New Delhi, October 20: “The sacrifice of animal we make at the occasion of Eid Al-Azha is actually in the memory of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh). Allah Almighty got him through trials and tribulations and ordered him to sacrifice the only son he had given him in the old age. When he stood true to this trial then Allah ordered his generation to sacrifice animals to make Prophet Ibrahim’s great sacrifice an immortal act. This act is worship in Islam. While ordering his Ummat for sacrifice Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said it is the tradition (Sunnat) of your father Prophet Ibrahim.” These views were expressed by Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Ameer (National President) of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind while delivering Eid Al-Azha sermon at Masjid Ishaat-e-Islam here in Abul Fazl Enclave on 16^th October.

Ameer-e Jamaat Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari has been leading prayers of Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Azha for last several years. To listen to his heart-touching sermons, people come from far and wide and the entire campus of the Jamaat besides the grand mosque and its courtyard is filled with faithfuls. Women also come in good numbers to offer these prayers here and listen to Maulana’s sermon attentively.

In this Eid Al-Azha sermon, Maualan Umari said that if we look at the life of Prophet Ibrahim we find his every act was a sacrifice. He was born in an area which was deeply indulged idol and star worship. His father himself was a priest. The ruler of the time called himself as the avtar of Sun god. In that atmosphere, Prophet Ibrahim gave a call for worship to One God. He counselled his father and also called his fellow countrymen to the Right Path. But the people turned his enemy so much so that they decided to throw him into a pit of fire. But with the order of Almighty Allah, the fire pit turned into a garden of flowers. Then Prophet Ibrahim had to migrate. Wherever he went he raised the voice of Allah. He was gifted with a son who was the support of his old age, but Allah ordered him to leave his son with his mother in a deserted area with no trace of human life. He obeyed Allah’s order. When his son grew up Allah ordered him to sacrifice him. Prophet Ibrahim again got ready to obey the order.

Maulana Umari said sacrifice has been given much weight in Islam. On the day of Eid Al-Azha, sacrifice of animal is the most pleasant act in the eye of Allah. The man gets ajr of every hair of the animal. We should keep our heart and intension clean regarding the sacrifice. Allah says that only Taqwa not meat or blood of the animal reaches him.

Video: http://youtu.be/pkwmgsXmtqE