Do you know about the Prophet who sacrificed his home, family, and comfort for the sake of ALLAH? That was the life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) (known as Abraham in English), a man loved by Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. He holds a special title in Islam – Khalilullah, the close friend of Allah. His story isn’t just history. It’s a powerful lesson in trust, patience, and sacrifice. Even in the toughest moments, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) never wavered in his faith and it is his incredible sacrifices that Muslims around the world remember every year during Eid al-Adha.

Turning Away From Idol Worship

He was born in a place where people used to worship statues. From the very beginning, he was aware that there is only one god, Allah. Worshipping these statues is wrong, and these statues can’t be gods. He used to see the creatures around and thought that there must be one god behind all this. He also tried to spread this message to everyone, but instead of following him, he got tortured by those people and was also thrown into a big fire, but by the grace of Allah, the fire didn’t burn him..

Test Of Faith

The life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) is a perfect example of a test of faith. Allah (SWT) tested him in various ways. But the biggest and the most difficult was when Allah (SWT) commanded him to sacrifice his only child, Ismail (AS). As a father, it was very difficult for him to sacrifice his child, but without even thinking twice, he obeyed Allah (SWT)’s order and decided to sacrifice his son. His son also showed respect without saying or asking any questions.

The Great Sacrifice

Ibrahim (AS) had a son named Ismail (AS). Ismail (AS) was very dear to Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Allah (SWT) tested the faith of Ibrahim (AS) by asking him to sacrifice Ismail (AS) for his sake. Despite the difficulty of this test, Ibrahim (AS) had faith in Allah. When he shared the dream with Ismail (AS), his son said, “Father, follow Allah’s instructions. I’ll be patient with you, insha’Allah.” When Ibrahim (AS) was ready to sacrifice his son, ALLAH (SWT) stopped him. He sent a ram to be sacrificed instead of Ismail (AS). Allah (SWT) gave Ibrahim (AS) his son back as he passed the test of faith.

Qurbani In Islam

Qurbani shows the story of sacrifice in Islam. Qurbani is the act of sacrificing an animal, cow, goat, sheep, camel, etc, for Allah SWT, during the month of Dhul Hajj. It is done on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to remember the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim. When he was ready to sacrifice his son for Allah’s will.

Eid Ul Adha:

A significant Islamic holiday, Eid ul-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) enormous sacrifice. He immediately obeyed Allah’s instruction to sacrifice his son Ismail (AS). However, in His Divine Mercy, Allah substituted a ram for Ismail (AS), demonstrating that obedience and sincere faith are what count. Muslims offer Qurbani (animal sacrifice), pray, and distribute the meat to their loved ones, friends, and the underprivileged as part of their Eid ul-Adha celebrations. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of kindness, sacrifice, and faith.

Building the Kaaba: A Father-Son Mission

One of the most beautiful parts of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) story is when he built the Kaaba with his son, Prophet Ismail (AS). After passing the test of sacrifice, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) received a special message from Allah: to build a house of worship on the sacred land of Mecca. Together, father and son began the task, using stones and simple tools to build what would become the holiest place in Islam. As they built each part of the Kaaba, they made a powerful dua: “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127) The Kaaba they built stands till today, and every year during Hajj and Umrah, millions of Muslims visit it, walk around it in Tawaf, and remember the legacy of these two great Prophets.

Lesson From This Story:

• Strong faith means trusting Allah completely without any hesitation.
• Obedience to Allah (SWT) brings us peace and rewards in this world and the hereafter.
• Real sacrifice is about sacrificing the things that are close to our hearts for Allah’s sake.
• Allah tests those whom he loves.
• Qurbani is not just about sacrificing animals. It is also about remembering what Prophet Ibrahim has done.

Conclusion:

The Eid al-Adha story teaches us important lessons from the tale of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Despite his deep love for his son Ismail (AS), he trusted Allah and listened to His command to sacrifice his son. Allah was pleased with his obedience and forbade him from hurting his son. Allah, on the other hand, sent a ram for sacrifice. This demonstrates Allah’s great mercy and kindness. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha annually in memory of the biggest sacrifice of Islamic history. We pray, make a sacrifice, and dress nicely. Distribute the meat to the underprivileged as well as our loved ones. This encourages us to share, be compassionate, and always pay attention to Allah. By reminding us of the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), we can improve as Muslims.