Sacrifice of Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him)

  

Sacrifice of Hadhrat Ibrahimi (May peace be upon him)

 

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

And (call to mind) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) tested him with several commands which he fulfilled. (On this) Allah said: ‘I am going to make you the leader of mankind.’ He submitted: ‘And from my children as well?’ Allah said: ‘(Yes, but) My promise does not apply to the transgressors.’  Surah Baqarah (2:124)

 

There are various opinions with regard to what the word “commands” means in the verse.  The famous Hadith-expert of the 4^th century Hijri Ibn Abi Hatim (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) relates in its exegesis:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them), he says:  Those commands through which Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) was tested and he cleared all of them mean that when Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) was ordered by Allah Most High to separate from his people and he separated from his nation.  He debated with Nimrod about Almighty Allah to the point that he made him speechless about the very thing they were disagreeing about.  When people wanted to throw him in fire, he was patient on it.  When Almighty Allah ordered him to bid goodbye to his nation, Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) left his country and his people and migrated for the sake of Allah Most High.  He had made a custom of hosting people and was patient, which Almighty Allah had ordered.  When Almighty Allah ordered him to sacrifice, he sacrificed his wealth.  He was tested through the sacrifice of his dear son.  When Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) cleared all these difficult tests and proved himself, then Almighty Allah ordered him:  Be obedient!  He answered:  I am obedient to Allah Most High who is the Lord of all worlds.  This was his approach at a time when people were opposing him and he had separated himself from the people.  (Tafseer Ibn Abi Hatim, Surah Baqarah-124)

 

A slave has come into the world only to gain the gnosis (Ma’arifah) of Almighty Allah and to spend night and day in His worship.  A slave gains perfection in the gnosis of Almighty Allah through 3 things:  Gnosis of the self which one gains by sacrificing one’s ego; Gnosis of attributes which one gains by sacrificing one’s progeny; Gnosis of deeds, which one gains by sacrificing one’s wealth.

 

As long as these 3 sacrifices aren’t made, one doesn’t gain the love of Almighty Allah as it ought to be gained and neither can the slave gain any perfection without them.  (Ruh Al Bayaan, Vol. 7, Pg. No. 474; Surah As Saffaat: 104, 105)

 

Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) made all these sacrifices in the love of Almighty Allah.  He sacrificed his life, spent his wealth and sacrificed his progeny as well.