In the religious, social and cultural life of Muslims, every Eid is brighter with multidimensional connotations. Eid-ul-Fitr comes at the end of Ramadan's austerities and the holy Eid-ul-Azha, also known as 'Eid-ul-Adha', is revealed in the glory and message of sacrifice.
The word ‘Qurbani’ comes from the Arabic word ‘Qurban’ and is widely used in Persian, Urdu and Bengali. In Arabic, sacrifice is also called 'nusuk'. Literally which means - to be close, to gain proximity. According to Islam, the essence of sacrifice lies in self-sacrifice for the sake of gaining nearness to the great Creator.
As a result, the meaning of the Eid sacrifice is very deep. Slaughtering an animal alone does not reveal a loving sacrifice to the Creator, nor is it possible to gain intimacy. Sacrifice is impossible if you are blind to worldly greed, lust, egoism, violence. It is impossible to gain proximity to the Creator. Along with the animal sacrifice, killing one's own ‘Ripu’ is also the implication of the sacrifice.
Defeating the temptations of Satan and Ripu or Nafs in the life of a person who is moving in the swing of sin and virtue and killing all the evil deeds in the end is also a great sacrifice. The main goal of the sacrifice is to attain nearness to the Creator in purity, devotion and obedience by gaining purification from sin through repentance and being motivated to make sacrifices for the sake of the Creator alone. For, in verse 37 of Surah Hajj of the Holy Qur'an, it has been said, “The flesh or the blood of animals does not reach Allah, but the taqwa (fear of God) of your mind reaches."
Therefore, the main consciousness of the sacrifice is the teaching of the sincere and purest surrender to the Creator through the abandonment of Ripu's persecution, egoism and sense of selfishness. In the holy Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has clearly said, ‘Allah does not look at your face, nor does He look at your wealth. He sees your heart and sincerity. '
The success of Eid-ul-Azha as a servant of God can only be achieved if one can reflect in life the significance and teachings of sacrifice as a religious instruction and tradition for Muslims. In addition to animal sacrifices, being able to correct one's own evil is the greatest sacrifice.
Historically, in a religiously solemn religious solemnity, the Muslims of the world slaughtered and sacrificed animals on the 10th, 11th and 12th of the month of Jilhaj for the purpose of gaining nearness to Allah and His satisfaction which had begun with the sacrifice of Hazrat Ismail (PBUH), the beloved son of Hazrat Ibrahim (PBUH) by the command of Allah. When Hazrat Ibrahim (PBUH) at the command of Allah (SWT) stabbed Hazrat Ismail (PBUH) in the throat, he miraculously turned into an animal.
In fact, it was a test of self-sacrifice for Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). At the same time the teaching of sacrifice for man. The Holy Qur’an instructs in Surah As-Saffah, ‘surely this was a clear test. I gave him a huge slaughter animal instead. Then I kept this word for those who will come. '
Through this verse, it has become obligatory for Muslims to get rid of the difficult task of sacrificing their lives and sacrifice animals. Eid should not be celebrated only by slaughtering animals. Rather, the sacrifice should be made only in the name and purpose of the great God.
Any kind of sociality, richness, competition, jealousy is reprehensible. And if there is such a thing instead of the attitude of sacrifice, the sacrifice will not be accepted by Allah.
According to the history of Islam, the sacrifice of Habil and Kabil, the sons of Adam, is another unique example of sacrifice for the human race. When a dispute arose between Habil and Kabil over their marriage, their father, Hazrat Adam (PBUH)), ordered both of them to sacrifice Dumba by sincerity. He also said that the one, whose sacrifice will be accepted in the court of Allah and the fire that comes from the sky as a sign and burns the sacrificed animal, will get married. Hearing this, Habil and Kabil offered sacrifices. God accepted Habil's sacrifice. Kabil became angry and killed Habil. From this incident of Habil and Kabil, it is clear that sincerity and piety are the most important things in sacrificing for the sake of Allah. And Allah accepts only the sacrifices of the righteous and the pious. Following Adam (PBUH), other apostles later showed the way of sacrifice to mankind in the name of Allah only for His pleasure.
Sacrifice for this does not only mean slaughtering animals. Worship directed by the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah to please Allah and gain nearness to Him. Therefore, the essence of sacrifice lies in the abandonment of human evil, that is, selfishness, arrogance, bestiality, pettiness, selfishness, inferiority, poverty, greed, lust and envy.
It is hoped that the sacrifice will free us from all wickedness and lead us to the path of purification and bless us with nearness to Allah through supreme sacrifice and free us from the temptations of Satan and the Nafs or Ripu and lead us to this and the hereafter. 'Takabbalallahu minna wa minkum', may Allah accept our and your worship. Eid Mubarak to all.