Ein gesegnetes Eid al-Adha 1430 wünsche ich allen Geschwistern

(By sarah_maries_pics)

Today sees the start of Kurban-Bayram (Eid al-Adha), in which Russian Muslims and their coreligionists around the globe celebrate Ibrahim’s (that’s Abraham of scriptures fame) obedience to Allah by agreeing to sacrifice his son. Ismail was, however, spared at the last minute, a ram being killed in his place. And before anyone points out that it was Isaac not Ishmael who was up for the chop, it wasn’t according to Islamic scholars. Okay?!

The three day “Festival of Sacrifice” is marked by en masse praying, symbolic animal slaughter, and in many countries a public holiday. So too in certain parts of Russia. Some 50,000 Muslims will gather at Moscow’s newly renovated Cathedral Mosque, which is, incidentally, also known as the “Tatar Mosque,” the “Blue Mosque,” the “Congregational Mosque,” and the “Grand Mosque,” and from which the State media will be broadcasting many events live. As a means of maintaining security and public order, the police will be closing nearby streets together with those close to other large masjids.

They’re good at that, the Moscow police are . . . .

oops

I’ve just finished my pathetic attempt at baking some cupcakes (the results being very poor) I ended up with burnt cakes and about an hour wasted on a hobby that I’ll never have.

There’s a lesson to be learnt from my hour of shame…

Never dare to enter the kitchen on the night before Eid.

I’m sure many of you can relate to what I mean when I use the word –meltdown- to describe the incident.

Mothers, Sisters, Aunties and Uncles all over the world are making last minute preparations for the great big feasts that take place in the morning. You ask me how I know this? Well, from my last shopping trip a few hours ago.

We had to drive to the supermarket, having run out of a couple of last minute essentials, (two bottles of milk) and were standing in the queue waiting to be checked out. Whilst all this was happening, we were being shoved in all directions by hijabi women donning bloodshot eyes and armed with epically large shopping trolleys.

It's all about the rice

So anyway, to the point I want to make (because this is actually going somewhere) -

Whilst we enjoy the day tomorrow with our family and friends, I reckon we should take out some time to try and remember the true significance of Eid al Adha; which would be sacrifice.

The meaning lies a little deeper than barbecued ribs and lamb chops. It lies even deeper than ticking something on paper and slipping some money into a box.

Essentially we need to take a step back and remember the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to realise what this day really means. It’s a story that has been mentioned in the Qur’an as well as the Bible.

When you make a sacrifice, it means you give up something important to you for the sake of a better cause.

People are making sacrifices every single time they do something difficult to help another person. This happens by you giving away something you treasure to make someone else happy.

Ibrahim (AS) felt sure that God had asked him to give up his own son, but he was ready to do it because it was a command from God and there was no disputing that.

I think it’s important to remember these things when we are out today amongst our family and friends.

Millions of people are right now in Hajj under the sweltering heat of the sun remembering the story of Ibrahim (AS).

Millions of other people are dying from poverty and suffering due to the after effects of war, famine, drought and a billion other reasons. You know the drill. You’ve seen all the charity adverts on TV. I’m not going to reiterate that message here.

I truly believe we should all try and take this opportunity to give up a single bad habit of ours every year as an act of remembrance of this occasion. Forget making new years resolutions that no-one ever sticks to. Make a resolution right here and right now. Do something for a worthy cause. Don’t just drop coins into a box without really understanding why you are doing it. Take the initiative to find out where your money is going and why.

Remember that sacrifice is more than your bank statement reading <debit £20.00> at the end of the month. It’s about giving something up for God and really meaning it.

On that note, Eid Mubarak and remember me in all your prayers 

Oh and also try and avoid Green Street on Eid if you can.. I hear traffic can get pretty crazy there.

Robi

By Paul Salahuddin Armstrong

“When the boy was old enough to work with his father, Abraham said, ‘My son, I have seen myself sacrificing you in a dream. What do you think?’ He said, ‘Father, do as you are commanded and, God willing, you will find me steadfast.’ When they had both submitted to God, and he had laid his son down on the side of his face, We called out to him, ‘Abraham, you have fulfilled the dream.’ This is how We reward those who do good ― it was a test to prove [their true characters] ― We ransomed his son with a momentous sacrifice, and We let him be praised by succeeding generations: ‘Peace be upon Abraham!’ This is how We reward those who do good: truly he was one of our faithful servants.”
The Qur’an 37:102-111 (M.A.S. Abdul-Haleem)

“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, Father? Yes, my son? Abraham replied. The fire and wood are here, Isaac said, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, Abraham! Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son. Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:7-14 (NIV)

The story is familiar to Jews, Christians and Muslims; the prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, was asked by God to make the ultimate sacrifice, his beloved son, though perhaps disagreeing on which son Abraham was asked to surrender, the meaning of this account doesn’t change. Who could make such a sacrifice, when we’d give everything for our children? Abraham dearly loved both his sons and their mothers, he surely would not have wanted to harm either of them in any way or form. To understand this account, we need to look beyond the worldly veils disguising it’s true meaning. Everything that manifests in the physical world begins with an intention, a beginning within a person’s heart.

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Eid ul Adha Mubarak to every one.

This Eid reminds us of the great prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) ’s sacrifice in front of the Almighty Allah.

“Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Qur’an 16:120-121)

“That was an exacting test indeed. We ransomed (Ismail) by substituting an animal sacrifice. And we preserved his history for subsequent generations. Peace be upon Abraham. We thus reward the righteous. He is one of our believing servants.”(Qur’an 37:106-111)

May Allah give us the same strength and feeling of sacrifice and taqwa.

“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him.” (Qur’an 22:37)

Salam AidilAdha kepada semua saudara-saudara seiman yang saya kasihi.  Cantiknya susunan Allah, malam semalam saya mentadabbur Surah Al-Saffat, dan menemui kisah ini. Maka saya ingin menuliskannya untuk kawan-kawan yang tidak sempat menatapnya sendiri.

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“Dan Ibrahim berkata, ‘Sesungguhnya aku pergi menghadap kepada Tuhanku, dan Dia akan memberi petunjuk kepadaku.’ ” (Al-Saffat : ayat 99)

“Ya Tuhanku, anugerahkanlah kepadaku (seorang anak) yang termasuk orang-orang yang soleh.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 100)

“Maka Kami beri dia khabar gembira dengan seorang anak yang amat sabar.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 101)

“Maka tatkala anak itu sampai (pada umur yang sanggup) berusaha bersama-sama Ibrahim, Ibrahim berkata: ‘Wahai anakku, sesungguhnya aku melihat dalam mimpi bahawa aku menyembelihmu. Maka fikirkanlah apa pendapatmu!’, Dia menjawab ‘Wahai ayahku, kerjakanlah apa yang diperintahkan kepadamu, inshaAllah kamu akan mendapatiku termasuk orang-orang yang sabar.’ “ (Al-Saffat: ayat 102)

“Tatkala kedua-duanya telah berserah diri dan Ibrahim membaringkan anaknya atas di atas tengkuk(nya), (nyatalah kesabaran kedua-duanya)” (Al-Saffat: ayat 103)

“Dan Kami panggillah dia: ‘Wahai Ibrahim, ” (Al-Saffat: ayat 104)

“Sesungguhnya kamu telah membenarkan mimpi itu, sesungguhnya demikianlah Kami memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang berbuat baik.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 105)

“Sesungguhnya ini benar-benar suatu ujian yang nyata.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 106)

“Dan Kami tebus anak itu dengan seekor sembelihan yang besar.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 107)

“Kami abadikan untuk Ibrahim itu (pujian yang baik) di kalangan orang-orang yang datang kemudian.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 108)

“iaitu: ‘Kesejahteraan dilimpahkan atas Ibrahim’ ” (Al-Saffat: ayat 109)

“Demikianlah Kami memberi balasan kepada orang-orang yang berbuat baik.” (Al-Saffat : ayat 110)

“Sesungguhnya dia termasuk hamba-hamba Kami yang beriman.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 111)

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Inilah kisah Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail, Allah ceritakan untuk kita ‘orang-orang yang datang kemudian’. Begitu benarnya dan tulusnya ucapan-ucapan dari bibir mereka, hingga Allah mengabadikan dialog perbualan antara mereka berdua di dalam Al-Quran untuk kita pelajari dan selami. Memetik kata-kata Nabi Ismail yang masih muda, yang Allah mengiyakannya sebagai ‘anak yang amat sabar’, mempamerkan keimanan setanding ayahnya..
‘..Wahai ayahku, kerjakanlah apa yang diperintahkan kepadamu, inshaAllah kamu akan mendapatiku termasuk orang-orang yang sabar.’ “
(Apalah pula agaknya nilai kata-kata yang keluar dari bibir kita? recording in progress by Rokib & Atid)

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Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail membuktikan penyerahan diri yang penuh kepada Allah SWT. Seseorang yang menyerahkan dan menundukkan jiwanya, jasadnya, hartanya, hidupnya dan segala-gala yang dimiliki untuk Allah, itulah dia seorang Muslim. Telah nampak hakikat kehambaan yang sejati dalam kisah ini. Bahawa sang hamba tidak ada pilihan kecuali untuk taat patuh secara tulus kepada Tuhannya, walau apapun yang terjadi. Mengetepikan perasaan, keperluan dan kemahuan sendiri. Ini suatu teladan kehambaan yang mesti ditiru setiap orang beriman yang berjuang mengejar darjat kehambaan, merasa bahawa Allah itu Maha Agung dalam hatinya.

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Dan tidak ada jalan lain untuk merasa hamba, melainkan dengan taat yang total, tanpa soal, tanpa takut-takut dan tanpa ragu kepada setiap perintah Tuhannya – seperti Ibrahim, seperti Ismail dan tidak lupa, seperti ibu Nabi Ismail, Hajar ketika ia akur ditinggalkan di tengah-tengah gurun dahulu.

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Kerana itu, Allah membuat persaksian, satu pengisytiharan yang mulia dalam ayat seterusnya,
“Sesungguhnya dia termasuk hamba-hamba Kami yang beriman.” (Al-Saffat: ayat 111)

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Hebatnya pengorbanan mereka, Allah mengabadikan kisah keluarga ini - percakapannya, perlakuannya bahkan lokasinya dalam ibadah haji dan korban, serta dijadikan hari raya AidilAdha. Supaya setiap Muslim akan bercermin kepada Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail pada setiap tahun.

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Ia bukan sekadar tentang ritual ibadah atau adat berhari raya. Ini kisah kehambaan, kisah ketaatan dan kisah kecintaan kepada Allah SWT. Moga kita dapat membangun semangat dan jiwa kehambaan persis Nabi Ibrahim dan Ismail dalam hidup kita sehari-hari.

~ Salam AidilAdha 1430 Hijriah

I cannot stop writing and I do not know why. A friend asked me to write and all that was said to me were three words. I thought about these words and all that I could think of is, we do it to ourselves. We do it to ourselves. Today the world seems chaotic. Some say it always has been, but we are just more aware of it because we are bombarded by the media. We all see ourselves spiraling towards some future we do not know. Some of us can see the poor decisions our nation’s leaders may make. We see the infighting and we ask ourselves why they can’t behave better. They are like children. We see the wars and the hate between Muslims and Jews, between Muslims and Christians, and between Christians and Jews, and we ask ourselves why they can’t behave better. They are like children. We are quick to spot the errors in other people’s ways, and yet we fail to look at our own short comings.

We are in this together, you and I. We share this world. We may never meet. You may never even know my name, and yet we still share this world. You might think my words ramble or that I am a foolish person who has gone out of his mind. That may be so, but we still share more than most will ever realize. This life is much more than our actions. It is our thoughts. It is our feelings. It is our past and it is our future. Others may destroy this world, but they alone will not answer for their actions. We all will answer. We all will answer because we are in this together. Whether by choice or by fate, we are in this together.

Divide and Conquer.

The world is divided. We are divided based on the country we choose to pay homage. We are divided based on our language and our culture. We are divided based on our religion. We are divided by what we choose to call God/Allah. We are divided by the wants of our mind and our heart. We are divided and yet we have no one else to blame but ourselves.

We choose sides and yet we have no idea what side it is that we really play on. We say we follow God’s laws, and yet we would honor our country before we would honor God. We say we are good Christians, Muslims, or Jews, and yet we would hold our prophets above God Himself. We say we are obedient children and yet we squabble over the scraps of a world full of illusions. We claim that we are without want except for God’s love, and yet we pray to the mighty dollar. We say in God we trust, but only when times get rough. We are divided and yet we have no one else to blame but ourselves.

Rabu, 25 November 2009 | 23.38

Kurban ( Qurbân ) memiliki arti dekat atau mendekatkan. Secara khusus istilah ini berarti penyembelihan binatang ternak pada hari raya Idul Adha atau tiga hari sesudahnya , yaitu tanggal 10, 11, 12, dan 13 Zulhijjah dalam rangka mendekatkan diri kepada Allah SWT.

Selain kata kurban, dalam kosa kata bahasa Indonesia kita mengenal kata-kata akrab, karib dan kerabat yang semuanya berasal dari kata yang sama dan mengandung makna kedekatan.

Qurbân dikenal juga dengan istilah udh-hiyah ( menyembelih binatang di waktu matahari sedang naik di pagi hari atau waktu dhuha ) yang berasal dari kata dhahwah atau dhuha .

Qurbân disebut juga nahr . Kata ini berasal dari ayat Al-Quran yang menjadi dasar hukum pelaksanaan kurban, yaitu yang artinya:

“Sesungguhnya Kami telah memberikan kepadamu nikmat yang banyak. Maka dirikanlah shalat karena Tuhanmu; dan berkurbanlah. Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membenci kamu dialah yang terputus.” ( QS. Al-Kautsar [ 108 ] : 1 – 3 ).

Dalam ayat lain Allah berfirman, yang artinya :

”Dan telah Kami jadikan untuk kamu unta-unta itu sebahagian dari syi’ar Allah, kamu memperoleh kebaikan yang banyak padanya, maka sebutlah olehmu nama Allah ketika kamu menyembelihnya dalam keadaan berdiri ( dan telah terikat ). Kemudian apabila telah roboh ( mati ), maka makanlah sebahagiannya dan beri makanlah orang yang rela dengan apa yang ada padanya ( yang tidak meminta-minta ) dan orang yang meminta. Demikianlah Kami telah menundukkan unta-unta itu kepada kamu, mudah-mudahan kamu bersyukur.”   ( QS. Al-Hajj [22] : 36 ).

Sementara itu Rasulullah SAW menegaskan :

“ Barangsiapa yang  berada  dalam  kelapangan ( mampu berkurban ), lalu tidak menyembelih kurban, maka janganlah ia mendekati tempat shalatku.” ( HR Ahmad dan Ibnu Majah ).

Atas dasar ayat-ayat dan hadis di atas para ulama berbeda pendapat tentang hukum kurban ini. Abu Hanifah ( Imam Hanafi ), misalnya, menyatakan menyembelih kurban hukumnya wajib. Kewajiban ini berlaku setiap tahun bagi yang bermukin ( menetap ). Tetapi mayoritas ulama seperti Imam Syafi’i, Imam Maliki, dan Imam Hanbali menyatakan bahwa hukum berkurban itu tidak wajib,  tapi  sunnah  muakkad  ( sunnah yang dikuatkan , yang sangat dianjurkan ).

Mayoritas ulama berpandangan mengenai kesunnahannya ini berdasarkan hadis Rasulullah SAW yang artinya :

“Bahwa Rasulullah SAW pernah bersabda apabila kamu melihat hilâl ( awal bulan ) Zulhijjah dan salah seorang di antara kamu ingin berkurban, hendaklah ia menahan ( diri dari memotong ) rambut dan kuku-kukunya ( binatang yang akan dikurbankan )”. ( HR Jamaah, kecuali Bukhari ).

Pendapat bahwa kurban tidak wajib didasarkan pada kalimat : “salah seorang di antara kamu ingin berkurban.” Tentu bagi yang melakukannya lebih baik.

Dalam hadis lain, Rasulullah SAW juga menegaskan bahwa :

“Ada tiga hal yang wajib atasku dan sunnah bagi kamu, yaitu : shalat witir, kurban,  dan  shalat  dhuha’  ( HR Ahmad, Al-Hakim, dan Daru Qutni ).

Dengan hadis-hadis itulah para ulama berpandangan bahwa hukum melaksanakan ibadah kurban ini sunnah muakkad.

Ada beberapa ketentuan berkurban sebagai berikut :

1. Orang yang melakukan kurban hendaklah seorang Muslim yang merdeka ( bukan budak ), balig, berakal, dan menurut Abu Hanifah, harus orang yang bermukim ( bukan musafir ). Tapi menurut mazhab lain tetap sah jika musafir melaksanakan ibadah kurban.

2. Setiap Muslim yang mampu harus melaksanakan kurban dengan menyembelih seekor kambing atau domba, atau seekor sapi / unta untuk tujuh orang bersama-sama. Binatang tersebut harus disediakan tanpa mengutang.

3. Binatang yang sah untuk kurban harus yang sehat, tidak boleh cacat atau kurus, serta harus yang sudah cukup umur, yaitu untuk kambing / domba harus sudah berumur satu tahun, sapi atau kerbau dua tahun, dan unta sudah berumur lima tahun.

4. Penyembelihan dilakukan setelah selesai menjalankan shalat Id pada hari raya Idul Adha,  yang juga disebut  yaum al-nahr ( hari penyembelihan kurban ) ,  atau  pada hari-hari  tasyriq ( ayyam al-tasyriq ), yaitu tiga hari setelah hari raya Idul Adha.

5. Orang yang berkurban dianjurkan untuk menyembelih sendiri atau melihatnya pada waktu penyembelihan. Maksudnya binatang untuk berkurban itu jangan diserahkan begitu saja kepada orang lain. Kita harus mengetahui dulu orang yang kita tugaskan untuk melaksanakan penyembelihan itu betul-betul orang yang amanah. Bisa saja pembagian daging kurbannya tidak tepat sasaran. Hal ini sering terjadi, ada yang miskin tidak kebagian, tapi justru yang mampu mendapatkannya.

6. Daging kurban itu harus dibagi-bagikan kepada fakir miskin . Mazhab Hanafi, Maliki, dan Hanbali menyatakan boleh memakannya sedikit daging kurban itu, kecuali kurban yang dinazarkan. Menurut ulama Mazhab Hanafi , memakan kurban yang dinazarkan adalah haram. Sedangkan ulama mazhab Maliki dan Hanbali membolehkannya. Tetapi menurut ulama Mazhab Syafi’i, kurban yang dinazarkan tidak boleh dimakan dagingnya, tetapi kurban biasa ( kurban yang sunnah ) hukumnya sunnah untuk memakan sebagian kecil dagingnya. Hal ini didasarkan pada ayat 36 Surah Al -Hajj seperti telah disebutkan di atas. Juga didasarkan pada hadis yang diriwatkan Baihaki : “Bahwa Rasulullah SAW memakan hati hewan kurbannya.”

Ajaran berkurban ini sebenarnya sama tuanya dengan sejarah kehidupan manusia. Kedua anak Nabi Adam, yaitu Qabil dan Habil, bertikai tentang suatu hal, dan Allah menyuruh mereka berkurban untuk membuktikan siapa yang benar dalam pertikaian itu. Dan ternyata kurban Habil yang diterima. Karena Habil berkurban dengan ikhlas untuk melaksanakan perintah Allah, sedangkan Qabil berkurban dengan tujuan untuk memenangkan pertikaian itu. Hal ini diungkapkan dalam Al-Quran, yang artinya :

“Ceritakanlah kepada mereka kisah kedua putera Adam (Habil dan Qabil) menurut yang sebenarnya, ketika keduanya mempersembahkan korban, maka diterima  dari  salah   seorang  dari  mereka berdua ( Habil ) dan tidak diterima dari yang lain ( Qabil ). Ia berkata ( Qabil ): “Aku pasti membunuhmu!.” Berkata Habil: “Sesungguhnya Allah hanya menerima ( korban ) dari orang-orang yang bertakwa.” ( QS Al-Maidah [5] : 27 ).

Sedangkan asal usul kurban yang disunnahkan dalam Islam itu berawal dari peristiwa kurban Nabi Ibrahim AS. Diawali dari mimpi Nabi Ibrahim yang mendapat perintah Allah untuk menyembelih anaknya, Ismail. Nabi Ibrahim berkeyakinan mimpinya itu merupakan mimpi yang benar, maka ia menanyakannya kepada Ismail AS:

“Hai anakku sesungguhnya aku melihat dalam mimpi bahwa aku menyembelihmu. Maka fikirkanlah apa pendapatmu!” Ia menjawab: “Hai bapakku, kerjakanlah apa yang diperintahkan kepadamu; insya Allah kamu akan mendapatiku termasuk orang-orang yang sabar.” (QS. Ash-Shaffat [37]: 102 ).

Kemudian Nabi Ibrahim AS membawa Ismail ke suatu tempat sunyi di Mina. Dengan berserah diri kepada Allah SWT, Ismail dibaringkan dan segera Ibrahim AS mengarahkan pisaunya ke leher sang anak. Setelah terbukti kesabaran dan ketaatan Nabi Ibrahim dan Ismail AS maka Allah melarang menyembelih Ismail dan untuk meneruskan kurban, Allah menggantinya dengan seekor sembelihan ( domba yang besar ).

“ Dan Kami tebus anak itu dengan seekor sembelihan yang besar.” (QS. Ash-Shaffat [37]: 107 ).

Peristiwa inilah yang menjadi dasar disyariatkannya kurban, yang hingga sekarang ini dilaksanakan oleh setiap Muslim yang mampu. Wallahu ‘alam bi ash-shawab.

Gambar : IslamOnline.net

1. Just one no-nonsense way to convey their message – by bawling at top of their lungs

2. Hugs and kisses are such a natural way for these little wonders to express themselves.

3. ‘I love you’ would simply mean I love you though it really sounds like ‘gugu gaga brrr’

4. The word enemy does not exist in their dictionary except ofcourse the pediatrician

5. Ever heard of non-photogenic babies? Adults need to learn the art of effortless posing.

6. Demands must equal fulfillment – Simple

7. Babies always smell so good just as they are

8. Crawling to walking to running – it all just happens

9. You never get bored of babies

10. Talkative and noisy is normal

11. Look great in whatever they wear and even better without them

12. No such thing like “I’ve had a long day” or “We need to talk” from them. Nagging? What’s that?

13. Farts are style statements – any time, any place, any decibel

14. Smiles are for free

15. You can call them by all kinds of names

p.s. I read something similar in a magazine, improvised it and came up with my own 15.

Brothers and Sisters, all of us know the story of Ibrahims sacrifice and we say that it was a test by Allah (taala). But do we really understand what Ibrahim went through ? Do we appreciate what it was like to be Ibrahim ? Can we grasp in thought what happened ? Why is it that we regard Ibrahim as the father of faith ? What was it that he achieved ?

Ibrahim (saw) is distinguished in the Quran with the title of khalil-ul-Allah (the intimate friend of Allah). In surat an-Nisa, Allah says :

He is also described in surat an-Nahl as a model :

Ibrahim was born among the star- and idol-worshipping people of Chaldea, in the home of Azar, his father, the idol-maker of the tribe. Ibrahim was among the kuffar, but not of them, like a spring of tawheed (monotheism) arising out of the swamp of shirk (polytheism). The Quran tells us in surat al-An`aam :

From the revolt in the house of Azar, his father, Ibrahim went on to challenge the polytheism of his people. Indeed Ibrahim is know as historys great idol- smasher, as the founder of monotheism and the crusher of ignorance.

There are numerous verses in the Quran which describe how Ibrahim argued against idol-worshippers, his rational arguments against sceptics and those who worshipped celestial bodies, how he deals with unbelievers, how he preaches to his people. For instance, in surat al-Baqara Allah says :

In another example in surat al-Anbiya :

As usual, when falsehood is defeated on intellectual grounds it resorts to plotting and oppression. The response of his people to his da`wa is given in surat al-Ankabut :

Ibrahim could have given up his message and his beliefs to save himself from the fire of Nimrod. But he chose martyrdom. He chose to die for Allahs message to live. He chose to step into the fire of ignorance and tyranny in order to save humanity from the fire of ignorance and tyranny. So he was cast into the fire.

But Allah had a different plan for Ibrahim and he was unhurt by the grace of Allah (taala) :

Allah also says :

His miracle did not refrain the idol-worshippers from continuing for very long years their plots, persecution, abuse, cruelty and isolation against Ibrahim but he remained uncompromising, unshakeable in his beliefs, patient in his suffering, gentle in his manners until he made his hijra (he migrated) to the lands of Aram nad Canaan.

He left the land of his fathers to become a stranger in the land of promise.

Brothers and Sisters, it was indeed a land of promise. A land where Ibrahim continued a lifetime of struggle, da`wa, movement, bearing alone the heavy responsibility of the mission of Tawheed (monotheism) in an age of darkness, oppression, prejudice and ignorance. Ibrahim did not have children. And through- out his century of prophethood and service of God, as Ibrahim grew older, his desire to have a son grew stronger. The Prophet Ibrahim desperately longed for a son but his wife Hajar was barren.

“O my Lord ! Grant me a righteous son !” (37:100) was his call to Allah.

Against every expectation, Allah fullfilled his promise of making Ibrahim the seed of a great line of Prophets, the root of the great universal religions.

Allah brought mercy to the agedness, loneliness, hopelessness and anguish of his trustworthy Messenger. For Ibrahim, Ismail was not just a son for a sonless father, he was the end of a life of waiting, the reward of a century of suffering, the fruit of his life, the hope after despair and the young boy of an old father.

Ismael being the promise of future generations was in some sense the whole world for Ibrahim.

So there was joy and rejoicing in Ibrahims house as Ismail was quickly growing under the sun of his fathers love.

But Allah decided that it was not to remain so.

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim was to be tried once more. Ibrahim had a vision in which he was commanded by Allah to slaughter his only son.

Brothers and Sisters, why should Ibrahim, whose entire life was devoted to prophethood, to Jihaad, to removing ignorance, to laying the foundations of tawheed be tried once again ?

Is it because man should not rest ?
Is it because man should not be deceived by 100 years of Jihad and victories ?
Is it because he should not think of himself without weakness ?
Is it for the fact that whatever we fix our eyes upon in this world will blind us ?
And finally, is it because the higher the spiritual height we reach, the greater is the danger of falling ?

Brothers and Sisters, it is not possible to convey in words what it must have meant for Ibrahim to be commanded by Allah (taala) to sacrifice his only son Ismail. The magnitude of the pain does not allow the imagination to enclose it. It inspires fear and trembling.

How can Ibrahim take his beloved son, the fruit of his life, the joy of his heart, the meaning of his living and staying, his Ismail, and hold him on the ground, put a knife to his throat and kill him ?

If it were only the slaughter of Ibrahim at the hand of Ismail, how easy ! But no ! The young Ismail must die and the old and aged Ibrahim must remain !

Ibrahim, the steel-like idol-smasher must have felt torn apart !

Within him, there must have been a war, the greatest jihad. Which war ? The war between God and Ismail ! The difficulty of choice !

Who should Ibrahim choose ?
Love of God or Love of self ?
Prophethood or Fatherhood ?
Loyalty to God or loyalty to family ?
Faith or Emotion ?
Truth or Reality ?
Consciousness or Instinct ?
Responsibility or Pleasure ?
Duty or Right ?
Tawheed (Monotheism) or Shirk (Polytheism) ?
Advancing or Remaining ?
To Become or To Be ?
And finally, God or Ismail ?
What should Ibrahim choose ?

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim did not choose immediately. He doubted and wavered under the crushing force of pain and anguish. Only after the third vision did he finally decide to carry out Allahs command. This is reflected in the hajj ritual of stoning the three idols representing Iblis who tempted Ibrahim to disobey Allah.

When a `truth enhances ones earthly life, most people become seekers of truth. But when a truth opposes life and leads to problems, loss and dangers the seekers of truth are few in number.

Iblis works wherever he finds traces of fear, weakness, doubt, despair, envy selfishness and even great affection towards someone or something. Iblis sometimes blows logical reasons, intellectual and religious justifications to achieve his ends.

For instance we may imagine that, under the powerful crush of his pain and distress, Ibrahim could have used many justifications. Perhaps the meaning of dhebh (slaughter) is just metaphorical and means kill your `ego. Perhaps `Ismail might be a general noun and not Ibrahims son. Perhaps “slaughter Ismail actually means “slaughter the love of Ismail. Ibrahim could have also tried many interpretations of his vision.

But Ibrahim, khalil-ul-Allah, the intimate friend of God, had faith in Allah and he knew that Allah (taala) demanded the sacrifice. Abrahams conscience would make a mockery of all these logical justifications and reasons.

Ibrahim chose the Love of God over the Love of self, Prophethood over Fatherhood, Loyalty to God over Loyalty to family, Truth over Reality, Consciousness over Instinct, Responsibility over Pleasure, Duty over Right, Tawheed over Shirk. He preferred Advancing to Remaining.

Ibrahim chose God and gave up Ismail.

Brothers and Sisters, in Mina, an amazing and frightening conversation between a father and a son took place.

Ibrahim said to Ismail :

What frightening words for a child to hear !

Ismail could have kept silent. He could have asked Ibrahim to refrain.

But Ismail had also faith. He submitted to Allahs will. Realising his fathers distress, Ismail gave him these comforting words :

Allah-u-Akbar ! Allah-u-Akbar ! Allah-u-Akbar !

Ibrahim had consulted his son who willingly offered himself to Allahs command. The choice of Ibrahim was sacrifice. That of Ismail was self-sacrifice : Martyrdom.

This gave Ibrahim strength. Ibrahim tied his heart to God, he took the Ismail of his life in one hand and the knife of his faith in the other and he walked until he reached the place of sacrifice. Ibrahim was suffering while believing and at every moment it was possible for him to retract and turn back. Yet he layed Ismail on the ground, putting his face away from him to give strength to his crushed soul and paralysed hand. And so he slaughtered Ismail. But, by Allahs grace, the knife did not cut.

Ibrahim received a sheep and was called by Allah :

Allah-u-Akbar ! Allah-u-Akbar ! Allah-u-Akbar !

Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim gained everything and kept Ismail. This means that the God of Ibrahim is not thirsty for blood like the Inca gods or Hindu godesses were thirsty of blood.

It is the people, the servants of God who are hungry, and hungry of sheep meat.

And, symbolically, the only blood shed in this story is the blood of Iblis.

Brothers and Sisters, this means that from the very beginning God did not want Ismail to be slaughtered. He wanted Ibrahim to be the slaughterer of Ismail. When he became so, the slaughter became useless.

God, from the beginning, wanted Ismail to be the slaughter of God. And when it happened, his sacrifice became useless.

Mankind has needs but God has no needs. He is Self-Sufficient. Allah (ta`ala) in His Wisdom raised Ibrahim to the highest peak of sacrificing his Ismail without sacrificing Ismail. Allah (ta`ala) promoted Ismail to the highest peak of being the great sacrifice of God without bringing any harm to him.

This event is not about the torment and torture of mankind but about the perfection of humanity, the freedom from the prison of instinct and selfishness and about the elevation of spirit.

This momentous event also teaches us, through Ibrahim, that human life, Ismails, Ibrahims, everyones, acquires its meaning and value from God — The Source of Creation — and not from nature. It signifies that the good things in life, represented by Ismail, derive their value not from the mere fact that they exist and can be valued, enjoyed and delighted in, but from God, The Source of Creation Himself. Ibrahim was, in some sense, giving back Ismail to receive him again on the proper basis.

Brothers and Sisters, different people organise differently their loyalty to God, to the family and to the nation or the state. A secular mind owes and absolute duty to the nation (and the family) whereas a religious conscience owes absolute duty to God. For a secular mind Ibrahim was willing to murder Ismail but for a religious conscience he was willing to sacrifice Ismail. Ibrahim therefore instructs that we should owe absolute duty only to God and it is our relationship to God which ought to transcend and determine out relation to family/nation and not vice-versa.

Brothers and Sisters, there still is a lot to understand and discover about this momentous event. These are only a few possible meanings. Only a few, and just possible, because as Ibrahim taught us to be less complacent and more critical about having attained faith, we should be less complacent and more critical about having attained understanding.

Brothers and Sisters, the Ismail of Ibrahim was his son. But you, who is your Ismail ? what is it ?

Your degree ? Your reputation ? Your position ? Your money ? Your home ? Your car ? Your beloved ? Your family ? Your knowledge ? Your title ? Your dress ? Your fame ? Your soul ? Your spirituality ? Your Beauty ? Your strength ? Your career ?

How does one know ?

Well, you know this yourself. One can only give its signs to you.

Whatever is in your eyes which holds the place of Ismail in the eyes of Ibrahim !

Whatever weakens you on the way of faith !

Whatever stops you in your movement !

Whatever brings doubt to your responsibility !

Whatever has enchained your freedom !

Whatever leads you to compromise and justification !

That very thing which deafens your ears before the Message of Truth !

Whatever calls you to remain with yourself !

Whatever causes you to flee from your duty !

Whoever or Whatever keeps you behind in order to remain with her/him or it !

Brothers and Sisters, these are the signs of our Ismails. Let us search for them in ourselves and let us slaughter them to move towards Allah (taala). Brothers and Sisters, let us revolt against the heartless worshippers that we have become.

Source: Islam Channel

Taken from www.islaam.com

The Holy Quran, Surah Ibrahim, 14:35-41

14.035 Remember Ibrahim said: “O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.”

14.036 “O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind; He then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me,- but Thou art indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

14.037 “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular Prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks.”

14.038 “O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven.”

14.039 “Praise be to Allah, Who hath granted unto me in old age Isma’il and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He, the Hearer of Prayer!”

14.040 “O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.”

14.041 “O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness – me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!”

Seabad kehidupan Ibrahim penuh  dengan perjuangan, gerakan, keterlunta-luntaan, jihad, dan perang melawan kebodohan kaumnya, kemusyrikan, penindasan Namrudz, dan kefanatikan manusia-manusia penyembah berhala.  Ibrahim makin tua dan kesepian.  Walaupun berada di puncak kenabiannya, namun ia adalah seorang manusia biasa.  Dan seperti manusia biasa lainnya, ia mendambakan seorang anak.  Apalagi usianya kian senja.  Ia tidak berpengharapan, karena menurut pertimbangan akal sederhana pun hal itu rasanya tak mungkin.  Ibrahim hanya dapat mendambakan. Maka, berdo’alah ia : “Ya Tuhanku, anugerahkanlah kepadaku (seorang anak) yang termasuk orang yang shaleh.” (QS. Ash Shaaffat : 100)

Allah SWT akhirnya melimpahkan karunia-Nya kepada lelaki tua yang telah membelanjakan habis seluruh hidup dan kehidupannya; dan  menanggungkan penderitaannya demi menyebarluaskan risalah-Nya.  Melalui wanita bernama Hajar, Allah SWT memberinya seorang anak : Ismail.

“Maka Kami beri dia kabar gembira dengan seorang anak yang amat sabar.” (QS. Ash Shaaffat : 101)

Bagi Ibrahim, Ismail bak satu-satunya pohon hijau yang tumbuh di kebun gersang milik seorang petani tua.  Di saat kegembiraan yang tumbuh di hati Ibrahim, tanpa diduga-duga, wahyu Allah SWt turun memerintahkan Ibrahim untuk menyembelih Ismail.
“Maka tatkala anak itu sampai (pada umur sanggup) berusaha bersama-sama Ibrahim, Ibrahim berkata : ‘Wahai anakku, sesungguhnya aku melihat dalam mimpi bahwa aku menyembelihmu.  Maka fikirkanlah apa pendapatmu !” (QS. Ash Shaaffat : 102)

Betapa guncang jiwa Ibrahim ketika menerima wahyu  yang luar biasa beratnya ini.  Duka nian hatinya.  Tetapi, wahyu itu adalah perintah Allah SWT : perintah untuk menyembelih anaknya (Ismail) – buah hati yang selama seratus tahun dinantikannya !  Konflik pun terjadi dalam batinnya.  Siapakah yang lebih disayanginya : Allah SWT ataukah Ismail ?  Ibrahim menghadapi dua pilihan : mengikuti perasaan hatinya dengan ‘menyelamatkan’ Ismail atau mentaati perintah-Nya dengan ‘mengorbankan’ Ismail.  Sebuah pilihan yang teramat sulit.  Seandainya yang diperintahkan Allah SWT adalah agar ia mengorbankan dirinya sendiri, maka tidaklah sulit baginya untuk menentukan pilihan.  Selama ini, Ibrahim telah mempertaruhkan nyawanya demi Allah SWT.

Namun, Ibrahim sadar bahwa tauhid membawa konsekuensi.  Tauhid menghendaki tidak adanya hal-hal lain yang lebih dicintai daripada Allah SWT.  Dan itulah yang selama ini dia serukan.  Kenikmatan memang menggembirakan manusia; menjadikan hidup terasa nikmat dan menyenangkan.  Sayang, manusia sering lupa dan gampang terlena.  Kenikmatan yang seharusnya disyukuri dengan menambah ketaatan kepada Allah SWT, malah sering menjadikannya lalai dari-Nya.  Allah SWT mengingatkan :
“Hai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah harta-hartamu dan anak-anakmu melalaikan kamu dari mengingat Allah.  Barang siapa yang berbuat demikian maka mereka itulah orang-orang yang rugi.” (QS. Al Munafiqun : 9)

Dan ketika kenikmatan itu menjadi sangat dicintai dan mengalihkannya dari taat kepada Allah SWT, jadilah ia – seperti disebut Al Qur’an – sebagai Andaada, yakni tandingan-tandingan Allah SWT yang telah mengalihkan ketundukan dan kecintaan yang seharusnya diberikan kepada Allah SWT semata.
“Dan di antara manusia ada orang-orang yang menyembah tandingan-tandingan selain Allah; mereka mencintainya sebagaimana mereka mencintai Allah.  Adapun orang-orang yang beriman sangat cinta kepada Allah.” (QS. Al Baqarah : 165)

Dan Ibrahim telah menemukan.  Kesenangannya ada pada Ismail – buah hatinya.  Dia pun siap ‘mengorbankan’ Ismail demi cintanya kepada Allah SWT.  Ismail pun turut pula telah menampilkan diri sebagai sosok teladan : bahwa perintah Allah SWT adalah nomor satu !  Dia berkata : “Wahai bapakku, kerjakanlah apa yang diperintahkan kepadamu; Insya Allah kamu akan mendapatiku termasuk orang-orang yang sabar.” (QS. Ash Shaaffat : 102)

Pengorbanan dua sosok teladan ini berakhir dengan membahagiakan (lebih jelas lihat QS. Ash Shaaffat : 103 – 107).  Allah SWT memang tidak menghendaki Ismail dikorbankan; yang dikehendaki-Nya adalah agar Ibrahim mengorbankan kecintaannya kepada selain Allah SWT.  Sebuah episode tentang pemurnian tauhid yang dahsyat dalam sejarah umat manusia.

Sebuah Renungan

Sekarang, bayangkanlah diri kita ada di puncak kemuliaan dan kebanggaan.  Ada satu hal yang kita cintai, yang deminya kita rela mengorbankan segalanya; dan itu adalah ‘Ismail’ kita.  Bagi Ibrahim, ‘Ismail’nya adalah anaknya semata wayang.  Siapakah atau apakah ‘Ismail’ kita ?  Kedudukan kita ?  Harga diri kita ?  Profesi kita ?  Pangkat ?  Uang, rumah, mobil, kebun, keluarga, ketampanan, kecantikan, ataukah yang lainnya ?  ‘Ismail’ kita adalah setiap sesuatu yang melemahkan iman kita, setiap sesuatu yang menghalangi perjalanan menuju taat, setiap sesuatu yang membuat kita hanya memikirkan diri sendiri, setiap sesuatu yang membuat kita tidak dapat mendengarkan perintah Allah SWT dan menyatakan kebenaran, setiap sesuatu yang menutupi mata dan telinga kita dari melihat dan mendengar kebenaran.  ‘Ismail’ kita adalah setiap sesuatu yang merampas kebebasan dan menghalangi kita untuk melaksanakan kewajiban-kewajiban, setiap sesuatu yang menyebabkan kita mengajukan alasan-alasan untuk menghindari tanggung jawab.
“Dijadikan indah pada (pandangan) manusia kecintaan kepada apa-apa yang diingini, yaitu wanita-wanita, anak-anak, harta yang banyak dari jenis emas, perak, kuda pilihan, binatang ternak, dan sawah ladang.  Itulah kesenangan hidup di dunia; dan di sisi Allah lah tempat kembali yang baik.” (QS. Ali Imran : 14)

Untuk meraih derajat mulia sebagaimana Ibrahim, maka cari dan temukan ‘Ismail’ kita lalu kurbankanlah ia !  Wallahu a’lam !

Hajj – The Largest gathering in the world each year!

It is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, which remains the ultimate symbol of the oneness and brotherhood of man.Here, rich and poor from all nations stand and bow in unison before God in what is the largest gathering of humanity; testifying to the Prophet’s words when he said:

‘There is truly no excellence for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for a white man over a black man, nor for a black man over a white man; except through piety.’ (Ahmad)

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 25:

“There is no compulsion in Religion, truth stands out clear from error…”

Tevrat Bölüm 19’da Sodom ve Gomora’nın yıkılışı böyle anlatılıyor:İki  adam akşamleyin Sodom’a gelirler. Kentin kapısında oturan Lut onları görür görmez karşılamak için ayağa kalkar Yere kapanarak, “Efendilerim” der, “Kulunuzun evine buyurun. Ayaklarınızı yıkayın, geceyi bizde geçirin. Sonra erkenden kalkıp yolunuza devam edersiniz.” Adamlar, “Olmaz, geceyi kent meydanında geçireceğiz.” Ama Lut diretir. Sonunda birlikte Lut’un evine giderler. Lut onlara yemek hazırlar, mayasız ekmek pişirir. Yerler. Onlar yatmadan, erkeğe meraklı, ancak birbirlerinde bıkmış olan kentin erkekleri yeni gelen parlak tüysüz erkeklerin haberini almış ve gözleri dönmüştür. Sodom’un her mahallesinden genç yaşlı bütün erkekler Lut’un evini sarar. Lut’a seslenerek, “Bu gece sana gelen adamlar nerede?” diye sorarlar, “Getir onları da yatalım.” Lut dışarı çıkar, arkasından kapıyı kapar. “Kardeşler, lütfen bu kötülüğü yapmayın, erkek yüzü görmemiş iki kızım var. Size onları getireyim, ne isterseniz yapın. Yeter ki, bu adamlara dokunmayın. Çünkü onlar konuğumdur, çatımın altına geldiler.” Adamlar, “Çekil önümüzden!” diye karşılık verirler, “Adam buraya dışardan geldi, şimdi yargıçlık taslıyor! Sana daha beterini yaparız.” Lut’u ite kaka kapıyı kırmaya davranırlar. Ama içerdeki adamlar uzanıp Lut’u evin içine, yanlarına alırlar ve kapıyı kaparlar. Nedense Sodomluların kapıyı açmaya güçleri yetmez.

İçerdeki iki adam Lut’a, “Senin burada başka kimin var?” diye sorarar, “Oğullarını, kızlarını, damatlarını, kentte sana ait kim varsa hepsini dışarı çıkar. Çünkü burayı yok edeceğiz. RAB bu halk hakkında birçok kötü suçlama duydu, kenti yok etmek için bizi gönderdi.” Lut dışarı çıkar ve kızlarıyla evlenecek olan damat adaylarına, “Hemen buradan uzaklaşın!” der, “Çünkü RAB bu kenti yok etmek üzere.” Ne var ki damat adayları onun şaka yaptığını sanırlar. Tan ağarırken adamlar Lut’a, “Karınla iki kızını al, hemen buradan uzaklaş, yoksa kent cezasını bulurken sen de canından olursun.” Lut ağır davranır, Adamlar Lut’la karısının ve iki kızının elinden tutup onları kentin dışına çıkarırlar. Kent dışına çıkınca, adamlardan biri Lut’a, “Kaç, canını kurtar, arkana bakma, bu ovanın hiçbir yerinde durma. Dağa kaç, yoksa ölür gidersin.”  Lut, “Aman, efendim!, ben kulunuzdan hoşnut kaldınız, canımı kurtarmakla bana büyük iyilik yaptınız. Ama dağa kaçamam. Çünkü felaket bana yetişir, ölürüm. İşte, şurada kaçabileceğim yakın bir kasaba var, küçücük bir kasaba. İzin verin, oraya kaçıp canımı kurtarayım.” Adamlardan biri, “Peki, O kasabayı yıkmayacağım. Çabuk ol, hemen kaç! Çünkü sen oraya varmadan bir şey yapamam.”

Lut bu kasabaya vardığında güneş doğmuştur. Sodom ve Gomora’nın üzerine gökten ateşli kükürt yağar. Bu kentler, bütün ovay, oradaki insanların hepsi ve bütün bitkiler yok olur. Ancak Lut’un peşisıra gelen karısı dönüp geriye bakınca kör olur.

İbrahim sabah erkenden kalkıp önceki gün RAB’bin huzurunda durduğu yere gider.Sodom ve Gomora’ya ve bütün ovaya bakar. Yerden, tüten bir ocak gibi duman yükselmektedir.

KAYNAK

Tevratın bu bölümü uzaylıların geçmişte Dünya ile yakından ilgilendikleri ve müdahalelerde bulunduklarını gösteren en iyi metindir. Sodom ve Gomorra’yı uzaylılar nükleer benzeri bir bombayla yok etmişlerdir.