Eid al-Adha

This week, alongside our sisters and brothers in Islam, we commemorate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. The occasion recalls the monotheistic ethos at the heart of the Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

It was, in Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition, a test of the faith of Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son when in a recurring dream, he was commanded by God to sacrifice his beloved son. However, at the ultimate moment of the sacrificial act, Allah spared the life of his son, who is believed by most Muslims to be Hazrat Ismail (peace be upon him). In Surah as-Saffat, Ayat 104 and 105 of the Qur’an, Allah says:

“We called out to him, ‘O Ibrahim, you have already fulfilled the vision’ - thus indeed we reward the righteous... indeed this was a manifest trial.” 

On Eid al-Adha, we remember Hazrat Ibrahim’s sacrifice and unyielding devotion, and we also reflect upon the complete trust he had in his Creator. Indeed, complete trust in Allah is modeled through many examples of the Prophets.   

The young Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him and his family) who faced life as an orphan, and later, as the Prophet of Islam, was forced to migrate to safety due to constant threats to his life. Still, he was steadfast in his faith in Allah. Such complete reliance on Allah is called tawakkul, a concept we refer to in our prayers when we recite: tawwakaltu ‘alayka, which means: (O Allah) I rely upon you.    

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