The Eid al-Adha sacrifice (Udhiyah) signifies obedience, deep devotion, and absolute submission to Almighty Allah; thus, the concept of sacrifice is by no means restricted solely to the slaughtered animal. Allah Almighty says:
{Their meat will not reach Allah , nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you}[Surah Al-Hajj, Verse: 37]. This means that the true purpose of the sacrifice is piety and complete submission to everything He has commanded or forbidden.
Evoking this paramount meaning of sacrifice during every Eid al-Adha season is a sharia-mandated requirement. It ensures it is firmly established in people’s minds that the ritual of sacrificing livestock is not born out of mere social customs or a routine devotional practice. The meat and blood are nothing but an eternal reminder of that unique moment in history when the obedient father complied with Allah’s command in the vision of slaughter, and the righteous son responded with obedience, patience, and submission. Consequently, the story of Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them) became an eternal model for compliance with Allah Almighty and the prompt initiative to fulfill His command.
Obedience: The Core of Eid and the Spirit of its Rituals
The connection between Eid al-Adha and the concept of obedience is a profound and evident one during these blessed days—the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the Days of Tashreeq. These days encompass the very foundations of worship among the pillars of Islam: prayer, zakat, fasting, Hajj, and Umrah, along with major acts of obedience such as frequent praising (Tahmeed), declaring oneness (Tahleel), and glorifying Allah (Takbeer). This is a virtue that is not repeated in any other virtuous days of the year. Since the Udhiyah is considered a practical application in translating the meanings of faith and embedding them within souls, it embodies:
1. The Value of Absolute Obedience to Allah Almighty
This means complete compliance and total submission to the commands of Allah, both inwardly and outwardly, along with contentment with His judgment and legislation, performing what He has commanded and abandoning what He has forbidden.
2. The Value of Submission to Allah’s Judgment in Good Times and Bad
This must be done without over-scrutinizing or objecting. When Allah Almighty commanded prayers with a specific number and manner, as well as zakat, fasting, Hajj, and other rulings with their specific manners and forms whose ultimate wisdom may not be fully perceived by human intellect, the requirement of perfect faith is to submit to them, saying {We hear and we obey} [Al-Baqarah: 285] without entering into questioning and debate. This is because submission is the core of servitude for which mankind was created, while acknowledging that He, the Almighty, possesses ultimate wisdom in everything He commands or forbids.
3. The Value of Prioritizing the Love, Obedience, and Law of Allah
This means placing His law above every whim, desire, or personal interest, which necessitates internal striving (Jihad) and wrestling against the soul that commands evil and desires, until Allah’s intent is prioritized over worldly lusts and personal opinions.
4. The Value of Hastening and Initiating the Execution of Sharia Commands
This value represents the true, practical manifestation of obedience, in terms of initiating compliance with a sharia command as soon as it is known, without procrastination, hesitation, or questioning the underlying wisdom.
5. The Value of Accepting Allah’s Painful and Joyful Decrees
This is accompanied by absolute certainty in Allah’s wisdom in everything He withholds or bestows, for He possesses the far-reaching wisdom regarding what rectifies His believing servant.
6. The Value of Exalting the Rituals of Religion that Allah Almighty has Exalted
It is the manifestation of true servitude to Allah Almighty alone. Therefore, preserving this ritual, being keen to perform it with sincerity and excellence (Ihsan), and evoking its original faith-based objectives nurtures piety in the heart, confirming the statement of the Almighty: {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} For it is a ritual that demonstrates the exaltation of Allah Almighty’s command.
These sublime internal values and high morals are inspired by the lessons of the story of Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them), serving as a beacon that illuminates the paths of a happy life and ideal family situations.
The Fruits and Benefits of Obedience
{And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead} [As-Saffat: 103]. When they performed what was commanded out of obedience and submission to Allah Almighty, relief arrived, and He ransomed him with a great sacrifice: {Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good} [As-Saffat: 105].
It is enough that absolute obedience to Allah Almighty is a sign of a sound and righteous heart, and the path to success in this world and the Hereafter. It yields great fruits and sublime, beneficial advantages that return to the obedient believer in his worldly life and his afterlife, the greatest of which are three things:
1. Salvation from Trials and Tribulations
Adhering to Allah’s commands and obeying Him protects a person from deviation and misguidance, aids him in striving against the self and desires, and disciplines him upon patience and order.
2. Tranquility of the Heart and Serenity of the Soul
This is because obedience and submission to Allah’s decree and predestination remove anxiety and turmoil from the servant’s life. Whenever he is closer to Allah through obedience and submission, his certainty, humility, fear of Allah, and hope in Him increase, and he experiences comfort and serenity.
3. Attaining Allah’s Pleasure and Winning Paradise
Among the greatest fruits of obedience is winning the bliss of the Hereafter, attaining Paradise, and salvation from the Hellfire. The Almighty said: {... And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger He will admit him to gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, remaining, therein forever; and that is the great attainment} [An-Nisa: 13]. And as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “All of my ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” [1].
The Udhiyah: A Means for Sacrifice and Upbringing
{And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice} [As-Saffat: 107]. The Udhiyah is a divine, lordly religious ritual with deep educational dimensions and an integrated moral school for purifying and refining the soul. It trains the soul in various high, social, and human moral values, the most important of which are:
1. Sacrificing Whims and Sins
The Udhiyah nurtures, aids, and trains the Muslim to be ready to surrender the soul’s whims, desires, and possessions, as well as everything he loves of wealth or time, in response to the commands of Allah Almighty and in emulation of our father Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them). Ibn Rajab said—as a consolation for those who missed the Hajj pilgrimage—:
“He who is unable to slaughter his sacrificial animal in Mina, let him slaughter his whims so he may attain his aspirations.” [2]
This draws attention to the spiritual meaning within the rituals of Hajj and the Udhiyah, warning against stopping at the outward forms of deeds without their faith-based and educational objectives, and emphasizing that the greatest of sacrifices is the sacrifice of the soul’s desires, curbing them, and complying with Allah Almighty. Therefore, the Udhiyah is a practical expression of a Muslim’s readiness to sacrifice what he owns as a ransom and means of drawing closer to Allah the Almighty.
2. Training the Soul in the Values of Giving, Generosity, and Kindness
Because man is inherently created with a love for wealth, if he is able to surrender wealth to purchase the Udhiyah out of obedience and compliance with Allah’s command, it becomes a path to acquiring the value of generosity and giving, breaking the chains of miserliness, relinquishing the beloved attachments to wealth and worldly life, and habituating the heart to bounty and kindness without expecting a material return.
3. Training the Soul in the Values of Participation, Humility, and Breaking Pride
Participating in distributing the meat of the Udhiyah bequeaths the Muslim the character of humility and distances him from pride and arrogance. Rather, it reminds him that Allah’s blessings upon him necessitate gratitude and giving, not superiority and haughtiness. Thus, he directly serves people himself, sharing the joys of Eid with relatives, the poor, and the needy. Feeling close to them instills mercy, connection, and solidarity in the heart, nurtures feelings of humility, and spreads meanings of brotherhood and love in society.
4. Training the Person Offering the Sacrifice in the Values of Altruism
The ritual of Udhiyah cultivates the character of altruism (Ithaar) in the soul of the person offering the sacrifice when distributing a portion of it and feeding others. He learns the value of preferring the needs of people over his personal interest, thereby elevating himself in the meanings of faith, brotherhood, and mercy while distancing himself from despicable selfishness.
When he chooses to share what Allah has blessed him with, he views it as a love of good for others, altruism, and cooperation among members of society upon righteousness and piety. The ultimate goal of this is: achieving the meaning of social solidarity and mutual charity, strengthening the bonds of love and affection, and removing social disparities, in emulation of the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
5. The Udhiyah as a Means of Generosity for the Family and Relatives
Eid reflects the meanings of generosity toward family and relatives, and a practical sense of bringing joy to the hearts of those around us, as they gather over food, exchange gifts, and maintain ties of kinship. Consequently, the bonds of affection and love among them are strengthened, and intimacy and joy are spread. Furthermore, gifting a portion of the Udhiyah to relatives is considered a form of benevolence that combines charity and the upholding of kinship ties; thus, the Muslim earns the reward of worship and the reward of upholding kinship ties together, deepening the meanings of cooperation and mutual affection between relatives and family.
6. Practical Upbringing of Children Regarding a Religious Ritual
Slaughtering the Udhiyah within the household while family members witness and participate represents a wonderful practical school in child upbringing through events for the young. It nurtures within their souls meanings of honor and pride in their religion, Islamic rituals, the exaltation of obedience, the importance of giving, good management, and mercy and kindness in dealing with the animal during slaughter.
It is also a valuable opportunity for their inquiries and questions about the wisdom behind slaughtering the animal in this season, capitalizing on the practical reality to evoke the story of Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them), and reviving its meanings of submission, obedience, and compliance with the command of Allah Almighty. Thus, children grow up connected to the rituals of religion and their magnificent meanings, following the example of the family of the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them).
By Luqman Abdul Salam
