Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar -- Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar -- Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar

All praise is duo to Allah.

We thank Him, Seek His guidance and forgiveness and to Him we repent.

We ask Him to protect us from the evil of ourselves and the shortcomings of our deeds.

Whomsoever Allah guides is rightly guided and whomsoever Allah leaves to stray, for him, you will find no protectors to lead him to the Right Way. (18:17)

And we witness that there are no other gods but Allah and that Mohammad is His Prophet and Messenger.

May Allah's prayers and peace be upon Him.

He was sent with guidance and the deen of truth, Islam, the true way of life, to proclaim it over all religions and ways of life. (9:33)

Allah said in His Holy Book, the translation of the meaning is:

"Oh you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam."  (3:102)

Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar -- Allahu Akbar wa lillah-el-Hamd

Muslim Brothers - Muslim Sisters, and Muslim Children:

Today as our Muslim brothers and sisters in Hajj complete all the rites and procedures of Hajj, we all celebrate Eid, Eid-ul-Adha, the Eid of Sacrifice.

We take this opportunity to supplicate to Allah that He accept their Hajj, forgive their sins, bring them all safely to their homes, make their Hajj reach their hearts, change them into strong believers, and make them useful to our Islamic Ummah.

We also take this opportunity to supplicate to Allah to make us among those who will be blessed by performing Hajj and Umra in future years In'sha'Allah.

Several aspects of this Holy occasion are worthy of our study and examination: I will briefly dicuss three of them, the hardship of Hajj, the Sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem, pbuh, and the meaning of Eid.

And today we celebrate Eid and do takbeer to Allah. We praise Him and thank Him for his bounties and His generous giving. May Allah allow us to observe it next year while we and the Islamic Ummah are blessed by his bounties.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which is a duty for the adult Muslims who can afford it both physically and financially.

Allah Says in Surat Al-Imran (3:97)

وَلِلّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ الله غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ (3:97)

walillahi AAala alnnasi hijju albayti mani istataAAa ilayhi sabeelan waman kafara fainna Allaha ghaniyyun AAani alAAalameena

  3:97 (Asad) Hence, pilgrimage unto the Temple is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to undertake it. And as for those who deny the truth - verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the worlds.

In performing Hajj, a Muslims suffer many hardships. They take out of their time, their money, their effort, and their health to perform this worship.

Examining our life on this earth, we see the same thing. There is always a mission or a goal that we are to attain, yet there are always impeding factors that stand between us and that goal. And, those who are successful do not let these impeding elements prevent them from trying their hardest to reach their goal and accomplish the mission.

This is the way life is, and this is the way Islamic worship is as well. Islam is a way of life that makes worship part of life just like eating, studying, and raising our children; an integral part that blends with both aspects of our existence; physical and spiritual.

And, in Hajj we see the same picture in a more focused and concentrated form. The hardships we experience in Hajj are of the same kind we have to deal with every day. Yet, we have to deal with them, overcome them, and successfully accomplish our mission of sincere and devoted attachment to Allah and His way, simply worshipping Him.

Yes, in the midst of all these life hardships, we have to always remember Allah and worship Him sincerely, worship Him as if we see Him, because if we do not see Him, He sees us.

Yes, in Hajj, there are the hardships but there are the rewards as well. Rewards in this life and rewards in the hereafter.

Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar - Allahu Akbar -- Allahu Akbar wa lillah-el-Hamd

Brothers and Sisters,  In this occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, we are reminded of the great sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem, pbuh: in his story is a great insight for us.

Allah says in Surat Assaffat (37:100-111)

فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ (37:101) فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاء اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ (37:102) فَلَمَّا أَسْلَمَا وَتَلَّهُ لِلْجَبِينِ (37:103) وَنَادَيْنَاهُ أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ (37:104) قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا إِنَّا كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ (37:105) إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْبَلَاء الْمُبِينُ (37:106) وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ (37:107) وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ (37:108) سَلَامٌ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ (37:109) كَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ (37:110) إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (37:111)

Fabashsharnahu bighulamin haleemin

Falamma balagha maAAahu alssaAAya qala ya bunayya innee ara fee almanami annee athbahuka faonthur matha tara qala ya abati ifAAal ma tumaru satajidunee in shaa Allahu mina alssabireena

Falamma aslama watallahu liljabeeni

Wanadaynahu an ya ibraheemu

Qad saddaqta alrruya inna kathalika najzee almuhsineena

Inna hatha lahuwa albalao almubeenu

Wafadaynahu bithibhin AAatheemin

Watarakna AAalayhi fee alakhireena

Salamun AAala ibraheema

Kathalika najzee almuhsineena

Innahu min AAibadina

 

  37:101 (Asad) whereupon We gave him the glad tiding of a boy-child gentle [like himself]?

  37:102 (Asad) And [one day,] when [the child] had become old enough to share in his [father’s] endeavours, the latter said: “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I should sacrifice thee: consider, then, what would be thy view!” [Ishmael] answered: “O my father! Do as thou art bidden: thou wilt find me, if God so wills, among those who are patient in adversity!” –

  37:103 (Asad) But as soon as the two had surrendered themselves to [what they thought to be] the will of God, [40] and [Abraham] had laid him down on his face,

  37:104 (Asad) We called out to him: “O Abraham

  37:105 (Asad) thou hast already fulfilled [the purpose of] that dream- vision!” [41] Thus, verily, do We reward the doers of good: -

  37:106 (Asad) for, behold, all this was indeed a trial, clear in itself

  37:107 (Asad) And We ransomed him with a tremendous sacrifice

  37:108 (Asad) and left him thus to be remembered among later generations:

  37:109 (Asad) “Peace be upon Abraham!”

  37:110 (Asad) Thus do We reward the doers of good

  37:111 (Asad) for he was truly one of our believing servants.

 

An aging man was about to sacrifice his only son as he believed that this was a command from Allah. Neither he nor his son argued, disputed, nor even doubted the message, nor did they hesitate in the execution.

That was a test from Allah, and what a test, a great one given to two great people.

That was Prophet Ibraheem, a great prophet, who was willing to sacrifice his son as he had sacrificed his father's love before. As he rejected idolatry, he gave away love and support and even peace with his father and his people, a big sacrifice for the sake of Allah.

Allah says in His Holy Book (29:2,3)

http://www.islamicity.com/Quransearch/arrowg.gifAl-'Ankabut (The Spider)

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ (29:2) وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ (29:3)

Ahasiba alnnasu an yutrakoo an yaqooloo amanna wahum la yuftanoona

Walaqad fatanna allatheena min qablihim falayaAAlamanna Allahu allatheena sadaqoo walayaAAlamanna alkathibeena

  29:2 (Asad) DO PEOPLE THINK that on their [mere] saying, “We have attained to faith”, they will be left to themselves, and will not be put to a test? –

  29:3 (Asad) Yea, indeed, We did test those who lived before them; and so, [too, shall be tested the people now living: and] most certainly will God mark out those who prove themselves true, and most certainly will He mark out those who are lying. [2]

Sacrifice is the act of giving up our desires and wants in order to conform to Allah's commands and prescriptions.

And, sacrifice has many forms. Following the straight path implies sacrifices.

Maintaining worships involves sacrifice. Spending money, effort, and time to serve Islam and Muslims involves sacrifice.

Being an active member of one's community is a sacrifice.

Being a good example to be followed is a sacrifice.

Allah says in His Holy Book (3:195)

 

http://www.islamicity.com/Quransearch/arrowg.gifAl-Imran (The Family of Imran)

فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لاَ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ وَأُخْرِجُواْ مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُواْ فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُواْ وَقُتِلُواْ لأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِّن عِندِ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ (3:195)

Faistajaba lahum rabbuhum annee la odeeAAu AAamala AAamilin minkum min thakarin aw ontha baAAdukum min baAAdin faallatheena hajaroo waokhrijoo min diyarihim waoothoo fee sabeelee waqataloo waqutiloo laokaffiranna AAanhum sayyiatihim walaodkhilannahum jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu thawaban min AAindi Allahi waAllahu AAindahu husnu alththawabi

  3:195 (Asad) And thus does their Sustainer answer their prayer: "I shall not lose sight of the labour of any of you who labours [in My way], be it man or woman: each of you is an issue of the other. [150] Hence, as for those who forsake the domain of evil, [151] and are driven from their homelands, and suffer hurt in My cause, and fight [for it], and are slain - I shall most certainly efface their bad deeds, and shall most certainly bring them into gardens through which running waters flow, as a reward from God: for with God is the most beauteous of rewards." -

 

This Ayah demonstrates a typical sacrifice pattern for the early Muslims, the companions of the prophet, pbuh. They were tortured and they were exposed to many forms of suffering. They sacrificed a lot for the sake of Islam and in Allah's Cause. And their reward is the pleasure of Allah and His Gardens. They are no doubt the true winners.

And today, and in this beautiful occasion of Eid we ask ourselves, how much do we appreciate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibraheem and his son Isma'il, pbut, and how much do we appreciate the sacrifice of Prophet Mohammad, pbuh, and his companions.

Brothers and Sisters in Islam, let us get back to Allah and His way, for that Allah might forgive us, and may Allah's mercy and blessings include us.

Aqool qawly haza wa-astighfur Allah lee wa lakum.

Alhamdu'lillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah.

(Second Khutbah:  Arabic Translation by Mostafa)