directive essentially serves as a test of His obedience to Allah, how Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice genuinely something he cherished in hopes of pleasing Allah SWT. This can be observed from Allah’s Word, Surah Ash Shafat Verse 102, which conveys: “So when the child reached (the age of being able to) try with Ibrahim, Ibrahim said: “O my son, I actually saw in a dream that I was slaughtering you. Then reflect upon what you think!” He responded: “O my father, do what you are commanded; God willing, you will find me among those who are patient.” Ibrahim AS’s sacrifice was not solely driven by a sense of unquestioning obedience but rather his belief that Allah SWT’s commands must be followed. In the subsequent period, this sacrifice was prescribed by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad SAW and his people, involving the slaughtering of animals as a demonstration of obedience to Allah SWT. In essence, qurban is not merely about slaughtering animals and then donating the meat to the needy. However, philosophically, sacrifice can encompass broader dimensions. Sacrifice is a logical consequence of the belief in drawing closer to Allah, which must be continually pursued to achieve both ritual piety and social piety. As when viewed in light of the Arabic term “Qurban,” which means to draw closer. In Islamic fiqh literature, it is known as Udh-hiyah; some scholars refer to it as An-nahr, as mentioned in Al-Quran Surah Al-Kautsar Verse 2: “So establish prayer for your Lord and make sacrifices.” This indicates that establishing prayer is a form of ritual piety, while making sacrifices serves as a manifestation of social piety.Emulating the Prophet is truly vital in shaping our moral and spiritual existence, and during this month of Zulhijjah, Prophet Ibrahim AS is the most suitable role model for us to follow. However, his life has engraved noble values that will foster human civilization with dignity. He taught us many things: the significance of sacrifice, the meaning of sincere faith, the essence of love, and so forth.Allah SWT’s command to Prophet Ibrahim to slaughter his son can only be faced with patience by individuals who possess genuine faith. And the Prophet Abraham’s family stands as a symbol of the genuineness of faith.
The directive to perform qurbani for those who have the means showcases Islam as a religion that respects the impoverished and other vulnerable individuals. By ritualizing qurban, Muslims are trained to strengthen their faith in Allah SWT, sharpen their awareness of social issues, and foster compassion and empathy for one another.
The father who received the order with unwavering confidence carried out God’s exceedingly weighty command. The wife, embracing the order with resignation and patience, while the recipient of the order, the child, Ismail AS, sincerely accepted the command.In short, no complex problem can be resolved without making sacrifices in the path of Allah. By making sacrifices and seeking solely the pleasure of Allah, individualism, pride, greed, arrogance, jealousy, and other mental and social maladies can be overcome. It is from here that the best generation is truly capable of constructing a society that is obedient to Allah SWT, leading a life filled with peace, love, and care for others. The irony is that nowadays we frequently encounter many Muslims who solely strive to enhance the quality of their ritual piety without maintaining a balance with social piety. Many Muslims diligently perform prayers, fasting, and even embark on multiple Hajj journeys but pay no heed to the well-being of the community around them. This is a disheartening phenomenon.The Feast of Sacrifice, which will soon be celebrated, serves as a moment to reevaluate the essence of our sacrifice so that both forms of piety are realized: ritual piety and social piety. Ritual piety signifies that through sacrifice, we have fulfilled God’s transcendental commands, while social piety is clearly reflected in the distribution of Qurbani meat. The directive to perform qurbani for those who have the means showcases Islam as a religion that respects the impoverished and other vulnerable individuals. By ritualizing qurban, Muslims are trained to strengthen their faith in Allah SWT, sharpen their awareness of social issues, and foster compassion and empathy for one another.
(The author is a freelancer. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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