Photo by Michael Camsa/BIO
“O my father! Do as you are commanded. If Allah wills, you shall find me of the patient,” (Qur’an, 37:102) uttered by Ismail (AS) to his confused father, Ibrahim (AS), who was brimming with conflicting emotions. But in his heart and mind, the distraught father is without a doubt grounded by his strong belief. The same belief that cemented his decision to his greatest dilemma. Allah (SWT) had commanded him to relinquish the life of his most precious and beloved son.
With undeterred devotion and resolute faith, both father and son were in full submission to Allah (SWT) to fulfill the command no matter how Shaytan dissuaded them. Blindfolded and holding a knife, about to slit his son’s neck, a voice called him to stop. In his son’s place was a dead ram, and his unharmed son stood beside him.
“And when they both submitted and he (Ibrahim) had laid him on his forehead, We called to him, “O Ibrahim, You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with great sacrifice, and We left for him (favourable mention) among later generations: “Peace upon Ibrahim.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, he was of Our believing servants. (37:103-11)
This narrative, I remember, had been a recurring subject of our resident ustadh (preacher). It takes me back to a hazy memory from my childhood when I would get confused by the weeping men and women I observed whenever the ustadh recounted the khutba (sermon) about the trial bestowed upon Prophet Ibrahim by the Almighty Allah.
Everyone seemed so emotional, I couldn’t fathom where these tears were coming from. What I did know was that the entire day will be spent eating meat, just like the past years.
“Ah da siran sumbali, da makwa ta kambing enggu sapi,” I overheard while walking back to our house from the Eid’l Adha congregational prayer.
[They were not able to slaughter the cattle.
We don’t have any goat or cow meat today.]
“Da man budget ta saguna ba,” answered our neighbor who celebrated her child’s birthday a few days before Eid’l Adha.”
[We don’t have enough budget for that.]
That caught my attention but shrugged it off anyway, as I couldn’t fully comprehend what the scenario implied.
Now that I’m already an adult, that memory definitely hit something in me. As they say, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Whenever I open my social media accounts, grand celebrations for graduations, anniversaries, and even birthdays are everywhere. But what about Eid?
The Eid’l Adha and Eid’l Fitr are the two celebrations in Islam that Muslims are encouraged to actively participate in.
Family gatherings, exchanging gifts, forgiving those who wronged us, and performing the Qurbani are among the sunnahs (the ways of Prophet Mohammad) that are sometimes overlooked.
Dr. Muhammad Nadzir S. Ebil, a Bangsamoro Jurist from the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta, explained the importance of performing the Qurban or sacrifice.
“Dapat ay mag-effort ang tao para makapagsagawa ng Qurban sa araw na ito. Mas gawan natin ng effort ang pag-Qurban dahil ito ang may reward. Sa bawat balahibo ng hayop na ating kinatay ay kapantay ito ang dami ng kapatawaran sa ating mga kasalanan,” Ebil said while explaining that their office is making significant efforts to consistently remind the Bangsamoro community about the true essence of performing Qurbani and the proper way to do it.
[A person should make an effort to perform the Qurban on this day. Let us put more effort into the act of Qurban because this is the one that carries a reward. For every strand of hair on the animal we sacrifice, it is equivalent to the abundance of forgiveness for our sins.]
Living in a region governed by an administration that is committed to Moral Governance, and at the same time, working in an organization that communicates the government’s programs, I have seen firsthand the regional government’s dedication to upholding Islamic values and teachings.
On the day of Eid’l Adha, June 28, the Office of the Chief Minister’s (OCM) Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan (TABANG) Project has started the distribution of 473 cows across the Bangsamoro region which will benefit 15,000 needy families.
This is an annual activity in line with their social assistance for special occasions activity, which aims to provide for needy families during Eid.
“Ito ‘yong pwede pa nating maitulong sa mga tao sa panahon ng Eid, na mayroon silang mapagsaluhan sa kani-kanilang pamilya. At ito na rin yung way ng BARMM government na ipakita sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng aktibidad na ito sapagkat tayo, bilang Muslim, kung gusustuhin natin at kaya natin ay kailangang makapag-Qurban tayo,” Datu Serhan Badal, Humanitarian Services Unit Head of Project TABANG shared in an interview.
[This is something we can still do to help people during Eid, to provide them with something to share with their respective families. It is also the way for the BARMM government to show them the importance of this activity because as Muslims, if we desire and are able, we need to perform the Qurban.]
These efforts of our government reminded me that as Muslims, we must understand the real meaning of celebrating this feast—the feast of sacrifice.
The narrative of Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail has persisted down the ages and from generation to generation.
The Bangsamoro struggle is also a story of sacrifice, similar to Prophet Ibrahim and his son’s narrative.
The leader of the Bangsamoro, Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, said that we must reflect on the remarkable deeds and sacrifices of those who came before us, including the Shaheed (Martyrs) who sacrificed their lives in the name of Islam.
“Sa ngalan ng Islam, maraming Bangsamoro ang nakipaglaban at nagbuwis ng buhay para isulong ang utos ng Allah (SWT) na siyang naging daan sa tinatamasa nating kalayaan sa kasalukuyan,” he added.
[In the name of Islam, many Bangsamoro have fought and sacrificed their lives to advance the command of Allah (SWT) which has become the way to the freedom we enjoy today.]
Indeed, this timeless reminder of great devotion and faith tells us that making sacrifices in the name of our Creator will not only improve our lives in this world but also brings greater rewards in the hereafter. (Bai Omairah Yusop/BIO)
