In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful:
Eid ul Adha Message (1440 Hijrah, August 2019)
Indeed, there is for you a good example in Ibrahim and those with him, (60:4)
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Assalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rakhmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo.
As we celebrate the festival of Eid ul Adha, we must keep in mind its spiritual significance. It is a day to reflect upon the good example of Prophet Ibrahim, blessings of Allah be upon him, and those with him, blessings of Allah be upon them all. Hazrat Ibrahim as well as Hazrat Ismael and Hazrat Hajira exemplify for us models of complete submission to the will of Allah, associating none other with Him. All the major devotional acts of Hajj celebrate the high example of sacrifice and submission to the will of Allah demonstrated in their lives
The tawaf or circumambulations of the Ka‘bah remind us of its rebuilding by Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail in seven stages as they went around the structure laying the stones, moving in the anticlockwise direction. Hazrat Hajira’s sacrifice and desperation to find water for her infant son has been honoured for all times in the form of sa‘y or running between the two hills of Safa and Marwah. The ramy al-jimar or the casting of stones signifies Hazrat Ibrahim’s resistance to the devil’s temptations as he was taking his son for the sacrifice. Sacrificing an animal is a reminder to us that Hazrat Ibrahim submitted to the will of Allah in his readiness to sacrifice his son to fulfil the command of Allah. The son on the other hand was also willing to be sacrificed as it was in accordance with the will of Allah.
The lesson to be learnt is to submit wholly to the commands of Allah, to sacrifice the animal within us and lead our lives to please Him through not only our faith but also our actions.
I wish you a very happy Eid ul Adha and pray that Allah grant us faith and fortitude of Hazrat Ibrahim to submit in entirety to Him.
Aameen summa aameen.