History of Eid-ul- Adha

The history behind Eid-ul-Adha follows the story of the faithful Hazrat Ibraheem (radhi Allahu anhu). He was instructed in a dream by Allah to raise the foundations of the holy Kaaba, a black stone, the most sacred Muslim shrine in Mecca. Immediately responding to the Lord’s call Hazrat Ibraheem (radhi Allahu anhu) set off for Mecca along with his wife and son, Ishmael. hazrat Ibraheem (radhi Allahu anhu) had to face a lot of hardships in his way .However, he supplicated Allah’s commands uncomplaining. In a divine dream, he also saw himself sacrificing his son Ishmael for Allah’s sake.

When he told this to Ishmael, the latter immediately asked his father to carry out Lord’s commands without faltering and assured that he was completely ready to give up his life for Allah azza wa jalla.

Abraham could not bear to watch his son die so he covered his eyes by a blindfold. When he cut Ishmael’s throat and removed the blindfold, miraculously enough he was astonished to see that Ishmael was unharmed and instead, he found a dead lamb which was slaughtered, And this is what Abraham ultimately sacrificed.In remembrance of this outstanding act of sacrifice (qurbani) by Prophet Abraham(R.A), people sacrifice a lamb, goat, ram or any other animal on Eid-ul-Adha and give the meat to friends, neighbors, relatives and the needy. People who are away from the holy pilgrimage, Hajj, also carry out this traditional sacrifice.

This is mentioned in surah e AS-SAAFFAT .

“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!” So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what your view is!” (The son) said: “O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practicing patience and steadfastness!” So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibrahim! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. “Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants.(AS-SAAFFAT verse 100 – 111)As a reward for this sacrifice, God then granted Abraham the good news of the birth of his second son, Is-haaq (Isaac):“And We gave him the good news of Is-haaq, a prophet from among the righteous”(Surah e AS-SAAFFAT verse 112 )

Abraham had shown that his love for ALLAH subh aanu wa ta'ala superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dearest to him in submission to God’s command. Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid al-Adha