We
know the story of Ibrahim and the sacrifice he was asked to make. But
do we truly understand the meaning and lesson behind the idea of
sacrifice? How can we give this idea context in the modern world?
What is Allah's allegory? We can start with the dictionary definition
of sacrifice. Miriam Webster and Oxford dictionaries define sacrifice
as an act of offering to a deity something precious; especially
the killing of a victim on
an altar.
Pagan sacrifice often involved humans. Some historical accounts indicate that children were sacrificed because they were considered pure. Often if an animal was sacrificed, it was left on the altar. It was considered food for the gods and should not be consumed by humans. Ancients performed ritual sacrifice to gain favours like success in battle, a good crop yield and as retainers for the afterlife of the rich. The Qur'an strongly condemns human sacrifice, as a "grave error and sinful act"[118] sura 17 aya 31 and an "ignorant, foolish act of those that have gone astray". sura 6 aya 140. When Ibrahim's son is replaced by the ram, it is a reminder of this condemnation and the most appropriate solution to the means of sacrifice. It is not permissible for a human to give human sacrifice but it is permissible for a human to give animal sacrifice. The Quran states that all creation praises God, even if this praise is not expressed in human language. There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end. — Quran 6:38 There are rules to both protect animals and to impart a higher spiritual significance to an act that could easily degenerate to wanton cruelty. Qurbani as a ritual has very specific rules and gives respect to the sacrificed as well as respect to the performer of sacrifice. The prayer at offering, the sharpness of the knife, the exactness of the cut, the sharing of the meat in three parts make the sacrifice Just. In this sense the divine is manifest in the form of laws both in human society and in the world of nature:
a person does not perform any action on Baqar 'Eid which is dearer to Allah Azzawajal than Qurbani. This Qurbani will come on the Day of Judgement, with its horns, hair, and hoofs, and at the time of sacrificing the animal, it is accepted by Allah Azzawajal even before the blood of the slaughtered animal reaches the ground. Therefore, perform Qurbani happily and open-heartedly. {Tirmizi, Volume 3, Page 162, Hadith 1498, Dar-ul-Fikr Beirut}The sacrificed becomes a symbol of that which is dearest to us. So commonly we read "O My Lord! Henceforth, this thing, which has been dearest to me in life, will not hinder me from reaching You and acquiring Your pleasure." Imam Zainul Abideen (AS) The question becomes: "What is your Ismail?" Some suggest it be your job, greed, lust, your wife or your children. As long as it is something you love dearly. This is what is fed in us during Eid Al-adha. I think this is true but needs to be tempered. I'd like to explore another leg of the allegory.
Sympathetic vs Somatic Thinking and Intentions
By definition sacrifice is not an easy thing. Eid Al-Adha is 3 days long because Shaytan tried for 3 days to deter Ibrahim and Ismail. On the way, Shaytan appeared in a form of an old advising man. He tried to stop Prophet Ibrahim (AS) from offering the sacrifice, but because of the strong faith in Allah (SWT), Prophet Ibrahim (AS)'s determination to comply with the command of his Creator could not be shaken. Shaytan then tried his luck with young Prophet Ismail (AS) and persuade him to escape from his ill fate. As a result of his father's invocation, Prophet Ismail (AS) was a righteous son and could not be influenced. Shaytan's suggestions cater to the instinct of fight or flight. The fight or flight response is a reaction of the sympathetic nervous system which does not require forethought, it is simply a reaction to stress for self-preservation. Ibrahim and Ismail's choices are somatic. They act consciously by taking into account the meaning of the dream and solidifying their intentions. They are able to transcend notions of self and false attachment to the material realm, thus removing a veil between themselves and Allah, enabling Allah’s mercy to descend upon them.
Consider the word sacrum as a root of the word sacrifice. The sacrum performs few active roles in the human body, primarily supporting the rest of the human spine. It exists at the end of the spinal column, appearing as a triangular bone and rests in the c-shape portion of the lower back, connecting the lumbar vertebrae with the pelvis. In addition to providing support, the sacrum works in coordination with the rest of the human spine, which provides movement and flexibility. The primary role of the sacrum is one of a bridge, as it connects the hipbones, or the iliac crest, with the rest of the spine. The hip bones allow us to walk which is an intentional action. It is somatic. Our hipbones rush us to prayer, carry us to hajj and bring us to the Qurbani. Sacrifice gives us backbone. It is the support and basis for our intentional movements and thoughts.
Sacrifice and Love
The word Qurbani has a Semitic root QRB. Q-R-B means "to be close to someone/something"; other words from the root include qarov, "close" and qerovim,"relatives." Allah is all about willingness. What your intentions are.
He (swt) does not want you to neglect or view anything or anyone in your life as an obstruction but to clearly and logically understand His message, that He will accept in us the sacrifice of self for the benefit of our fellow humans.(Yusuf Ali commentary). Allah gave lessons in preventing Ibrahim from killing his son. It is two fold. The first is the abhorrence of human sacrifice guiding us toward justice and the second is intentional obedience to Allah, but notice how Allah softens the heart with his teaching. Imagine how the closeness, the QRB, grew between father and son after the test. They shared a critical and life-changing moment and when it was over, imagine the joy they both felt realizing that they BOTH passed the test together by submitting their will. Sacrifice is important because it brings us into closer relations with Allah, our family and community. The more frequently we make Sacred, the stronger the closeness and "familiarity", the stronger relationships we can build to please Allah.
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