BISMILLAH IR RAHMAN IR RAHIM The Sacrifice of Abraham EID AL ADHA - 10TH OF DHUL HIJJAH THE SACRIFICE OF ABRAHAM EID AL ADHA - 10TH OF DHUL HIJJAH Adapted for children from an authentic Hadith and the Seerah by (Anne Stephens) Khadeijah A. Darwish After Prophet Abraham and Lady Sarah's expulsion from Iraq they settled in Egypt. During this time Haggar, who was the princess of Ain Shams and one of the noble ladies-in-waiting in the court of Pharaoh, came to live with Abraham's household as a companion to his wife Sarah. Haggar was a sweet natured lady, she loved Sarah dearly and a very special relationship grew between them. Idolatry was common place in Egypt, especially in the court of Pharaoh, but when Haggar heard Abraham preach she was quick to recognize the truth and accepted his teachings of the Oneness of Allah. The years had passed by and Abraham and Sarah were now elderly and had remained childless. Because of her advanced age, Sarah had given up hope of bearing a child so she suggested to Abraham that he might like to take Haggar to be her co-wife. Both Abraham and Haggar agreed to her suggestion and shortly after Haggar became Abraham's second wife. The family's wish was fulfilled when Lady Haggar conceived and gave birth to a son whom they named Ishmael. Lady Sarah was delighted and happy that her husband had at long last been blessed with a son -- little did she know at that time that she too would be blessed in later years for her patience with a son of her own, Isaac. THE JOURNEY Before Ishmael had completed his weaning, Prophet Abraham had a vision in which he was told to take Lady Haggar and their son to a place called Becca, in the Arabian peninsular, known today as Mecca, and leave them there. Becca lay on one of the most traveled caravan routes in Arabia, however, it remained uninhabited largely because it lacked water. When Prophet Abraham reached Becca, he settled Lady Haggar and Ishmael under the shade of a large tree with a bag of dates and a water-skin full of water, then, he turned away and started to leave. Lady Haggar followed him and asked: "Abraham, where are you going, are you leaving us in an uninhabited, provisionless wilderness?" She asked the same question several times, but the prophet did not comment. Searching for a reason she asked: "Has Allah commanded you to do this?" To this he replied: "Yes," whereupon she answered: "Then He will not let us perish," and returned to her infant. ABRAHAM SUPPLICATES FOR HAGGAR AND ISMAIL At a place called Thania, which was not visible to Lady Haggar, Prophet Abraham stopped and turned his face in the direction of Ka'ba -- the first House of Allah to be built on earth -- that lay in ruins covered by the sands of time. He raised his hands and supplicated: "Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a barren valley near Your Holy House; Our Lord let them perform the prayer, and make the hearts of men yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits in order that they are thankful." Koran Ch. 4 vs. 37 Allah had promised Prophet Abraham that from his offspring would arise great nations, that is why Prophet Abraham refers to having settled "Some of his offspring" near the House of Allah, Ka'ba. The promise came to pass as we know that it was from the descendants of Prophet Ishmael that Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, was born. Lady Haggar suckled Ishmael and drank the water from the water skin until it was empty. Now that the last drop of water had been drunk, both Lady Haggar and her infant became very thirsty to the extent that little Ishmael became greatly distressed. Lady Haggar was disturbed to see her infant in such condition and started searching for water. She climbed a nearby hill, the hill of Safa, and stood at its top and looked in all directions to see if there was anyone in sight -- but there was no one. She climbed back down the hill and in her anxiety ran across the valley between it and another hill, the hill of Marwa, seven times, but could find neither caravaners nor water. ALLAH HEARS THE CRY OF LADY HAGGAR Upon the seventh time she reached Marwa she heard a voice. She calmed herself and listened attentively, and called out: "I have heard Your voice, would that my supplication might reach You." And there, standing near the place we know today as Zam Zam stood Angel Gabriel. Gabriel struck the ground with either his heel or wings, and water gushed forth. Hastily, she dug a hole in the ground into which the water flowed and filled her water-skin to the top, whilst the water gushed forth with even greater force. Quickly, she drank a handful of water and then raced to give some to her son. Then Gabriel spoke saying: "Do not be afraid of perishing here, because it is here that your son and his father will build a House for Allah. Allah will not let those around it perish." THE RUINS OF KA'BA In those days, the ruins of Ka'ba were elevated on a piece of land shaped like a mound, and when rain fell, it would run on either side of Ka'ba. THE CARAVANERS Ishmael and his mother continued to live in Mecca by themselves until one day caravaners from the tribe of Jurhum returning from Kada'a, struck camp a little distance from the place where Lady Haggar had made her home. As the caravaners unloaded their camels they observed birds circling in the air not far away. Their experience had taught them that birds circling in this manner might well be an indication of water. Ever hopeful of finding fresh water in that desolate region, they thought it was worth while investigating, although from their past experience they had never found water in the area. Several of their tribesmen were sent to investigate. When they reached the place over which the birds circled to their great surprise and joy they found the spring of Zam Zam and returned as quickly as they could to tell their fellow tribesmen. Upon hearing the good news the caravaners stopped what they were doing and rushed to see for themselves and drink the refreshing water. LADY HAGGAR MEETS THE JURHUM CARAVANERS When they reached Zam Zam, the caravaners found Lady Haggar standing nearby and asked her permission to strike camp near her. Lady Haggar agreed on condition that she retained the water rights and that her son would be the prince. The Jurhumites agreed, and settled themselves in Mecca and sent word for their families in Yemen to join them there. ANGELS DO NOT EAT One day when Prophet Abraham was at home with Lady Sarah they were visited by strangers. It was the custom of Prophet Abraham to host travelers to the best of his ability, and this occasion was no exception. Prophet Abraham called for a feast to be prepared in honor of his guests, but when it was set before them his guests declined to eat and drink. The prophet was trouble by this strange situation -- travelers were always hungry. Abraham's guests perceived his anxiety and told him not to be afraid, because, although they had taken the form of humans, they were not humans as he supposed, rather, they were angels on their way to the city of his cousin, Prophet Lot. Prophet Abraham felt at ease once more and the angels informed him that the city of Prophet Lot had become a city of sexual perversity and on that account Allah had ordered them to punish its people and completely destroy the city. LADY SARAH LEARNS THAT SHE WILL HAVE A CHILD When Lady Sarah entered the room, the angels told her that she would give birth to a son. She was overwhelmed and delighted with the news and some time later she bore a son whom they named Isaac. THE SACRIFICE Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, said referring to his father Abdullah and Prophet Ishmael: "I am the son of the two sacrificed." Ishmael grew up in the valley of Mecca, to know him was to love him, he was obedient to his mother and known for his uprightness. From time to time Prophet Abraham would visit Mecca to see Lady Haggar and his first born. It was on one such visit that Prophet Abraham saw a vision in which he was commanded to sacrifice Ishmael. It was indeed a very stern trial from Allah, because he loved his son dearly. Prophet Abraham, obedient to Allah, went to Ishmael, who was by now a young man, and told him of the vision saying: "My son, I saw while sleeping that I shall sacrifice you, tell me what you think." He replied: "Father, do as you are bidden. Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast." Koran Ch. 37 vs. 102 THE THOUGHTFULNESS OF ISHMAEL When the time came, Ishmael, not thinking of himself, asked his father for three things. He requested that he be allowed to face the ground so that his father would not see his eyes then be overcome with mercy towards him, and thereby disobey the command of Allah. Ishmael, fearing for the safety of his father, also requested him to sit upon his shoulders so that when the blade of the knife struck him he would not struggle and hurt his father. Not forgetting his loving mother, he asked his father to give her his shirt so that it might console her. In obedience to Allah, Prophet Abraham tried to slit the back of his son's neck. He tried three times, but on each occasion the penetration of the sharp blade was prevented. Then, Allah called to Abraham saying: "O Abraham! You have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, We reward those who do right, for this was a clear trial." Koran The trial was over, and Allah provided Prophet Abraham with a ram as a substitute sacrifice. RAISING THE HOUSE Time passed, and the next time the prophet came to visit Ishmael, he found him sitting under a large tree near the spring of Zam Zam repairing his arrows. As soon as he saw his father he stood up and they greeted each other affectionately. After the greetings, Prophet Abraham told his son that Allah had given him another command -- the command to rebuild Ka'ba. Prophet Abraham asked Ishmael if he would help him to fulfill his task and he readily accepted. The prophet pointed to a mound of large stones and to the surrounding area. "That is the place where Allah has commanded me to raise the foundations," he told Ishmael, so Ishmael picked up the large stones, handed them to his father who positioned them, placing a Black Stone that had fallen from Paradise many centuries before as the cornerstone. Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, tells us that when the Black Stone fell from Paradise it was pure white, but the sins of mankind had turned it black. At last the building was finished and together they supplicated: "O our Lord, accept this from us. You are the Hearer, the Knower. Our Lord, make us both submissive to You, and of our descendants a submissive nation to You; and show us our (pilgrimage) statutes, and accept (repentance from) us. Surely, You are the Receiver (of repentance), and All-Compassionate. And, our Lord, send among them (the inhabitants of this House) a Messenger from them (Allah answered the supplication by sending Prophet Muhammad) who shall recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book (Al Koran) and Wisdom (Prophetic sayings), and purify them. You are the All Mighty, the All Wise." Koran Ch. 2 vs. 125 Prophets Abraham and Ishmael asked for the acceptance of repentance on behalf of their descendants as they, like all prophets, were protected from sin. Then Allah made a covenant with Abraham and Ishmael to purify His House for those who would make their pilgrimage to it and for those who would worship Him there. The prayer of Prophet Abraham and Ishmael was accepted and pilgrims from all over Arabia and beyond made, and still make, their way to Mecca during the pilgrimage season. At first the pilgrims offered their pilgrimage in the manner Prophets Abraham and Ishmael had taught and with them they brought many treasures which were housed inside the Ka'ba. However, sometime after the deaths of the prophets, idols were introduced on the pretense of being intercessors between them and Allah. This state of affairs continued up until the time of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, who, upon the Opening of Mecca, purified the Ka'ba once again and re-established the order of the pilgrimage which is concluded by the sacrificing of an animal, the meat of which is then distributed among the poor.