The Muslim Ummah all over the world is once again celebrating the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid Al-Adha in the usual atmosphere of hopes and aspirations. This synchronises with Hajj, the comprehensive act of worship and the loftiest religious observance.
This year more than 30 lakh believers drawn from every nook and corner of the globe have assembled in and around Ka’bah and the holy city of Makkah. This is the largest and the most magnificent annual Islamic gathering of faithful pilgrims which is marked by spirit of deep piety, strong faith and exemplary devotion.
Hajj has its origin in the life of Prophet Ibraheem, who is venerated not only by the adherents of Islam but by Christians and Jews also. In other words he is recognised by more than half of humanity as a spiritual leader and role model.
More than 4000 years ago in the highly civilized land of Mesopotamia, present day Iraq, Prophet Ibraheem was born in the house of Agar, who was the chief priest in the court of King Nimrod. He was gifted with keen spirit of observation and a thinking mind. At an early age he rejected all polytheistic practices which were rampant around him. Later on he was blessed with revelation from Allah. He revolted against idol worship and preached pure allegiance to Only and One God, the Lord of the whole universe. The king and the priests tried to punish him by burning him to death but God miraculously saved him and he came out of this trial by fire unscathed. He spent his whole life in travelling to various countries with the message of allegiance and submission to One God. At the ripe age of 86 he was blessed with a son named Ismael. On God’s command he left his wife Hajira and his sucking child in the barren and desolate valley of Bakka. Allah again saved the mother and the child with the water of Zamzam spring, which gushed forth and has been a source of inspiration for billions of believers throughout ages.
It was here that the first house of worship, Ka’bah, for the worship of One God alone, was built by Prophets Ibraheem and Ismael. Finally Allah wanted to test the depth of Prophet Ibraheem’s love and devotion to God by asking him to sacrifice his son. Both father and son got ready to offer the Supreme Sacrifice. But at the last moment Allah asked him to stop and ordered him to slaughter a goat sent from Heaven.
When Prophet Ibraheem passed all the tests, he was elevated to be the leader of entire humanity. We Muslims also perform Hajj and offer animal sacrifices to imbibe in our lives the essential spirit without which no individual or people can get closer to God. Our Ummah has been named as Muslim Ummah and also as Millat-e-Ibraheem. We have also been called “the best of Ummah which has been created to work for the welfare of humanity.” Eid Al-Adha is the time to remind us of our status and duty towards Allah and humanity.
Let us examine whether we are true to Allah, Islam and His commandments. It is time to renew our commitment to Islam and rededicate our lives to Islamic cause. Let our prayers, our sacrifices and our lives and deaths be for Allah and Allah alone, Who is our Creator, Nourisher, Sustainer, Master and Ruler. Congratulations and best wishes to the readers of Radiance for the new year 1429 which is just ahead.