Our Lord, The Most High has legislated for us two festivals, Eid-ul-Fitr & Eid-ul-Adha. Eid ul Fitr follows the virtuous month of Ramadan and Eid ul Adha comes at the end of the best days of the whole year. The Prophet ﷺ said,
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَرْعَرَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ” مَا الْعَمَلُ فِي أَيَّامِ الْعَشْرِ أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي هَذِهِ ”. قَالُوا وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ قَالَ ” وَلاَ الْجِهَادُ، إِلاَّ رَجُلٌ خَرَجَ يُخَاطِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَمَالِهِ فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ بِشَىْءٍ ”.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijjah).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, “Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things.”
(Bukhari)
There are no deeds in the whole year that are more beloved to Allah than the righteous deeds performed during these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. In them is also the day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah). The day when the pilgrims are in the plains of Arafah begging Allah to forgive them, the day on which Allah frees the most people from the HellFire. This day is the day on which fasting (for those who are not pilgrims) expiates their minor sins of two years (the previous & the future year).
عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ اَلْأَنْصَارِيِّ - رضى الله عنه - { أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ. قَالَ: ” يُكَفِّرُ اَلسَّنَةَ اَلْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ …”
Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year…”
(Muslim)
This shows us the fadl of Allah, His Grace & Bounty, that just by fasting a day He forgives the sins committed in 2 years. Allaahu Akhbar! Wallahi, Allah only wants goodness for His servants and has granted them many opportunities to earn good deeds, and then through those good deeds earn His mercy and enter His Paradise. May Allah Ta’ala make us from amongst Ahlul Jannah.
Furthermore, amongst these ten days is the Day of An-Nahr (Day of Sacrifice) which is also known as Eid-ul-Adha.
عن عبد الله بن قرط – رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن أعظم الأيام عند الله تعالى يوم النحر ثم يوم القر”
Abdullah ibn Qurt narrated that the Prophet said, “Verily, the greatest days with Allah, the Most High, are the Day of Sacrifice and then the Day of al-Qarr” Reported by Abu Dawud with a good chain of narration.
The Day of Sacrifice is best day of the whole year. The day of Eid is when we Muslims thank Allah for His blessings and enjoy our time with family. The Prophet ﷺ said,
وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الأَيَّامَ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ””
“Beware, these days are days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah, Most High.”
(Sunnan Abi Dawud)
Eid ul Adha is when we sacrifce animals for the sake of Allah, reviving and reminding ourselves of the great sunnah of our Prophet Ibraheem. When he was commanded by Allah to sacrifice the most beloved to him, his son Ismaeel. The one whom he got in very old age, the one who could become a great support for his elderly parents, the one who was brought up upon the obedience of Allah, and the one who was granted to his father after many supplications. The Khaleel (friend) of Allah heard the command from his lord and he submitted, and so did the great mother of Ismaeel who agreed to sacrifice her only child for Allah. Subsequently, look at the response of this devoted child when he heard the command of Allah to his father to sacrifice him, he said,
قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ
He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.”
(Surah Saffat 102)
Allaahu Akhbar! Allah replaced Prophet Ismaeel with a ram and of course only tested them on his submission and patience. Ponder. How many of us today if we are told to sacrifice something that is beloved to us will be able to do so? Forget about our sons and daughters we are even stingy when it comes to sacrificing our wealth and giving it to the poor and needy let alone fulfilling the commandments of Allah. Allah’s aid is sought. Yet we claim that we are Muslims! When a muslim is the one who submits to Allah completely. Islam means,
الاسْتِسْلَامُ لِلَّهِ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ، وَالِانْقِيَادُ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ، وَالبَرَاءَةُ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَأَهْلِهِ.
“Surrendering to Allah with Tawheed (monotheism), submitting to Him through obedience, and disavowal of polytheism and its adherents.”
Allah Subhanah revealed the following ayat upon His beloved Muhammad ﷺ ,
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar.
So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
(Surah Al-Khawthar 1-2)
In the above mentioned ayat Allah gives glad tidings to the Prophet regarding Al-Khawthar. Shaykh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baaz mentioned in his book “الدروس المهمة لعامة الأمة” regarding this surah,
“Allah Almighty says to His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ , “Verily, We have granted you Al-Khawthar,” much good and blessings, which also includes a river is paradise called Al-Khawthar. The Prophet ﷺ is also granted the Haudh (on the Day of Judgement), which in size is one month (the time it takes to cross it) in length and one month in width. The water of the Haudh is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Its containers are like the stars in the sky, in terms of their numbers and brightness. Whoever takes a drink from the Haudh will never feel thirst afterwards, for eternity.”
After Allah Ta’ala mentioned this huge blessing upon the Prophet, He commanded the Prophet to show his gratitude by praying & sacrificing to Allah alone. Prayer and sacrifice are two greatest acts of worship a person can do. Imam As-Sa’di mentions in his Tafseer As-Sa’di, “These two acts of worship (prayer & sacrifice) are singled out for mention, because they are among the best and greatest acts of worship that bring one closer to Allah. In prayer one feels humility before Allah and shows it physically, for prayer demonstrates submission and servitude to Him. In the case of sacrifice, one draws closer to Allah with the best quality of sacrificial animals that one possesses, giving wealth that one has a natural inclination to love and want to keep to oneself.” These two acts of worship are two major symbols of Islam and by honouring and venerating them then this is from the taqwa in one’s heart. Allah says,
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ
“That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.”
(Surah Hajj 32)
SubhanAllah! How many of us are heedless in regards to our salawat (prayers). Either we don’t pray and this of course can take a person out of the fold of Islam (We seek refuge in Allah from that), and if we do so then we lack in sincerity, humility, and manners with Allah. What we don’t realize is that we are standing infront of the Most High, The Most Powerful. We stand up in prayers just like the Munafiqeen (hypocrites) as Allah described them that when they stand up for prayer they stand up lazy and just to show off to the people. Similarly, the sacrifice, how many people just perform sacrifice to show off! comparing their animals with others’, challenging each other in who buys the most expensive animal in the country, making vlogs and appearing on social media platforms just to show off! Are we really sincere?? How in the world do we think that such an act will be accepted?? Don’t we think that we are wasting our money by not doing it sincerely for Allah?? Allah says,
قُلۡ اِنَّ صَلَاتِىۡ وَنُسُكِىۡ وَ مَحۡيَاىَ وَمَمَاتِىۡ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡن.لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ۖ
Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Verily, my Salāh (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the whole of the creation. No partner has He…”
(Al-An-ām 6:162-163)
For a deed to be a righteous one and to be accepted then it has two conditions. Allah says,
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
“So whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord – let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.”
(Surah Al-Kahf 110)
Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen in his sharh (explanation) of Al-Arbaeen An-Nawawiyyah (40 Ahadeeth by Imam An-Nawawi) mentions,
وكل عمل يتقرب به إلى الله لا يقبل إلا بهذين الشرطين: الإخلاص لله ، والمتابعة لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم.
Every deed in which nearness to Allah is sought is unaccepted except with these two conditions:
1. Sincerity to Allah
2. Following the Prophet ﷺ
I remember Shaykh AbdurRazzaq Al-Badr (may Allah preserve him) mentioned in one of his lectures,
“Allah says,
الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
“[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.”
(Surah Al-Mulk 2)
Fudayl Ibn Iyaad said, “The sincere and the correct deed” He was asked, “O Aba Ali! What is the sincere and the correct deed?” He replied, “If the action is done sincerely but not correctly, it’s not accepted. And if it is done correctly but not sincerely (for Allah), it’s not accepted, until it is (both) sincere and correct. The sincere deed is one that is done only for Allah. And the correct deed is the one done according to the Sunnah.””
Guard your prayers! Pray only for the sake of Allah and don’t pray like the Munafiqeen, Sacrifice only to seek the Face of Allah and don’t do so like the Musrikeen (polytheists- who would sacrifice for other than Allah). When you sacrifice mention the name of Allah and with that, the second matter is that you do it only to please Allah i.e. have the correct intention. One should hide his good deeds as much as possible, as this is one of the ways one may attain Al-Ikhlaas (sincerity) and the success only comes from Allah! The salaf (pious predecessors) would hide their good deeds so much so that it is mentioned regarding one of them that he used to get up to pray at night and if someone would enter the room he would lay down on the bed just to hide the action and then go and try to find a place where he could pray alone. They would be scared if Allah has really accepted the deed from them or not, and is it really that they didn’t do it for anybody else, and they would also cry! Ya SubhanAllah! where are we from all of this?? We do deeds so that the people praise us, so that in their eyes we are some great human being! Allah’s aid is sought. May Allah guide us all. No doubt, sincerity is the most difficult thing to achieve. Who are we if the salaf, who the Prophet praised them to be the best of generations, struggled with it.
It was narrated that Sufyaan ibn Sa’eed ath-Thawree said: “I did not treat anything more difficult than my sincerity.”
Book: The Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge by Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd
Yūsuf ibn al-Husayn ar-Rāzī said, “The most difficult thing in the world is ikhlās. How I struggle to remove showing off from my heart and it is as if it grows in it again with other colours.”
Book: The Compendium of Knowledge and Wisdom | Jami’ Al-‘Ulum Wa’l-Hikam by Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali رحمه الله pg. 10
One statement that my teacher Shaykh Ubaid ur Rehman (may Allah preserve him) advised us to really memorize and implement it in life is the statement of Abdullah Ibn Mubarak (May Allah be pleased with him) which is mentioned in Siyr Alamin Nubala (400/8), he said,
ربَّ عمل صغير تكثِّره النية و رب عمل كثير تصغِّره النية
“Perhaps a small deed is multiplied due to its (sincere) intention, and an abundance of deeds are diminished due to their (insincere) intention.”
Imam As-Sa’di mentioned in his poem “As-Sayr ila Allah wa Daral Akhirah”,
فعل الفرائض والنوافل دأبهم
مع رؤية التقصير والنقصان
Performing obligations and the voluntary deeds is their way (habit)
whilst seeing shortcoming and deficiency (in that).
هذا هو الكمال
This is completion. It was from the way of the righteous (of them doing righteous actions) that they would strive in carrying out that which is obligatory and increase in doing the nawafil (voluntary) acts, yet they would see themselves that they have many shortcomings, and that they still have some flaw. These people increase in good and completely eradicate laziness.
Ya Abdullah wa Ya Amatullah! Honour the symbols of Allah and don’t be heedless in regards to them. Humble yourself before Allah and infront of the people. Don’t pass by any individual thinking that you are better than him perhaps He has a higher rank than you in the sight of Allah.
Qatadah رحمه اللّٰه said,
“Be humble before Allaah, perhaps He’ll raise you (in rank) .”
Sacrifice only for Allah, and perform the best sacrifice you can. Allah says,
لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ ۚ
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is taqwa (piety) from you.”
(Surah Hajj 37)
There is no doubt that there is much wisdom behind sacrifice, as whatever is legislated by Allah has a wisdom behind it, He has حكمة بالغة (perfect wisdom). On this day of sacrifice we mention the name of Allah and get closer to Him, as we do whatever He commanded us to do. We remind ourselves of the sunnah of Prophet Ibraheem as mentioned earlier. What is also from its wisdom is that the animal that one sacrifices is just an alamah (sign), but what it basically dennotes is that one is ready to sacrifice all his desires for Allah if He commands us to do so. On this day, the poor and the needy are provided with meat, and you enjoy different dishes with your family. This day you show your gratitude to Allah that Allah is the one who created this animal, gave it life, and then gave you power over it. Don’t we see that huge animals like camel, cow and others how we are just able to sacrifice them, and lay them on the ground??
Be careful! From amongst so many people on the face of this earth, Allah chose us to perform righteous deeds, to pray, fast, sacrifice, give charity, etc. Wallahi, you don’t want to come on Yaumul Qiyymah having nothing ONLY because there was a problem in your niyyah (intention). My teachers have given me the best of advices in regards to sincerity. I will mention one, I asked Shaykh AbdurRahman Hassan (May Allah preserve him) regarding it and he advised me with the following,
“…Their is struggle in being sincere, intention is a consistent battle and will never finish… Beg Allah for sincerity, be around people who are sincere, learn and study about sincerity, learn more about Allah. The more you learn about Him the more you do good for His sake. What the people say about you doesn’t really matter. The same people who praise you and look up to you are a lot of the times the people who insult you and belittle you because when a person is your true friend he would generally advise you and tell you what you need to rectify. That’s a sincere friend…” The more a person fights with himself the more he gets closer to Allah. The righteous action is that which you do not want anyone to praise you for it except Allah. We all should always be scared whether our deeds are beinf accepted by Allah and also have hope that Allah will do so. We balance between both, hope and fear. One of the scariest ayat in the Book of Allah is, Allah says,
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 27)
How many of us can claim to be from the Muttaqeen?? May Allah make us from amongst them.
Another important matter is regarding those who do not pray yet they sacrifice. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“If a man who does not pray slaughters an animal, that meat cannot be eaten. Why? Because it is haraam. But if a Jew or a Christian slaughters an animal, that meat is permissible for us to eat. So the meat slaughtered by (the one who does not pray) – Allah forbid – is more unclean than meat slaughtered by the Jews and Christians.”
End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (12/45)
May Allah rectify the condition of the Muslim Ummah.
Lastly, I would mention the statement of Ibn Hajr (May Allah have mercy on him) he said,
إظهار السرور في الأعياد من شعار الدين
“Manifesting joy on the days of Eid is from the symbols of the religion.”
(Fath hul Bari)
We all should enjoy the day of eid whilst we are careful of not disobeying Allah. Eat some of the meat of the sacrificial animal, gift some of it to your relatives and neighbours and donate some of it to charity. Remember! Eid is not for the one who wears new clothes, Eid is for the one whose obedience increases. Eid is not for the one who adorns himself with fine clothes and transportation, Eid is for the one whose sins are forgiven.
May Allah Ta’ala accept all our Ibadah and grant us the ability to do good seeking His Face only. May Allah teach us that which will benefit us and benefit us with what He has taught us and increase us in beneficial knowledge and righteous actions. Allahumma Aameen!
