My dear brothers and sisters, this is Eid ul Adha; it is Al Eidul Akbar, the great Eid, the big Eid. There is a big significance behind this Eid. It is the Sunnat of our father, Ibraheem (A.S). In the time of Rasoolullah (S.A.W), his Sahabas asked him, they said:

“What are these blood sacrifices all about Rasoollulah (S.A.W)? What is this Qurbaani about?” Rasoollulah (S.A.W) said: “It is the sunnat of your father, Ibraheem (A.S)”. “It is a practice of your father, Ibraheem (A.S)” The Sahabas said: “What do we get from it (this blood sacrifice) O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W)? “What is in it for us?” Rasool (S.A.W) said:” For every strand of hair/grain of hair on the animal is a blessing.” The Sahabas said: “Then what about the wool?” Rasool (S.A.W) said: “For every strand of hair, for every strand of wool on the animal is a blessing.”

So this is a Sunnat of our forefather, Ibraheem (A.S) and the blessings today will be equivalent to the amount of hair that is on the animal which we cannot count, and even much more, on the account of one’s sincerity, Allah (S.T) multiplies reward for whomsoever He wants.

On this day of Eid ul Adha, the best amal that we can do is the sacrifice itself.

There is a riwayat which is in Mishkaat -: “No son of Adam can do any action which is more beloved to Allah (S.T) on the day of sacrifice than the shedding of the blood.”

The blood sacrifice, the Qurbaani, is the best action that a person can do today on this day of the 10th of Zul Hijjah.

Why? The commentators have mentioned-
“You can do Sadaqa/charity in any other day, you can perform Salaat on any other day, you can do Zikr and Tilawat of Quran on any other day, you can do so many other actions on any other day, but this is the day known as the day of Eid ul Adha and the Izaafat lil Iktisaas - the Izaafat here, the connection here, is to show Khususiyah (specification) - that this day is connected to Adha –and this Iktisaas leads to Wujub-because it is essential upon us to perform the Eid Salaat and to do the Qurbani.

So the best amal a person can do today is the amal of Qurbaani. If you have a share, or a sheep or goat, try to do the sacrifice for yourself. You should sharpen your knives well and do not cause pain to animal. Do not sacrifice one animal in front of the other.

My dear brothers and sisters, this Qurbaani and this sacrifice brings a great message to us in this year of 1425, as it comes to an end and we are about to enter the year 1426 A.H. It brings a great message to us in the year 2005, in the solar calendar. The Qurbaani, the sacrifice, what is this all about?

My dear brothers and sisters, it is about obedience to Allah (S.T). This is about obedience - when Allah (S.T) commands, we have to listen. Rasool (S.A.W) was praying, when he went to Medina and he was praying facing the direction of Bait ul Muqaddas and the Jews were happy with that. And when he was in Mecca he would face the Qibla towards Baitul Muqaddas. He continued in this direction when he went to Medina; that is facing the direction of Jerusalem’s Bait ul Muqaddas. But the Rasool (S.A.W) had a great love and desire that he would face the Qibla, that Allah would turn him back to the original Qibla, which is the Qibla of the Kaaba in Mecca, the first house built for the worship of one god.

“Verily, the first house (of worship) which was placed for mankind was that at Mecca” (Sura 3 – Vs. 96).
 
So Rasoolullah (S.A.W), even though was praying facing Baitul Muqaddas, his heart longed for the Qibla of his father, Ibraheem (A.S). Allah (S.T) was watching the Rasool (S.A.W), as Allah is Aleem-All Aware and Allah is Baseer-He sees everything. Rasool (S.A.W) would so often turn his glance up to the heavens, waiting for revelation, turning his glance up to the heavens so often that Allah may bring revelation for him to turn his gaze to the Qibla of the Haram Shareef of the Kaaba.

Allah (S.T) revealed the verse of the Holy Quran:
“O we have seen the turning of your face time and time again towards the heavens in anticipation for revelation to come to you to turn your faces towards the Qibla, towards the Kaaba. Or we will turn you towards the Qibla which will really make you happy, so turn your face now, O Nabi, turn your face towards the Kaaba.”
And Allah addresses the Ummat -:

“Wherever you may be turn your faces towards that direction (the Kaaba).” (Sura 2 - Vs. 144)

But the Jews did not like that. Even the Kuffar wanted to know what was happening with him. One minute he is facing this direction, and then he is turning towards another direction.

Allah revealed the verse of the Quran-:
“The foolish ones from amongst mankind will soon say – “What has turned them from their direction which they were upon”?” (Sura 2 - Vs. 142)

When the Rasool (S.A.W) received revelation and Allah said:
“So turn your faces towards that direction (the Kaaba).” (Sura 2 - Vs. 144)
Immediately the Prophet (S.A.W) turned around. He had performed two Rakaats of Salaat facing Baitul Muqaddas. Revelation came and the other two Rakaats were performed facing the direction of the Kaaba. That masjid today is known as Masjidul Qiblatain, the masjid of two Qiblas.

Allah revealed the verse of the Quran – That the stupid ones, the foolish ones said what has changed them from the Qibla that they were upon.
Allah says –:

“Say, (Oh Muhammad) to Allah belong both the East and the West….” (Sura 2 - Vs.142)

In another ayat, it is mentioned-:

“And to Allah belong the East and the West, so wherever you turn your faces, you will find the countenance of Allah...” (Sura 2 - Vs.115)
So Allah told the Prophet (S.A.W) to tell the people- “What are you arguing about? The Qibla? That he has turned from Baitul Muqaddas? To Allah belongs the East and the West. “Allah (S.T) guides whomsoever he wants towards the straight part.”
In another ayat Allah (S.T) says-:

“It is not righteousness to turn your faces to the East or the West, but righteousness is the one who believes in Allah….” (Sura 2 - Vs. 177)

The whole thing is about obedience. If Allah (S.T) says face Baitul Muqaddas and pray, then we face Baitul Muqaddas and pray. If Allah (S.T) says face the Qibla /direction of the Kaaba, then we face the Kaaba, it is about obedience. It is not righteousness to face to the East or West or the North or South. All directions belong to Allah (S.T). East and West belong to Allah (S.T). Righteousness is obedience to Allah (S.T) so let the foolish ones shut up, Allah (S.T) is telling the Rasool (S.A.W), and you turn your faces to the Qibla the oldest Qibla the first Qibla, the Qibla of the Kaaba, that is Mecca, the Haram Shareef. It’s all about obedience.

The Rasool (S.A.W) obeyed. The Jews criticized. The mushrikeen said, today he is doing one thing; tomorrow he’s doing another thing.

Dear brothers and sisters, obedience! Some people ask the question, why do we face the Qibla of the Kaaba and pray? My dear brothers and sisters, we are Muslims and we are united and there is uniformity in whatever we do. When we stand for Salaat, we stand in straight lines. We will not come in the Masjid and one person is facing North, one facing South, another facing West and another East. No, we face one direction. Which direction we do face? We face the direction of the Qibla of the Kaaba in Mecca because it is the command of Allah (S.T) and in that is uniformity.

Similar was the case when Allah (S.T) had created the first man, our great, great grandfather Adam (A.S). When Allah (S.T) made the first man, the first prophet, our great grandfather Adam (A.S), the father of all mankind, similarly, a law came from Allah (S.T).

Allah (S.T) reminds of this in the Quran, He says:

“Remember when we said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam (A.S)” (Sura 2 - Vs.34)

“And they all prostrated except Iblis.”  (Sura 2 - Vs. 34)
Shaitaan wanted to do his own Ijtihaad/ (deduction). Shaitaan did not do taqleed (follow), he did not follow the angels. Shaitaan thought, “Listen, I can understand and think for myself. I can do my own Istimbaat/(deduction), I can do my own Ijtihaad (deduction). I am better than him. You created me from fire. O Allah (S.T).” And fire has the quality of rising, fire goes up, it is lateef. And you have created him from mud.” Mud comes back down to the ground. Mud is lowly, it falls back down. I am not going to make Sajdah to this person. I am not going to follow the angels. I’ll do my own Ijtihaad (deduction). I’m not going to bow to him, he’s inferior to me. He’s lower than me.”

All the angels made Sajdah except Iblis. He denied, he refused and he was arrogant. And because of that disobedience, because of that denial and refusal and because of arrogance and pride, he was from Kuffar/disbelievers; even in the knowledge of Allah (S.T) from way back, he was from the kuffars/disbelievers. Even from that time, he was from amongst the Kuffars/disbelievers.

My dear brothers and sisters, what does this tell us? Obedience to the commands of Allah! Allah told the angels bow down to Adam (A.S). It was a Sajdah of Inhinaa, of bowing to show reverence and respect. It was not a Sajdah of Ibaadah. If even it was a Sajdah of Ibaadah, the commentators mentioned that nothing is wrong because Adam (A.S) would have been made as a Qibla, as a direction, and their Ibaadah would be to Allah (S.T), but their direction , their Qibla would be to Adam (A.S) and the commander would be Allah (S.T) Himself. But Shaitaan, he refused and he was proud.

From this, we can see, when we start to refuse the commands of Allah (S.T), when we start to deny the commands of Allah (S.T), when we start to become full of arrogance and pride, then kufr/disbelief is feared upon us. Just as Shaitaan became a kaafir/disbeliever because of two qualities-because of his denial to obey the commands of Allah (S.T) and because of his arrogance, he was from amongst the disbelievers. Even way before, in the knowledge of Allah (S.T), Shaitaan was from amongst the kuffar and disbelievers

So therefore disobedience, disrespect, denial, refusal, not submitting, not bowing, pride and arrogance will lead a person towards kufr/disbelief.

What we need to look at what is the commands of Allah (S.T).
And what is the command of Allah (S.T)?

Listen and obey. Similarly, Allah (S.T) tested Ibraheem (A.S) in many different ways, Allah (S.T) said in the Quran:

 “And remember when his Lord tested Ibraheem (A.S) with (certain) commands, which he fulfilled.” (Sura 2 - Vs.124)
He passed his tests with flying colors. Allah (S.T) tested him. According to Hazrat Ibn Abbas (R.A) from the Ahadith of Rasool (S.A.W) we are told that these ten things were ten things in the body, five things in the head and five things in the body.
The five things in the head were-

1. Parting the hair in center or middle part.
2. Use of the Miswaak
3. Putting water in mouth and gargle.
4. Putting water in the nostrils.   
5. Growing the beard and trimming the mustache
   

1. Removing the hair from under the armpit (Plucking if possible)
2. Shaving of the hair of the pubic areas
3. Cutting of nails (toes and fingers)
4. Cleaning oneself with water after using the toilet
5. Circumcision
   

So the reward for obedience, Allah says:

“Verily, I am going to make you a leader of mankind….” (Sura 2 -Vs.124)

Ibraheem (AS) said: “And of my offsprings (to make leaders)…?” (Sura 2 - Vs.124)

Allah said: “My covenant will not include the wrongdoers.”  (Sura 2 - Vs.124)
You will be an Imam/leader and those from your children who are pious will also be Imams and leaders with virtues, righteousness and rewards.

Ibraheem (AS) did not have a child. And for many years he did not have a child. Then from Hajar (AS), Ibraheem (AS) had his first-born and the name of his first-born was Ismaeel (AS) and grew up to be a strong, good looking, handsome youth, obedient to his father and respectful. And when he was about 13 years of age, where he could help his father and be of use to him, first born, only one child, the order from Allah came to sacrifice Ismaeel (AS). But again Ibraheem (AS) like prophet Muhammad (SAW) and all the other prophets, obedience to Allah was there, not saying Ijtihaad/deductions, or saying I am better than him, but obedience to Allah was there. The command came from Allah, just as when Allah command Rasool (SAW) to face Baitul Muqaddas, he faced Baitul Muqaddas. And when he was commanded to face  Haram Shareef, he faced Haram Shareef. Obedience to Allah.

He (Ibraheem (A.S) said: “Oh my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so what do you think?” (Sura 37 - Vs.102)

“His son said: O my beloved father, do what you are commanded, if Allah wills, you will find me from amongst the patient ones.” (Sura 37 - Vs.102)
And even the son had humility. He did not say you will find me the patient one. He is saying that there are many other patient ones, and I will be one from amongst them. And that shows humility. So the son Ismaeel (A.S.) obeyed the command. Ibraheem (AS)  also obeyed the command. But when obedience is there, then the help of Allah comes.

“And we ransomed him with a great sacrifice (slaughter)”.  (Sura 37 - Vs.107)
Allah (ST) sent a ram that Ibraheem (AS) would now sacrifice in place of Ismaeel (A.S.).

Subhaanallah! In the tafseer of Ibn Katheer, it is mentioned, that this ram was a ram that was sacrificed many, many years ago, in the time of Adam (AS), in the time of his two sons, Qabeel and Habeel, when Habeel had sacrificed his ram which was accepted by Allah. It was that very ram which Allah brought back down to the earth, which Ibraheem (AS) would now use as a sacrifice in place of Ismaeel (AS).

Allah only wants to see your obedience. Allah wants to see when He orders with something, you are ready to obey. And when you are ready, then He will make things easy.

Allah says: “Verily, with hardship there is ease.” (Sura 94 - Vs.5)
Ibraheem (AS) had put the knife on the throat of Ismaeel (AS) but the knife would not cut.

There is beautiful piece of poetry on this:

Ibraheem (AS) is asking the knife:
“Why aren’t you cutting?”
The knife responded:
“The Khaleel/friend of Allah has commanded me to cut,
but the Jaleel  Allah is stopping me from cutting.”

When Allah saw that Ibraheem (AS) was obedient, and he had past his test, then that ram came and the sacrifice was done.

And this is what we remember today, that great sacrifice, that when we do that, we remember the sacrifice and Qurbaani of our father Ibraheem (AS), his son, Ismaeel (AS), his mother, the sacrifices of the prophets in general, and especially our prophet Muhammad (SAW).

So remember, it is about obedience. But alas! Today, when we leave from here and go to do our sacrifices, let us leave with this intention, that when we put that knife on the throat of the animal, we are actually putting that knife on our pride, we are slaughtering our ego. We are always thinking that we are better than others, like Shaitaan, that pride, that takabbur. Do you know what is the Qurb/ nearness to Allah?

Rasool (SAW) said:” Anyone who lowers himself for Allah, (Anyone who adopts humility), Allah will raise him up.”

So if you lower yourself for Allah, He will raise you up.

“And anyone who displays arrogance, Allah will pull him down.”
Today when we go to do that sacrifice, we put that knife on the throat of the animal and we say “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” and we cut that throat, let us put that knife of our ego, on our pride, greed, vices, nafs, all the vanities of this world. And when we do that, we must have the final intention, the ultimate goal of a Muslim and that is, I am prepared also to sacrifice my neck for the neck of Islam, for the Sunnat of Rasool (SAW). I am even prepared to give my blood, to shed my blood, to die as a martyr for the cause of Allah.

My dear Brothers/Sisters, this Qurbaani/sacrifice is about obedience. When the command of Allah comes, we obey. This Qurbaani is about sacrificing and giving up something, being willing to give up something. It comes from the word Qurban.

What is that Qurbaani? It is that which brings a person closer to Allah. You give up certain things to achieve certain things. You do certain things. We all know about sacrifice. People would sacrifice the love of home and family to travel around the world to earn an income.

People in Guyana would go six months in the interior for gold mining, sacrifice the comforts of the home to achieve their goals.

So to, my dear brothers and sisters, we should be willing to sacrifice, to go out in the part of Allah (S.T) for four months, six months, one year, to go fisabillilah (in the path of Allah). To sacrifice our comforts, our wealth, our children, our trade, for the sake of Allah (S.T).

And the biggest sacrifice is to sacrifice our rights to fulfill the rights of others. It is to sacrifice our desires to fulfill the desires of Allah (S.T). The Rasool (S.A.W) said: “None of you can be a true believer until his desires are subjected to what I have brought (that is the Quran).”

We have to learn to be obedient but alas! Where is obedience? What are we doing? We are putting the knife on Islam. We are sacrificing Islam. That beautiful garden of Islam which was nurtured and fertilized and nourished and irrigated by the blood of the Sahabas, the blood of the Rasool (S.A.W). Women in the time of the Rasool (S.A.W) became widows, children became orphans, people shed their blood and gave their lives for this beautiful garden of Islam.

And today what are we doing? We are cutting down this garden of Islam. We are sacrificing Islam today. Obedience! Where is obedience today? We are doing Qurbaani throughout the world, but the essence of Qurbaani is the obedience of Allah.

Have we not heard of the ayat of the Holy Quran-“the flesh does not reach Allah (S.T); the blood does not reach Allah (S.T), what reaches Allah {S.T} is your Taqwa.”

Allah (S.T) does not want the flesh, nor the blood, but it is your Taqwa, piety, sincerity, devotion and obedience. This is what reaches Allah (S.T).

But alas today, we have certain rituals and practices we still do, but the obedience,  the Taqwa, the devotion is not there. And Allah (S.T) becomes angry with us. And you should be aware right now of the disasters that were caused by the Tsunamis waves, that tremendous and great disaster. It came from Allah (S.T). Muslims commented in Indonesia, Muslims commented in Sri Lanka; and they mentioned that in Banda Achay, it was not just one masjid that remained, but four or five Masjids were the only structures remaining.

When all around buildings collapsed, Allah (S.T) saved the masjids in Bande Achay. But in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Muslims were commenting and they mentioned that in Sri Lanka, the place that was hit the most was that area which was dominated by Muslims, a heavy concentration of Muslims. They suffered. Indonesia a Muslim country again, Malaysia, all these places, in Somalia, the Muslims got the brunt of it. Why?  The very inhabitants of these affected countries have mentioned that these areas, these countries, were the playground of the erring Muslims and the playground of the tourists. Prostitution, fornication, adultery, Muslim girls parading themselves and exhibiting their bodies for the world to see, gambling, wine-drinking, drugs, homosexuality. These were the things going on and Allah became very angry, and Allah let loose His Azaab and destruction upon the people. My dear brothers and sisters. Have we not learnt a lesson? That was a big lesson for us to learn. How is it then, we can see these tsunamis waves, these tidal waves leaving destruction, leaving 200,000 dead. Something which the whole world has seen, such a great destruction. In fact, there is a satellite picture that shows Allah had signed His name in the ocean. The name of Allah was written in the ocean. Subhaanallah!

How is it then that we cannot learn a lesson? Right here in Trinidad, Muslims have gone backward. Muslims have become corrupt. Alcohol and adultery are rampant. Where is the obedience? Where is the Qurbani? Where is the sacrifice? The garden which came down to us from the Sahabahs who gave their blood and lives for us to inherit this garden of Islam, what are we doing to this garden? What are the communities, nationally and internationally doing to the garden of Islam?

Allah is watching as adultery, Zina, fornication are rampant. Rasool (S.A) said: “A Zani, an adulterer does not commit adultery and when he commits that act, and he is a believer”. His Imaan comes out of him. In another Ahadith Imaan/faith comes out just as fingers come out when they are separated from being interlocked, and the Imaan/faith hovers around his head, and when he finishes his act of adultery, then the Imaan/faith returns. The commentators mentioned that the Nur of Imaan/the light of faith comes out of him, the perfection of Imaan/faith comes out of him, when he finishes that act, if he is remorseful, if he makes tauba, then Imaan/faith returns, if not, may Allah save that a person should die in the act of adultery. When we look around today in communities throughout the world, locally, nationally, internationally, we see what are the orders of the day.

Rasool (SAW) said: “From the signs of the hour, is that Ilm (knowledge) will be lifted and ignorance will prevail and wine will be drunk and Zina/fornication will become rampant, abundant and clear.”

My dear Muslims, we need to put a stop to such evils in our localities because if adultery is starting in our Masjid, if adultery in starting in your Masjid, if these evils of adultery, fornication, wine drinking, homosexuality and other evils are being done, lewdness and inequities are being done. Allah says:

“.And He prohibits from shamelessness, wrong things and oppression.” (Sura 16 - Vs.90)

This is not an Islamic state. The law for a man committing adultery, if they were married, a married man or a married woman, they should be stoned to death, if they were not married, then they should be given 100 lashes. We can’t do that. Here is not an Islamic state. But we can do something, we can do something in the Masjid, we can exile them, we can put some form of punishment upon them, we can even hit them some strokes. We must do something. If we allow evils to come in our society, then remember what happened to Indonesia, to Sri Lanka, to Thailand, to these places. If we see people being disobedient to Allah, and the laws of Allah are being broken and we don’t make an effort to stop them, if we don’t talk out against them, and if it is kept in a hush hush way and put  under the carpet and wrongs continue to be done; people not performing Salaat, Muslims drinking openly, Muslims owning alcohol shops, Muhammad- licensed to sell spirituous liquor, zina and adultery being committed, gambling going on, all these evils and we are not making an effort to command what is right,  and prevent what is wrong, if we are not giving the Dawah, then many of us will become just like them, and then the azaab/punishment of Allah (S.T) may fall upon us.

So far, we have been lucky in this part of the world. Let us keep it that way by sacrificing our lives for Allah (S.T), by keeping up the good work we have been doing and try to do more  before fitnah can manifest. Let us kill it from the bud; before it can grow up to be a strong palm, let us cut it from the root.

This Qurbaani today is all about obedience, about sacrifice, about Taqwa and devotion to Allah (S.T). The time is coming when people are becoming more and more corrupt, and Allah (S.T) is watching. Allah (S.T) signs are taking place, destruction is happening around us. Earthquakes, Tsunamis, tidal waves, tornados, volcanic eruption, hurricanes etc. Let us do the best we can to stop the evils, command  righteousness and to hold on to the rope of Allah. And when we see wrong being committed openly, then whatever is in our power, let us do something to stop it because Allah (S.T) is watching.

The essence of today’s Ibaadah is Taqwa, obedience and devotion to Allah (S.T). Let you and I become dedicated soldiers and warriors of Allah (S.T). Ameen.