My brothers in Islam, Allah (swt) does not look at the amount that you sacrifice, but what Allah (swt) looks at is – this heart. Does this heart love Allah (swt) the most?
Allah (swt) commands Ibrahim (as) to slaughter his son Ismail (as). Can you put yourself in the place of Ibrahim (as)? The attachment, that Ibrahim (as) had for his son Ismail (as) is more than the average attachment that, a father has for his son.
Why?
Because, Ibrahim (as) waited for over one hundred years until he had his first child.
Ibrahim (as) waited for over one hundred years until Allah (swt) gave him the first child.
Ibrahim’s (as) heart was a lot more attached to Ismail (as) than the average heart of us as parents (because mostly Allah (swt) grants us a child just after marriage.) But then, when that Ibrahim’s (as) only child grew up, piety and righteousness appeared on the face of Ismail (as). Ibrahim (as) saw his son as a very righteous and pious Prophet to be.
When you have a righteous son with a bright future, your heart becomes a lot more attached to this son. So, Ibrahim (as) became so attached to Ismail (as), and Ibrahim (as) saw Ismail (as) growing with piety, and righteousness, and obedience to Allah (swt) and his parents. And that moment, when Ibrahim (as) became so attached to Ismail (as), so close to Ismail (as), so loving to Ismail (as)-
Allah (swt) commanded Ibrahim (as) to slaughter his son Ismail (as), Allahu Akbar!
What a test……!
What a test……!
What was the test upon Ibrahim (as)?
It was not to leave Ismail (as) after Allah (swt) tested him to take Ismail, and his mother Hajar in the middle of a valley when no being lived there. But then, the test was that Ismail (as) be slaughtered by his father Ibrahim (as):
قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what you think!””
(As-Saffat 37:102)
Imagine you say that to your son! The police would be knocking on your door in less than a minute.
Ismail’s (as) response to his father’s dream
What did this righteous, pious young man say to his father? He said: O father! Do what Allah (swt) had commanded you to do, By the will of Allah; you will find me among those who are patient!
Patient! Patient! For the sake of Allah (swt), if that Allah (swt) commands you, O dad, do not even hesitate.
Because, Allah (swt)’s commandments come before loving son!
Allah’s (swt) commandment comes before loving anyone!
And now, Ibrahim (as) grabs his son Ismail (as) walking…but where did they go?
To some beautiful park, to an amusement and entertaining park? Walking with his son knowing that could be his last time walking with his son, and that could be the last time a son could walk with his father.
And then, he laid him on that rock he saw in his dream where he slaughtered his son Ismail (as). He grabbed the knife and came to slaughter his son Ismail (as), but, by the will of Allah, Allah (swt) prevented the knife to slaughter Ismail (as). Then, the call came from Allah (swt), from above the heavens, and Allah (swt) called upon Ibrahim (as) that it was the Big Test! Don’t slaughter him.
Ya Allah (swt)! But you commanded me to slaughter him.
Well, it’s not about slaughtering your son or not, it’s about what’s in your heart!
What’s in your heart?
Ibrahim (as) did everything he could to slaughter Ismail (as) but Allah (swt) did not allow the slaughter of Ismail (as) – because, slaughtering Ismail (as) did not benefit Allah (swt), but, what Allah (swt) wanted to see was, the sincerity and love for Allah (swt) in the heart of Ibrahim (as).
Sacrifice! It’s not about what you sacrifice, what you give? It’s about pure intention and love in the heart to make Allah (swt) happy!
Transcribed for hiba by Hira Naqi
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