Importance of Sacrifice and Effort for the sake of Allah SWT

Whoever contemplates in the book of Allah SWT, and whoever considers the Sunnah of His Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, will see that the commandments are to do good and avoid evil.

In fact, no individual, group or nation can achieve success without sacrifice and hard work required to do good and avoid evil.

If we study history and consider the nations before us, would see this clearly, as it is the case with the lives of the prophets before us, you would notice the sacrifice and effort they put in for the sake of the religion, and this could be sacrifice of wealth, or even self.

An example of such sacrifice, one of many, is given to us through Sura Nuh, ayats 5 to 8. In this Allah SWT is educating us on the story of Prophet Nuh or Noah as we may know of him. The story of the Ark is well known but this part of the Sura mentions the sacrifice that Prophet Nuh went through in terms of effort. It is translated to say:

He said, “My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day.But my invitation increased them not except in flight. And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance. Then I invited them publicly. Then I announced to them and [also] confided to them secretly.

Alongside this, we also have the sacrifice of time and effort. One worthy example to relay, something we often overlook, is the sheer volume of hadiths that we have available which tells us the guidance and teachings of our Prophet SAWS.

This is also a story of sacrifice. One of the main sources of hadith is Abu Hurariya, may Allah SWT be pleased with him, who once quoted as saying that

“my brothers the Ansar were busy with work/farming and didn’t have as much time to pick up the Hadith, and the brothers of the Muhajireen were busy with the market therefore little time to pick up hadith, but I was a poor man that stayed with the prophet peace and blessings be upon him, with only aim of eating – ‘If I found what I can eat in that day that would allow me to function, I would stay the whole time with the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, and would be present when others were away and would remember when others wouldn’t.

Dear brothers and sisters, we know also of the sacrifice of the self, the example here is one of the companions of the Prophet SAWS called Musaab bin Umair, may Allah SWT be pleased with him, who upon embracing Islam, was punished from his own mother. Food, clothing, wealth, all was restricted in order to punish him and make him leave Islam.

However he did not falter, he understood the sacrifice that needed to be made. One day the Prophet SAWS saw him, in torn clothes as a result of this punishment he was enduring and tears welled up in our Prophet’s eyes as he remarked ‘that I have seen this young man and no one in Mecca had a better visibility of wealth on him than this young man’. In other words, nobody else understood wealth better than Musaab as he had understood wealth in the eternal hereafter comes through sacrifice of it in this life as he was enduring in his.

Dear brothers and sisters, we speak of this topic in this month and we know that the Qurbani or sacrifice we do in this week is based upon the story of sacrifice involving Prophet Ibrahim. However, what lessons can we take from the examples that have been given in today’s reminder?

What concludes then are 4 things we can all aim to do to help ourselves understand the concept of sacrifice.

  1. Learn to sacrifice our time for others. We should aim to sacrifice time for our children and our spouses and our parents. Working to earn a wage is not the same thing. Time is more precious to them and so dedicate time towards them through dedicated moments where work and other parts of the life cannot interfere.
  2. Learn to sacrifice our effort for the sake of others. We should aim to place effort into helping other people. Whether it is through charity, dawah or other social ventures, we are ambassadors of the truth and we are the Ummah of the best of all creation in this universe. We ought to make the effort to live up to that standard.
  3. Learn to sacrifice our wealth for others. A previous reminder was about how the deceased will wish that they could have done more charity. Each act of charity is a form of sacrifice and usually it is financial. We should aim to work towards the goal of being so charitable that our left hand does not know what our right hand is giving.
  4. Learn to sacrifice our egos for the sake of our soul. Dear brothers and sisters, this life is full of blessing and reward. However, it isn’t Jannah. We will have times where things don’t go our way. Times when we yearn for something we do not get. Usually at this time we get the opportunity to cut corners, cheat a little, bend the rules a little. We need to understand that this is an opportunity to exercise that sacrifice also. Learn to accept the shortcoming and understand that the sacrifice is for the sake of Allah SWT. Nobody comes before Him and so don’t allow shaitaan to convince you to justify that cheating by saying it is for the sake of your family or other so-called good outcome. Sacrifice comes hardest when it is your own ego but equally so, it is where the potential reward with Allah SWT is at it’s greatest.

Dear brothers and sisters, we only have a small with this life. We need to remember, through the lessons of this month and through the teachers throughout our history that it is only through the sacrifices that we make and the effort we place for the sake of Allah SWT, that will make us a success in front of Him when we return to Him.

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Qurbani/ Sacrifice

This week’s reminder is about the sacrifice or Qurbani.

 

Eid al-Adha is meant to be recognition of the material and spiritual favours of Allah SWT to his creation, manifested by the ritual slaughtering, called Qurbani, necessary for all able Muslims to perform, following the way of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

 

In reference to the Qurbani, we have the following hadith of the Prophet SAWS as reminded to us by the imam:

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,’ and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser.’ ”

 

Dear brothers and sisters, we live in a time and place where the Qurbani is almost devoid of spirituality. After all, almost a month prior to today, we start receiving the email, calls, letters and text messages urging us to donate for Qurbani via this charity or that.

 

In that, such is the range of the prices, it is almost like shopping for insurance. One click of a button or a phone call and we are done.

 

We ought to remind ourselves that this is a sacred act and it is full of blessings. In fact, there is a growing movement in this country to perform and distribute the sacrifice locally.

 

Although that isn’t necessary, it is important that we understand the conditions of the Qurbani. This is both to equip us with the knowledge of Qurbani but also to help us connect to the blessed act spiritually.

 

Therefore this reminder concludes with 3 practical tips that we can all take away in regards to the Qurbani.

 

First point in this is in regards to the animal that is being slaughtered. The options for this is one of four. They are camel, cow, sheep or goat. It can be either male or female. The animal itself must be in good condition, i.e. must be healthy and not have any disability or illness.

 

Such animal can be sacrificed to be consumed but would not count as part of the Qurbani as is stated by some scholars. Allah SWT knows best.

 

The next point is regarding the person upon whom Qurbani is mandatory. The general rule is that it is mandatory for any sane adult who can afford to do so.

 

With that being said, we ought to know what constitutes a sacrifice for the individual? The general rule is that the sacrifice of the full animal is enough for the family. Specifically a full animal is enough to count as Qurbani for seven adults.

A side point worthy to note is about identifying the individual who is paying for the Qurbani. Often as is the case in the west, we pay for the Qurbani to be done on our behalf. The organisation that does this asks us of the name of the person who the Qurbani is being done for.

 

Although many people do record names, it is not necessary to give the name of the person, even if you are making a Qurbani on their behalf, as long as you have made the intention that you are giving the Qurbani on their behalf. Allah SWT knows best.

The next point is in regards to the timing of the sacrifice. The Qurbani can be performed from the 10th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah, I,e today until the sun sets on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. The best time is to perform the act of Qurbani is immediately after the completion of the Eid prayers.

When giving to charity, it is advisable to do this sooner rather than later, as it gives them time to send the money to the abbatoir overseas and perform the sacrifice on time and distribute the meat.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Qurbani is an important part of our faith. By acquainting ourselves the rules and etiquettes of the act, we have equipped ourselves with the intricacies of the act as well as have a renewed appreciation of the blessing that is the act of Qurbani or sacrifice.

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Eid Sermon (Khutba)

The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:

 

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.

 

The word Eid is an Arabic word, which is derived from the root word which means ‘that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing’. It’s particular usage in Islam therefore, for the two major holidays, is because these days are meant to be days of rejoicing.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, all faiths have festivals or religious holidays and this is ours. We have seen living in the west what it means to experience the festivals of other faiths. So what does ours mean and how does it compare?

 

Of course, we have many similarities in that we are advised to take the day off work and study like others but our festival, our Eid is to do with Glorifying Allah SWT, it is to do with prayers and it is to do with giving in charity, while visting family and friends.

 

Unfortunately, this message is misinterpreted by some. Just look at the police presence and barriers in Rusholme and you will get the point but we ought to take this opportunity to remind ourselves to what this day truly means.

 

The imam referenced the following hadith to help remind us:

 

‘O people! (Tell me) what is the day today?’ The people replied, ‘It is the forbidden (sacred) day.’ He asked again, ‘What town is this?’ They replied, ‘It is the forbidden (Sacred) town.’ He asked, ‘Which month is this?’ They replied, ‘It is the forbidden (Sacred) month.’ He said, ‘No doubt! Your blood, your properties, and your honor are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this (sacred) town (Mecca) of yours, in this month of yours.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) repeated his statement again and again. After that he raised his head and said, ‘O Allah! Haven’t conveyed (Your Message) to them’. Haven’t I conveyed Your Message to them?’ ” Ibn `Abbas added, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, the following was his will (Prophet’s will) to his followers:–It is incumbent upon those who are present to convey this information to those who are absent Beware don’t renegade (as) disbelievers (turn into infidels) after me, Striking the necks (cutting the throats) of one another.’ ”

 

This message is telling us how our blood, our properties and our honour are sacred to one another. It is warning us against cutting the throats of one another. So in this time and place, what message can we leave with this morning?

Dear brothers and sisters, this is a day of worship, action and supplication, it is a day of clearing hearts and being truthful, love and companionship, a day of charity on the poor and softness with others, the day when orphans tears are wiped away, a day of making up to family and friends especially parents, all for the sake of Allah, it is a day of looking for the needy, the ill, and to bring happiness to family, friends and neighbours, and to shake hands with others to remove any hatred between the brothers.

It’s a day of doing dua for those less fortunate that us. After all, that is what the Qurbani or sacrifice is about. But specifically, lets not forget to pray for those who are suffering right now. May Allah SWT ease the suffering of those in places like Syria, the Lavant, Burma, Yemen and may Allah SWT help those where people are suffering and dying through hunger and thirst.

And by doing all of these, we can show ourselves and one another, the true meaning of the Muslim festival of Eid. On behalf of Masjid Salahadeen, I wish you all a joyous Eid. As-salaamu’alaykum.

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Eid-ul-Adha

The Eid Khutba begins with the following declaration of faith:

 

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest, there is no Lord except Allah and all praise and thanks to Allah.

 

Islam has two major holidays or celebrations. Eid-ul-Fitr which comes after the month of fasting and Eid-Al-Adha.

 

The word Eid itself is an Arabic word, which is derived from the root word which means ‘that which comes back, time after time, and rejoicing’.

 

It’s particular usage in Islam therefore, for the two major holidays, is because these days are meant to be days of rejoicing.

 

Eid al-Adha is meant to be recognition of the material and spiritual favours of Allah SWT to his creation, manifested by the ritual slaughtering necessary for all able Muslims to perform, following the way of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

 

In fact, this is mentioned in the Quran in Sura Al-Imran, ayat 67-68 in which Allah SWT states:

 

Abraham was neither a jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah]. And he was not of the polytheists. Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the ally of the believers.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, from this we can deduce that the Muslim nation is followers of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

 

The lessons of the way of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), where in utter submission to Allah’s Divine Command, he was about to slaughter his very own son, until the last moment Allah sent an animal to be slaughtered instead, are many.

 

So, on this day of celebration, what lessons can we get from Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and the story of the animal slaughter?

 

When Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice his son, it was a test of his faith. As believers we face many temptations and tests in this materialistic world. We must be ready and prepared for them.

 

When Prophet Ibrahim took his son to the sacrificial alter to sacrifice him he showed us the strength of his faith and belief in his Creator.

 

And lastly, the fact that Allah SWT replaced the young son with a ram teaches us that Allah SWT, above all else, is merciful and Allah SWT always rewards the patience and faith of the sincere believer.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, the human’s purpose in life is worship Allah SWT. It’s as simple as that. And this may sometimes present a test, but it is faith and faith alone that will see the true worshipper through life’s challenges.

 

On this day we commemorate the action of Prophet Ibrahim, by slaughtering a ram on the day of Eid.

 

The purpose of this sacrifice is not fulfilled by shedding the blood of the animal; it is really fulfilled when people submit themselves completely to the will and command of Allah SWT.

 

And on the specifics on the slaughter, one should slaughter either a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo or camel in the name of Allah. However, it is important to note that the meat is divided into three equal parts, one for the poor, one for the friends and one for you and your family

 

 

Dear brothers and sisters that concludes the khutba for Eid-al-Adha. Remember as you leave to return to your homes that one of the Sunna acts of this day is to return via a different route so as to spread the greetings of Salaam to different people upon your return. This counts for us as well here as it’s a form of dawah or invitation to the locals in our community.

 

On behalf of Masjid Salahadeen, I wish you all a joyous Eid.

 

As-salaamu’alaykum.

 

 

 

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