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Showing posts with label Hajj Reference Page. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hajj Reference Page. Show all posts

Saturday, 24 June 2023

What is Talbiyah " ٱلتَّلبِيَة " (in relation to Hajj)

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam which must be performed by all adult believers, both men and women, who have the adequate means to embark upon the journey to Makkah and sustaining them during the period of their stay. This ritual is purely performed to please Allah and performing it once is sufficient in one's life time. 

When one gets in to the state of Ihram (the two plain sheets of white cloth), one is advised to recite Talbiyah " ٱلتَّلبِيَة " so long one remains in the state of Ihram. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to recite Talbiyah and advised others to do so. Today we share the Hadith in which the actual wordings of Talbiyah have been mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Note: Talbiyah is also recited while performing Umrah and after getting into the state of Ihram. Read more about Umrah in our earlier post: How to perform Umrah 

This Hadith is quoted in Jami` at-Tirmidhi: The Book (#9) on Hajj - كتاب الحج عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم   / Chapter # 13 What Was Been Related About the Talbiyah / باب مَا جَاءَ فِي التَّلْبِيَةِ‏) as Hadith number 825 as under:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ تَلْبِيَةَ النَّبِيِّ، صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَتْ ‏ "‏ لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَجَابِرٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عُمَرَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ ‏.‏ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ وَإِنْ زَادَ فِي التَّلْبِيَةِ شَيْئًا مِنْ تَعْظِيمِ اللَّهِ فَلاَ بَأْسَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ يَقْتَصِرَ عَلَى تَلْبِيَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ وَإِنَّمَا قُلْنَا لاَ بَأْسَ بِزِيَادَةِ تَعْظِيمِ اللَّهِ فِيهَا لِمَا جَاءَ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ وَهُوَ حَفِظَ التَّلْبِيَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ زَادَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فِي تَلْبِيَتِهِ مِنْ قِبَلِهِ لَبَّيْكَ وَالرَّغْبَاءُ إِلَيْكَ وَالْعَمَلُ ‏.‏

Ibn Umar narrated:
"The Prophet would say the following for the Talbiyah: "Labbaik Allahumma labbaik. Labbaik la sharika laka labbaik. Innal-hamda wan-ni;mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka." ('I respond to Your call O Allah! I respond to Your call. You have no partner. I respond to Your call. All praise, thanks and blessings are for You. All sovereignty is for You. And You have no partners with You).'"

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Repeatedly reciting Talbiyah takes the attention of the pilgrims to Allah alone to please Him. The recitation also purifies and rids them of worldly concerns. Talbiyah is to be repeated time and again. Those who have performed Hajj would truly understand the importance of the divine dimensions of Talbiyah and its ability to strengthen your connection with Allah (SWT).

It is advised that when reciting the Talbiyah, women are directed to recite the Talbiyah softly or in a subdued voice. At the same time, men should raise their voices and chant together the verses of Talbiyah. If you don’t remember the exact words of Talbiyah, you can also say the translation in English or any other language. However, it is recommended to recite the Arabic verses of Talbiyah as much as possible while performing Hajj or Umrah. 

Talbiyah can be divided into six parts as follow:
 لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ Labbayka Allahumma labbayk (Here I am, O Allah! Here I am)
The term “Labbayk” here means “I am persisting in obeying You, O Allah! I will stick to Your obedience and submission.” The repetition of “Here I am” is to keep the call to Allah (SWT) active and lasting. This response was given by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to call onto Allah (SWT), as said in the Quran:

“And proclaim the pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways.” [Al-Hajj 22:27]

In short, the purpose of reciting the aforementioned verse altogether is to express your respect and affection for Allah (SWT).

لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ Labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk (Here I am, You have no partner, here I am)
Shirk- associating partners with Allah (SWT) is the biggest sin in Islam. Therefore, this part of the Talbiyah portrays your willingness to please Allah (SWT) and to abstain from the act of Shirk. In simpler words, while reciting the verse, you call out to Allah (SWT) and tell Him that He is the one and only creator of the worlds and you have no intention to please anyone except Allah (SWT) as He has no partner, nor a son nor a father.

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ Innal-hamda (Verily, all praise and thanks belong to You)
The word “Hamd” means to thank and praise. Therefore, the list can be endless with regard to showing gratitude, thanking Allah (SWT) and praising Him for all the blessings. Allah (SWT) has ninety-nine names in His praise, and so you can call out the ninety-nine names when you praise the Al-Mighty.

For example, while supplication (Dua), you can say, O Allah! You are Ar-Raheem- the best in showing continuous mercy. You are Ar-Rehman- the most merciful, and You are Al-Khaliq- the best creator.

وَالنِّعْمَةَ Wan-ni`mata (Verily, all blessings belong to You)
The purpose of this specific part of Talbiyah is to thank Allah (SWT) for all the amazing opportunities and blessings that He has showered upon you. You should start by thanking Allah (SWT) for gifting you the sacred chance to perform Umrah or Hajj despite all your deficiencies and sins. Furthermore, you should thank Allah (SWT) for everything in your life. For example, keeping you healthy, keeping all your senses active and working, helping you with your life plan, and most importantly, making you a Muslim.

After every prayer (Salah), you should recite Alhamdulillah thirty-three times and then thank and praise Allah (SWT) for all the blessings of your life.

لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ Laka wal-Mulk (Verily, all sovereignty belongs to You)
The aforementioned part of Talbiyah refers to the fact that everything in this world only belongs to Allah (SWT). All belong to Allah (SWT) alone, from the sovereignty to the dominion to power to the kingdom, all belong to Allah (SWT) alone as He is eternal and absolute. This includes the richness and powers of the earth, the country you live in, the air you breathe, the sun, moon, stars, rain, light, and dark; in short, everyone and everything from humans to animals to jinns to angels belongs to Allah (SWT).

لاَ شَرِيكَ لَكَ La shareeka lak (You have no partner)
The last part of Talbiyah tells us that Allah (SWT) is alone and has no partner in sovereignty, praise, and thankfulness. Hence, we should only Love Allah (SWT) and pray to Him. You can pray by saying something similar to, “Everything that You have in Your life is because of Allah (SWT); You will always be His slave and will never be scared of anyone other than Him or Love anyone more than Him.”

You may listen to recitation of Talbiyah from the video shared herein under:

May Allah accept the presence of all pilgrims gathering in Makkah and accept their Hajj and prayers/supplications. May Allah also bless means and opportunity to those who have yet to embark upon Hajj. Ameen
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Monday, 19 June 2023

Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj

Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة) is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. It is the sacred month in which Muslims from all over the world flock the sacred city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform the fifth pillar of Islam: The Hajj (The Pilgrimage). This why in Arabic, Dhu al-Hijja means "Possessor of the Pilgrimage" or "The Month of the Pilgrimage".

Hajj is obligatory once in lifetime for all able-bodied men and women who can financially afford to undertake the journey to Makkah and bear expenses for their stay during the Hajj rituals. Hajj is performed by men by just wearing two plain sheets of white clothes - hence it removes away any barriers between a billionaire and an ordinary many. Thus, this removes away any distinction of class, superiority of clan and culture as everyone stands equal in the house of Allah.

All pilgrims also visit the holy city of Medinah and visit and offer prayers at the mosque of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Some do it prior to the Hajj, while some do it after the performance of the Hajj as per the schedule of their Hajj plan.
9th of Dhu al Hijja is the actual day of Hajj. On this day, pilgrims gather in Arafat. They also throng the Mount Arafat (جَبَل عَرَفَات, romanized: Jabal ʿArafāt), and by its other Arabic name, Jabal ar-Raḥmah (Arabic: جَبَل ٱلرَّحْمَة, lit. 'Mountain of mercy'). It was the mount on which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ delivered his farewell sermon. The mountain is approximately 70 m (230 ft) in height, with its highest point sitting at an elevation of 454 metres (1,490 ft). [Photo]

Although, the intending pilgrims start to arrive Makkah many days before the actual Hajj dates, the Hajj rituals commence on the eighth, ninth and the tenth of this month. The Day of Arafah, the day of Hajj, takes place on the ninth of the month. On this day, the Hajj sermon is given from Masjid-e-Nimrah outside the city of Makkah, to emulate the last sermon given by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which was given in 10th AD by standing on the Mt Arafat (photo above). Eid al-Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice", begins on the tenth day and ends at sunset on the 13th.
Masjid Al-Namirah (Arabic: مَسْجِد نَمِرَة) - The khutbah (sermon) is delivered from Masjid Al-Namirah and Zuhr and Asr prayers are prayed together in the Arafat valley.

On the termination of Hajj, on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja, Eid al-Adha is observed by Muslims on the hajj and around the world in commemoration of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, علي السلام) to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael) for Allah. The sacrifice of animals continues till the 13th of the month. On this day, the Hajj rituals finally come to an end.

We have deliberated on the importance of the month of Dhu al Hajja and Q&As about performance of Hajj / animal sacrifice and the famous sermon of Prophet on 9th of Dhu al Hajja in 10th AD. You may click on the following links to know more about Dhu al Hajja and Hajj:
We wish the very best of all those pilgrims present in Makkah and pray that Allah accepts their presence and accepts their Hajj. Ameen

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Saturday, 2 July 2022

How to perform Hajj: Step by Step Guide

Alhamdolillah, the most sacred Islamic month of  Dhuʻl-Hijjah " ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة " has dawned and many million lucky Muslims are heading towards sacred city of Makkah / Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the realization of life long dream of performing Hajj, the Pilgrimage. The Hajj rituals are spanned over six days between the eighth and 13th days of the month of  Dhuʻl-Hijjah.

Hajj is a unique occasion. Muslims from all over the world, coming from different cultures, speaking different languages come and perform the Hajj rituals together. No one is white or black, or wealthy ir poor, for everyone is clad in same two unstiched clothed, with one aim: To Please Allah and seek His forgiveness. Subhan Allah!!

Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is mandatory religious duty for all adult able bodied Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home. Those despite financially capable of affording going yo Hajj, yet are incapable of undergoing the rigours of the journey and rather tough rituals of Hajj for almost a week, can ask some family friend or relative to perform Hajj on their behalf (called Hajj e Badal - Hajj on behalf) provided that particular person should have already performed his Hajj. 
Just a little brief about Ka'bah, the cubicle building clad in black cloth situated in the middle of the white marbled floor called Mutaf in Masjid Al Haram, Makkah, It is at the place where the tawaf, the anti-clockwise circumambulation arounds by performers of Hajj and Umra the Ka'bah, takes place. The foundations of Ka'bah were laid by Prophet Abraham (Ibraheem, may peace be upon him) with the help of his son Ismail in biblical times. It been a place of worship of Allah. 

Following two verse from Surah 22. Al Hajj mention God's commandment to Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham, peace be upon him) for building of Ka'bah and calling people to it for pilgrimage:

وَاِذۡ بَوَّاۡنَا لِاِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ مَكَانَ الۡبَيۡتِ اَنۡ لَّا تُشۡرِكۡ بِىۡ شَيۡـئًـا وَّطَهِّرۡ بَيۡتِىَ لِلطَّآئِفِيۡنَ وَالۡقَآئِمِيۡنَ وَ الرُّكَّعِ السُّجُوۡدِ‏ 

Call to mind when We assigned to Abraham the site of the House (Kabah), directing him: "Do not associate aught with Me" and "Keep My House pure for those who walk around it,45 and for those who stand and who bow down and who prostrate themselves (in worship), (Surah 22 Al Hajj :26) 

وَاَذِّنۡ فِى النَّاسِ بِالۡحَجِّ يَاۡتُوۡكَ رِجَالًا وَّعَلٰى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَّاۡتِيۡنَ مِنۡ كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيۡقٍ ۙ‏ 

(22:27) and publicly proclaim Pilgrimage for all mankind so that they come to you on foot and mounted on lean46 camels from every distant point 

But with times, idolaters put idols of their gods both inside and outside the cubicle until it was finally cleansed of all worldly gods by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when he took over the city of Makkah. Since that day on, Ka'bah is the most sacred place of worship for the Muslims around the world. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ performed his only Hajj in 632 AD before his final departure from the world. 

Hajj is, put simply, complex. There are several different ways of performing it, and numerous schools of Islamic thought, between which lie many scholarly differences. Here is a breakdown of the steps included in performing hajj.  

Before 8th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah, when the Hajj formally commences, millions of pilgrims reach Makkah. However, be fore starting their journey, each pilgrim makes an intention to perform Hajj and assumes the state of Ihram. Ihram for men is two unstitched plain white clothe garments while for women it is any loose garments that are not revealing of woman's adornment, only keeping her face, hands and feet visible. The wearing of Iḥrām is must as all flights over fly the limits of Miqat " مِيْقَات ", a boundary around Makkah before which all pilgrims of either Umra or Hajj must be in sate of Ihram.  

After entering in the sate of Ihram, the intended Hajj pilgrims should continuously recite  Talbiyah " ٱلتَّلبِيَة ." It is a prayer invoked by the pilgrims as a conviction that they intend to perform the Hajj only for the glory of Allah. Talbiyah is repeatedly invoked during the Hajj, or pilgrimage, upon putting on the Ihram, so the pilgrims can purify and rid themselves of worldly concerns.

لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

"Transliteration: labbayka -llāhumma labbayka, labbayka lā šarīka laka labbayka, ʾinna -l-ḥamda wa-n-niʿmata laka wa-l-mulka lā šarīka laka"

“Here I am [at your service] O God, here I am. Here I am [at your service]. You have no partners (other gods), here I am. To You alone is all praise and all excellence, and to You is all sovereignty. There is no partner to You.” 

Upon reaching Makkah, all pilgrims must perform Umra and then take of their Iḥrām and continue with their supplications and prayers till 8th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah.

Graphic representation of Hajj  rituals (Photo: Wikipedia/Source: Hajj1.ar.svg/Author AsceticRose

The Hajj Rituals: The Hajj rituals commence from 8th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah till 13th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah, Herein under the step by step guide to perform Hajj:

The Mina tent city (Photo: Wikipedia)

8th Dhuʻl-Hijjah
  • On the eighth of Dhuʻl-Hijjah , pilgrims reenter state of Iḥrām. Now they do not need to go to Miqat to enter into sate of Ihram. 
My family in state of Iḥrām, Alhamdolillah December 2021
  • From wherever they are in Makkah, they get into state of Iḥrām to commence the Hajj rituals.  From now they must adhere to the Hajj etiquettes which includes the following The same rules apply to all pilgrims when they are entering into state of Ihram before departing for Hajj/Umra from their homes or places where they assume state of Ihram)
  • Do not fight or quarrel with others.
  • Do not curse, talk sinfully or use any bad language.
  • Do not use perfume. This includes scented soaps, shampoos, wipes, lotions etc.
  • Do not cut, pluck or remove any hair or nails. (Broken nails can be removed).
  • Do not engage in any sexual activity.
  • Do not kill, hunt or help others hunt any animals.
  • Do not marry, propose or help others to marry.
  • Remember: The Ihram is a state of mind and, just like when you begin praying or fasting, certain things which would ordinarily be halal for you are now haram. 

  • On this day all pilgrims move to the camp city of Medina where elaborate arrangements of boarding and lodging of all pilgrims are extensively made. They may do so by foot (the 8 kilometer journey) or by buses and cars. The pilgrims will spend the day in Mina, only setting out the next morning at dawn. Most of the time in Mina is spent in prayer and remembering Allah.
9th Dhuʻl-Hijjah
  • This is the Hajj Day or the The Day of Arafat, which is considered one of the most important days, not just of Hajj, but of the Islamic calendar. 
  • On this day, the pilgrims will leave their tent city at Mina and move en masse to the Maidan e Arafat (The Arafat grounds). The distance from Mina to Arafat is 14.4 kilometer, which is again footed or reached in buses and cars. 
Jabal e Rehmat (Mount of Mercy) Photo
  • In the Maidan e Arafat, there is Mount Mercy which was the scene of the Prophet Muhammad’s final sermon.  
Masjid e Nimra, Maidan e Arafat (Photo: Mecca.net/source)
  • The pilgrims will stay here throughout the day and will attend to the Hajj Sermon which is made from the Masjid e Namra located in the same venue. Besides the entire day is spent in making reverent prayers, supplications and dua.
  • Elsewhere in the world, many Muslims choose to fast on this day.
  • After sunset, its time to move again, this time to Muzdalifah – a 9 km trip – where pilgrims will offer the Maghrab and Isha prayers combines and spend the rest of the night under the open sky with no tents on the ground. It is a strange experience staying under the stars sharing this beautiful night along with all other millions of pilgrims. 
  • During the stay here, usually men collect pebbles for the rites that follow on the 10th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah.
The pillars at Jamarat (Photo)
10th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah:
  • Just after the pre dawn prayer on the morning of the day, all pilgrims move back to Mina.
  • The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, a day celebrated by Muslims around the world as the greater of the two Muslim holidays.
  • On this day the pilgrims will perform the first rami, throwing seven pebbles at the largest of three columns known as Jamarat. This act is a symbolic stoning of the devil, based on historical tradition. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, the story goes, as proof of faith. It is believed that at this spot in Mina, the devil appeared and tried to dissuade Abraham from heeding the command. Abraham responded by throwing stones to scare him off.
  • After casting their stones, pilgrims must perform the sacrifice. Completing the story, when Abraham went to sacrifice his son, he found God had placed a ram there to be slaughtered instead. It is better to do the slaughtering of the animal by oneself. However if due to rush or ill health one cannot so it himself, he can buy an animal for which a ticket is issued and the sacrifice of the animal is done under the government arrangement.
  • After the sacrifice, pilgrims trim or shave (men only) their hair and remove their ihram clothes.
  •  Many will then proceed to Makkah to perform tawaf and sa’ee, first circling the Kaaba seven times, then walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
11-13th of Dhuʻl-Hijjah: On each day, they will again symbolically stone the devil – this time throwing seven pebbles at each of the three pillars. With the hardest part behind them, pilgrims will now spend the next two or three days in Mina.

When their time in Mina is finished, the pilgrims return to Makkah to perform the final circulation of the Kaaba, a “farewell” tawaf.
Majid e Nabavi (The Prophet's Mosque) - (Photo)

From here on, many return to their homes via Jeddah airport. However, many prefer to go to the city of Medinah, the final resting place of Prophet Muhammad at Masjid al Nabavi, the second holiest city in Islam. However, is not part of the pilgrimage. But along with the life time opportunity to be in the holy lands, how can someone miss out the second holiest place of Islam. Here many people offer 40 prayers in eight days as a ritual. Even otherwise being in the city of Medina is a great blessing for it has been the city where once our Prophet Muhammad  ﷺ established the first real Islamic state and from here the Islam spread to all nook and corners of the world.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) bless us the chance to perform Hajj and Umra, at least once in our life times to be close the holiest of places of Islam and pray for our forgiveness.
May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others life miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Please refer to our page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Dhu al-Hijja and Hajj.

Photo | Source references: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

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Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Selected Verses from Quran: The Essence of Ritual of (Animal) Sacrifice

The Eid ul Adha is just a few days away on the 10th of Dhul Hajjah 1441 AH / 1st August 2020. The hallmark of Eid ul Adha is the sacrificing of animals to commemorate the tradition of great sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him). Adha in Arabic means to sacrifice, thus on this day, Muslims attending the Hajj at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in particular, and Muslims around the world in general sacrifice animals as directed by Allah in the 34th verse of Surah 22. Al Hajj: 

وَلِكُلِّ اُمَّةٍ جَعَلۡنَا مَنۡسَكًا لِّيَذۡكُرُوا اسۡمَ اللّٰهِ عَلٰى مَا رَزَقَهُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَهِيۡمَةِ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ؕ فَاِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ فَلَهٗۤ اَسۡلِمُوۡا​ ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الۡمُخۡبِتِيۡنَ ۙ‏ 

"And [thus it is:] unto every community [that has ever believed in Us] have We appointed [sacrifice as] an act of worship, so that they might extol the name of God over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them [to this end]. And [always bear in mind:] your God is the One and Only God: hence, surrender yourselves unto Him. And give thou the glad tiding [of God's acceptance] unto all who are humble"

This verse implies two things.
(1) Sacrifice has been an essential part of the worship of One Allah in all the revealed religions. In order to inculcate Tauhid, Allah prohibited sacrifice for anyone other than Himself. This was in keeping with the other prohibitions which were made for others than Allah. For instance, prostration before anyone other than Allah, making vows for others than Allah, visiting holy places other than those prescribed by Allah, fasting in the name of others than of Allah, etc., were all prohibited.
(2) The other thing which has been common in all the revealed religions was the object of the sacrifice in the name of Allah though its details have been different in different religions, times and countries.
The Arabic word mukhbitin has no equivalent in English. It includes those who; (1) Give up pride, arrogance and adopt humility before Allah, (2) Surrender themselves to His service and slavery, and (3) Accept His decrees sincerely.

This verse explains the true end of sacrifice, not propitiation of higher powers, for Allah is One, and He does not delight in flesh or blood (xxii. 37, see under), but a symbol of thanksgiving to Allah by sharing meat with fellow-men. The solemn pronouncement of Allah's name over the sacrifice is an essential part of the rite.

The understanding of this verse is not complete unless we go ahead and read the 37th verse:

لَنۡ يَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُـوۡمُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلٰـكِنۡ يَّنَالُهُ التَّقۡوٰى مِنۡكُمۡ​ؕ كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَـكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ​ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ 

"Neither their flesh reaches Allah nor their blood; it is your piety that reaches Him. He has subjected these animals (to you) that you may magnify Allah for the guidance He has bestowed upon you. Give glad tidings, (O Prophet), to those who do good."

This prescribes a very important condition for the sacrifice made in the worship of Allah. A sacrifice is acceptable to Allah only if it is accompanied by piety and sincerity. Though sacrifice is a symbol of Allah, yet it has been made plain that it is accepted only if it is accompanied by piety, saying: “Neither their meat that reaches Allah nor their blood, but what reaches Him is the piety from you”. This was also meant to condemn the ritual of the days of ignorance, when the Arabs took the flesh to the Kabah and smeared its walls with the blood of the sacrificed animal.

“That you may glorify Allah” at the time of sacrifice verbally also in order to acknowledge that the animals really belong to Allah and to no one else. One of the sentences uttered at the time of sacrifice is Allahumma minka wa laka (O Allah, this animal is Thine and is presented to Thee).

It should be noted that the command of sacrifice is not for the pilgrims alone and that the performance of sacrifice is not confined to Makkah on the occasion of Hajj. It is a general command for all those Muslims who are well off. They have been enjoined to be grateful to Allah because He has subjected these animals for the good of all human beings. Therefore, they are required to sacrifice the animals during these days so that they may spiritually join those who go to Makkah to perform Hajj.

There are many authentic traditions to the effect that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made sacrifice on this occasion, while he was personally at Al-Madinah.
(1) The one who does not perform sacrifice even though he can, should not join us in the Eid Prayer. (Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Majah).
(2) According to a tradition reported by Ibn Umar, the Prophet (peace be upon him) dwelt at Al-Madinah for ten years and performed sacrifice every year. (Tirmizi).
(3) According to Anas, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
The one who sacrificed an animal before the Eid Prayer, should offer another sacrifice; but the one who sacrificed his animal after the Eid Prayer, did the right thing and followed the way of the Muslims. (Bukhari).
It this connection, it is note-worthy that no Eid Prayer is held on the tenth of Zil-Hajj in Makkah: therefore, the injunction was meant for all Muslims and not only for those performing Hajj at Makkah.

Thus, it is clear that the sacrifice on the occasion of Eid which is observed in the entire Muslim world is a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and has been enjoined by him. The only dispute is whether it is obligatory in nature or only a Sunnah. Ibrahim Nakhai, Imams Abu Hanifah, Malik, Muhammad and, according to a tradition, Imam Abu Yusuf too, are of the opinion that it is obligatory in nature. On the other hand, Imams Shafai and Ahmad bin Hanbal regard it only as a Sunnah of the Muslims, and Sufyan Thauri has also agreed with them, saying that there will be no harm if a person does not offer a sacrifice.

Yusuf Ali Explanation:
No one should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to the One True God. It was a Pagan fancy that Allah could be appeased by blood sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our hearts, and as a symbol of such offer, some visible institution is necessary. He has given us power over the brute creation, and permitted us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life, for without this solemn invocation, we are apt to forget the sacredness of fife. By the invocation we are reminded that wanton cruelty is not in our thoughts, but only the need of food. Now if we further deny the greater part of the food (some theologians fix the proportion at three-quarters or two-thirds) for the sake of our poorer brethren in solemn assembly in the precincts of the Haram (sacred territory), our symbolic act finds practical expression in benevolence, and that is the virtue sought to be taught. We should be grateful to Allah for His guidance in this matter, in which many Peoples have gone wrong, and we should proclaim the true doctrine so that virtue and charity may increase among men.

May Allah help us understand Qur'an and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an

Please refer to our page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Dhu al-Hijja and Hajj. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  Why do Muslims sacrifice Animals
Reading the Holy Quran should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:

  • The plain translation has been taken from the Holy Quran officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
  • The exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

  • Towards Understanding the Quran
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.


If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

How to Perform Hajj - The Hajj Rituals


The most blessed event of a believer's life has arrived: The Hajj !! Muslims all over the world set aside a portion of their earnings to be able to bear the expenses to go to Makkah, Saudi Arabia and perform the ritual of Hajj, the fifth and last pillar of Islam. There have been instances wherein older people even touching the hundredth year of their lives, or even beyond, to make to Makkah and perform Hajj.

This year, over two million blessed Muslims are presently in Makkah to perform Hajj 2019 / 1440 AH, which is just about ten days from hence. Hajj rituals are spanned over five days from 8th-12th of the Islamic calendar's month of Dhul-Hijjah. Here in under are the preparations and details of rituals performed during the five days of the Hajj:
Hajj Rituals described diagrammatically [Photo: AsceticRose / Wikimedia Commons]

Getting into the state of IhramBefore pilgrims wish to enter the Al Masjid Al Haram (the sacred boundary of Mecca) and move across to perform Hajj, they should wear Ihram in order to make haram and traverse the five different areas of Miqat in the Haram boundary:

(1)  Miqat is an imaginary boundary around Makkah. Before crossing these imaginary lines, one must change over from one's normal clothing to a two piece coarse while cloth called Ihram. Below are the destination options and relevant Miqats for pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj:
  • Dhu’l Hulaifah (Abbyar Ali) is for pilgrims coming to Saudi Arabia from or through Madina first to perform Hajj al-Tamatt’u
  • Al-Juhfah (near Rabigh) is for pilgrims coming from or through Syria, Morocco, or Egypt.
  • Qarn-al manazil (As-Sail Al-Kabeer) is for pilgrims coming from or through Najd or Taif.
  • Yalamlam (Sa’adiyah) is for pilgrims coming from or through India, Pakistan or Yemen.
  • Dhat `Irq is for pilgrims coming from or through Iraq.
(2)  Before setting off from their place of stay and making their way to the sacred boundary of Mecca, pilgrims are bound to assume a state of Ihram, which is the combined sacred act of Niyyah and Talbiyah necessary to perform Hajj. 
  • Niyyah is the innate intention to perform an act of worship, 
  • Talbiyah is a special prayer said in supplication to attain Ihram, given herein under:
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لاَ شَرِيْكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ لاَشَرِيْكَ لَكَ

To be pronounced as:
"Labbayka Allāhumma Labbayk. Labbayk Lā Sharīka Laka Labbayk. Inna l-Ḥamda, Wa n-Niʻmata, Laka wal Mulk, Lā Sharīka Lak."

Translation:
"Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners."

(3)  To become a Muhrim (a pilgrim that has attained the state of Ihram), a pilgrim must prepare himself for Ihram by following the below steps as instructed by the Prophet (PBUH):
  • (a) Performing ablutions – cleansing the body to attain physical purity
  • (b)  Changing into the sacred attire of two-pieced white Ihram sheets (Izar and Rida) for men and ordinary Islamic clothes for women. Both, men and women, should wear the flip-flops or sandals that expose the middle bones of the mid foot.
  • (c)  Performing the two Rakats of Salah al-Ihram while covering the head.
  • (d)  Pronouncing the Niyyah as the Miqat approaches
  • (e) Reciting Talbiyah repeatedly while traversing the Miqat stations in the sacred boundary of the Grand Holy Mosque until the commencement of Tawaf before travelling to Mecca for the next step of Umrah.
Performance of Umra Rituals: Most of the pilgrims undertake undertake Hajj al-Tamatt’u that combines Umrah rituals with that of Hajj. After performing the Umra (that is taking seven rounds around the Kabah and Sa'i - seven rounds between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, adjacent to the the Kabah) re-assume Ihram and the intention to perform Hajj. After completing Umrah rituals, pilgrims must assume the state of Ihram and declare their intentions to do Hajj.
Tent City at Mina [Photo: Seeley International / Wikimedia Common]

Travel to Mina: On 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, soon after the observing the morning prayers, all pilgrims must head to Mina (a town in Makkah), where they stay an entire day carrying out ritual prayers – Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, Fajr and Qasr – as stated in the Quran.
Pilgrims atop Jabal al-Rahmah [Photo]

Travel to Plain of Arafat to perform Waquf: On the second day of Hajj, 9th day of Dhu-al-Hijjah, after the dawn prayer, pilgrims travel the 14.4 km journey from Mina to Arafat from Mina reciting Istaghfar and making supplications. They must do so before noon. Upon reaching plain of Arafat, pilgrims observe Duhr and Asr combined with Qasr prayers near the Jabal al-Rahmah from noon to sunset. This act is known as Waquf (standing before Allah). At Masjid al-Namirah, pilgrims offer noon and afternoon prayers together at noon time and listen to the Hajj Khutaba. A pilgrim's Hajj is considered invalid if they do not spend the afternoon on Arafat.

Pilgrims moving to Mount Arafat for key rite

The Day of Arafat is considered one of the most important days, not just of Hajj, but of the Islamic calendar. "Jabal al-Rahmah" Mount Mercy at Arafat was the scene of the Prophet Muhammad's final sermon. Elsewhere in the world, many Muslims choose to fast on this day.
Night stay at Muzdalifah on 10th of Dhu al Hijjah -  (Photo: Shutterstock/Alarabiya)

Night stay at Muzadalifah: After sunset, the pilgrims move to Muzadalifah (a town between Mina and Mt. Arafat) - 9 kilometres trip, where the first offer combined Maghrib and Isha prayers. And thereafter they spend the night praying and sleeping on the ground with open sky until Fajr prayers in preparation for the next day’s ritual of stoning the devil. Pilgrims collect up 49 pebbles of similar size for Rami (the act of throwing stones at three sites where the Satan had tried to dissuade Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him).

On the 10th day Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims leave for Makkah before sunset to do Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’iy and get back to Mina to perform Rami, Nahr and Halq. The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid al-Adha, a day celebrated by Muslims around the world as the greater of the two Muslim holidays.

Perform Rami in Mina

On the 11th and 12th days of Hajj, pilgrims must complete the stoning of the Devil or Rami. Before Sunrise, pilgrims head back to Mina and participate in a ritual known as ‘Stoning the devil’. Seven pebbles (of similar sizes) are thrown at a stone structure known as Jamrat al-Aqabah. This is an act carried out at noon on each day. All pilgrims are required to leave for Makkah before sunset on the 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. 

Rami is a symbolic stoning of the devil, based on historical tradition. When Allah told Abraham to sacrifice his son, the devil appeared at three different places in Mina and tried to dissuade Abraham from heeding the command. Abraham responded by throwing stones to ward him off.



Animal Sacrifice – Nahr: The culmination of the stoning ceremony calls for an animal sacrifice to commemorate the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismael [Read why Muslims sacrifice animals on Hajj / Eid al Adha]. For this pilgrims can purchase sacrifice voucher or a coupon, which states that a sacrifice has been made in their name. the sacrificial animal is either a lamb or a camel. The animal is butchered and its meat is packed and shipped to other Middle Eastern countries or is fed to the poor. However, those intending to sacrifice the animal themselves, can do so for which elaborate arrangements are made.

Halq (shaving the head) or Taqsir (clipping or shortening of the hair for men and women): Once the animal has been sacrificed, men should get their head completely shaved, or get their hair clipped. While women are forbidden to shave their heads and only allowed to have a lock or strand of their hair clipped. The act of cutting the hair symbolizes one’s detachment from physical appearances and complete subjection to Allah. Thereafter, pilgrims perform Tawaf and Sa’iy.
Stoning of the Devil [Photo: Amellie from Brisbane, Australia / Wikimedia Commons]

Repeat Stoning at Mina: After Sunset On the 11th and 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the stoning ritual is repeated by throwing pebbles at two other monuments other than Jamrat al Aqabah, that is Jamrat Oolah (the first Jamrat) and Jamrat Wustah (middle Jamrat). Pilgrims face the Jamarah (main pillar), with the Mecca on their left and Mina on their right, stone it with seven small pebbles while reciting takbeer. 

Pilgrims may leave Mina for Mecca before sunset on the 12th. If unable to leave on the 12th before sunset or opt to stay at free will, they must perform the stoning ritual again on the 13th before returning to Makkah.

Perform the Farewell Tawaf "Tawaf al-Wadaa": On 13th of Dhu al Hijjah, the final step is the farewell Tawaf / Tawaf al-Wadaa. 'Wadaa' means 'to bid farewell', circumambulating the Kaaba anti-clockwise seven times and touching or kissing the Kaaba if possible. Pilgrims reflect on their experience and thank Allah for everything, while circumambulating the Kaaba. On completing the Tawaf, pilgrims can proceed to collect their belongings, leave Kaaba by setting their left foot out first and making supplications while doing so. This final step marks the end of Hajj rituals.

Journey to Medina: Most of the pilgrims after performing the Hajj, head towards Medina to pay homage to the most revered of the prophets, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and spend few to forty days. Though not a part of Hajj, pilgrims still choose to travel to the city of Medina and the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet), which contains tomb of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) The Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Qiblatayn are also usually visited.

We pray that all pilgrims present in Makkah at this time of the year may their presence be accepted and come back duly blessed with countless blessings of Allah. Aameen.

Please refer to our page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Dhu al-Hijja and Hajj.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
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Sunday, 10 February 2019

Why do Muslims Sacrifice Animals on Eid al Adha

Eid al Adha is one of two annual festivals of Muslims that are celebrated with religious zeal and fervour throughout the world. Eid al Adha falls after the culmination of yet another revered pillar of Islam: The Hajj. “Adha” means “sacrifice” in Arabic, thus on this day, the Muslims sacrifice animals like goat, sheep, ram, cow or camels to commemorate the sacrifice attributed to Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham, may peace be upon him). In fact, the Muslims celebrate Prophet Abraham’s piety, and his willingness to obey Allah’s commandment, even if it meant sacrificing his son.

However, for most non-Muslims, it is something strange to slaughter an animal openly and in rather a barbaric way. Although, the meat market around the world kills animals in machines "alive", yet slaughtering of animals as a ritual by Muslims seems to them rather harsh. They even question why the animals should be sacrificed in the first place.  Emmanuel Kant, the 18th-century German philosopher, criticized Abraham’s blind submission not as an example to emulate but as a failure to avoid. Abraham should have been certain about his own moral sense, Kant argued, and suspicious about an ostensibly divine voice commanding him to do something as cruel as sacrificing his son. Kant wasn’t advocating defying God, necessarily, but he was empowering human reason.

While many non-Muslims support Emmanuel's viewpoint, some stereotyped Muslims living in non-Muslim countries too often their reservation to the very concept and manner of the slaughter and sacrifice of the animals. Why such queries are raised because we are drifting from teachings of our faith and concentrating more on reasoning in view of modern thinking that is devoid of submission to the Divine commandments. To understand the why of animal sacrifice, we must understand the philosophy and wisdom behind it. 

The philosophy of sacrifice displays total submission to Allah's commandment vis-a-vis any human considerations. When it came to accepting Divine will, Prophet Ibraheem demonstrated this spirit of submission and sacrifice to the best of his understanding. He chose to submit unconditionally to Allah and did not let human emotions come his way to deter him from carrying out the will of Allah.

Although, the act of Prophet Abraham took place much earlier than all divine faiths, that is Jewish and Christianity, its continuation as a ritual in Islam attaches immense importance as a display of total submission to the will of Allah. While querying religious rituals, one must keep the context in mind. Not only did the pagan Arabs sacrifice to a variety of gods in hopes of attaining protection or some favor or material gain, but so, too, did the Jews of that day seek to appease the One True God by blood sacrifice and burnt offerings. Even the Christian community felt Jesus to be the last sacrifice, the final lamb, so to speak, in an otherwise valid tradition of animal sacrifice (where one’s sins are absolved by the blood of another).

It may be added that Islam in fact breaks away from this longstanding tradition of appeasing an “angry God” and instead demands personal sacrifice and submission as the only way to die before death and reach “Fana” or “extinction in Allah.” The notion of “vicarious atonement of sin” (absolving one’s sins through the blood of another) is nowhere to be found in the Qur’an. Neither is the idea of gaining favor by offering the life of another to God. In Islam, all that is demanded as a sacrifice is one’s personal willingness to submit one’s ego and individual will to Allah.

In fact, Allah never "asked" Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son. Rather, the Prophet saw a dream as has been narrated in the Holy Qur'an [Surah As Saffat 37:102-107]:
102) Then when (the son) Reached (the age of) (Serious) work with him He said: “Oh my son! I see in vision That I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is Thy view!” (The son) said: “Oh my father! Do As thou art commanded: Thou wilt find me, If Allah so wills one Practicing patience and constancy!” 103) So when they had both Submitted their wills (to Allah), And he had laid him Prostrate on his forehead (For sacrifice), 104) We called out to him, “Oh Abraham!” 1054) “Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” thus indeed Do We reward Those who do right. 106) For this was obviously A trial, 107) And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.
Based on the dream, the Prophet understood that he had been demanded to make a supreme sacrifice, which for him seemed to be something that should be dearest to him of all. So, he asked his son to be that sacrifice, which his son obediently acknowledged without any hesitation. This is the total essence: Total Submission and Obedience. And it must be remembered that Allah does not need meat or blood of animals as has been mentioned in Surah Hajj [22:37]:
It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety That reaches Him: He Has thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: * And proclaim the Good News To all who do right
No one should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to the One True God. It was a pagan fancy that Allah could be appeased by blood sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our hearts, and as a symbol of such offer.

Replying the to this oft asked query by non-Muslims, please listen to the answer by Professor Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, exegete and educationist, on the subject. The video is in Urdu, but has English subtitles for those who cannot understand Urdu: 
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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