According to Islamic tradition,
approximately four thousand years ago, the valley of Makka, Arabia was a dry,
rocky and uninhabited place. Allah instructed Ibraheem (Abraham) to bring Hājar
(Hāǧar), his Egyptian wife, and Ismā'īl (Ishmael), his only child at the time,
to Arabia from the land of Canaan.
Hajar ran up and down between two hills called Al-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times, in her desperate quest for water. Exhausted, she finally collapsed beside her baby Ismā'īl and prayed to Allah for deliverance. Miraculously, a spring of water gushed forth from the earth at the feet of baby Ismā'īl. Other accounts have the angel Jibrail (Gabriel) striking the earth and causing the spring to flow in abundance. Hajar surrounded the spring with soil to trap it! Had she not done this it would have become a stream! With this secure water supply, known as the well of Zamzam, they were not only able to provide for their own needs, but were also able to trade water with passing nomads for food and supplies. Because of the well of Zamzam travelers soon settled there in Makka!
One of the main trials of Ibraheem’s life was to face the command of Allah to sacrifice his dearest possession, his only son. When Ismā'īl was about 13 years old, Ibraheem about 99 had a recurring dream, in which Allah was commanding him to offer his son as a sacrifice – an unimaginable act – sacrificing his son, which Allah had granted him after many years of deep prayer. Ibraheem knew that the dreams of the prophets were wahy, divinely inspired revelations, and one of the ways in which Allah communicated with his prophets. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah’s will. When the intent of the dreams became clear to him, Ibraheem decided to fulfill Allah’s command and offer Ismā'īl for sacrifice.
Although Ibraheem was ready to sacrifice his dearest for Allah’s sake, he could not just go and drag his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Ismā'īl had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to give up his life as fulfillment to Allah’s command. This consultation would be a major test of Ismā'īl's maturity in faith, love and commitment for Allah, willingness to obey his father and sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah.
Ibraheem presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Ismā'īl did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, "Father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, Insha'Allah (God willing), to be very patient." His mature response, his deep insight into the nature of his father’s dreams, his commitment to Allah, and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah were all unprecedented.
During this preparation, Shaitan (Satan) tempted Ibraheem and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out Allah’s commandment, and Ibrahim drove Shaitan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Shaitan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars signifying Shaitan during the Hajj rites.
When Ibraheem attempted to cut Ismā'īl's throat, he was astonished to see that Ismā'īl was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered. Ibraheem had passed the test by his willingness to carry out Allah's command.
This is mentioned in the Qur’an as follows:
"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Ibraheem) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practicing patience and steadfastness!" So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Ibraheem!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants!” Qur’an 37:100
As a reward for this sacrifice, Allah then granted Ibraheem the good news of the birth of his second son, Ishaaq (Isaac):
“And We gave him the good news of Ishaaq, a prophet from among the righteous,” Qur’an 37:112
Ibraheem had shown that his love for Allah superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dearest to him in submission to Allah's command. Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid al-Adha.
Compiled by: Imam Akmal M. Muhammad
Side note: Ibraheem’s sacrifice (Test) is a lesson that we should seriously reflect on and contemplate! I truly believe everyone will be given Ibraheem’s Test at least once in their lives! When the test comes there will not be any warning! The test will be of the nature where you will have to make a choice between two different things or situations! This test will question your love for Allah (SWT)! Allah (SWT) knows best!
As
Ibraheem was preparing for his return journey back to Canaan without his family,
Hajar asked him, "O Ibraheem! Where are you going, leaving us in
this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there
anything (to enjoy)?" She repeated that to him many times, but he did not
look back at her! Then she asked him, "Has Allah ordered you to do
so?" He said, "Yes." She said, "Then He will not neglect
us! Though Ibraheem had left a large
quantity of food and water with Hajar and Ismā'īl, the supplies quickly ran
out, and within a few days the two began to feel the pangs of hunger and
dehydration.
Hajar ran up and down between two hills called Al-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times, in her desperate quest for water. Exhausted, she finally collapsed beside her baby Ismā'īl and prayed to Allah for deliverance. Miraculously, a spring of water gushed forth from the earth at the feet of baby Ismā'īl. Other accounts have the angel Jibrail (Gabriel) striking the earth and causing the spring to flow in abundance. Hajar surrounded the spring with soil to trap it! Had she not done this it would have become a stream! With this secure water supply, known as the well of Zamzam, they were not only able to provide for their own needs, but were also able to trade water with passing nomads for food and supplies. Because of the well of Zamzam travelers soon settled there in Makka!
One of the main trials of Ibraheem’s life was to face the command of Allah to sacrifice his dearest possession, his only son. When Ismā'īl was about 13 years old, Ibraheem about 99 had a recurring dream, in which Allah was commanding him to offer his son as a sacrifice – an unimaginable act – sacrificing his son, which Allah had granted him after many years of deep prayer. Ibraheem knew that the dreams of the prophets were wahy, divinely inspired revelations, and one of the ways in which Allah communicated with his prophets. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah’s will. When the intent of the dreams became clear to him, Ibraheem decided to fulfill Allah’s command and offer Ismā'īl for sacrifice.
Although Ibraheem was ready to sacrifice his dearest for Allah’s sake, he could not just go and drag his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Ismā'īl had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to give up his life as fulfillment to Allah’s command. This consultation would be a major test of Ismā'īl's maturity in faith, love and commitment for Allah, willingness to obey his father and sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah.
Ibraheem presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Ismā'īl did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, "Father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, Insha'Allah (God willing), to be very patient." His mature response, his deep insight into the nature of his father’s dreams, his commitment to Allah, and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah were all unprecedented.
During this preparation, Shaitan (Satan) tempted Ibraheem and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out Allah’s commandment, and Ibrahim drove Shaitan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Shaitan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars signifying Shaitan during the Hajj rites.
When Ibraheem attempted to cut Ismā'īl's throat, he was astonished to see that Ismā'īl was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered. Ibraheem had passed the test by his willingness to carry out Allah's command.
This is mentioned in the Qur’an as follows:
"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Ibraheem) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practicing patience and steadfastness!" So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Ibraheem!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants!” Qur’an 37:100
As a reward for this sacrifice, Allah then granted Ibraheem the good news of the birth of his second son, Ishaaq (Isaac):
“And We gave him the good news of Ishaaq, a prophet from among the righteous,” Qur’an 37:112
Ibraheem had shown that his love for Allah superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dearest to him in submission to Allah's command. Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid al-Adha.
Compiled by: Imam Akmal M. Muhammad
Side note: Ibraheem’s sacrifice (Test) is a lesson that we should seriously reflect on and contemplate! I truly believe everyone will be given Ibraheem’s Test at least once in their lives! When the test comes there will not be any warning! The test will be of the nature where you will have to make a choice between two different things or situations! This test will question your love for Allah (SWT)! Allah (SWT) knows best!
