Ismail had not weaned before Ibrahim received a vision of settling his family in Becca in Arabia, which lies in a valley within hills and mountains. He proceeded on his journey and it was the fate of the young mother and her son that they would be left in God’s hands as Ibrahim supplicated for them in the desolate region he left them in with little provision. The young mother’s quest for water made her run seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa until water sprang forth from the boy’s feet and the prayer of Ibrahim for God’s care was answered.
Ibrahim returned occasionally to visit his family and his son assisted him in rebuilding the first house made for mankind, the Ka’aba, which was then in ruins. It was during one of such visits that Ibrahim had a vision of sacrificing his son. The distressed father discussed the vision and Ismail, the obedient child, asked his father to do as he was told: to be sacrificed.
As Ibrahim made to fulfil God’s purpose, he was called, “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, we reward those who do right, for this was a clear trial”. God provided him with a ram to sacrifice as he was contented with his Prophet’s faithfulness (Quran 37:105).
Pilgrimage to Becca or Mecca was thereafter established with the completion of the Ka’aba by Ibrahim with the assistance of his son, Ismail. Ismail would later give birth to twelve children, including Kidar, who is the progenitor of many Arabs.
It is against the foregoing background that the most enduring lesson of the season is sacrifice, a core component of faith. The corollary of sacrifice is service, working without consideration for self and exerting oneself for the common good or the good of the others.
As Muslims engage in festivities this season, the overarching lesson is that Life is not all about self, money, power and transient privileges. It is about the sacrifices one can make to add more value to the lives of others. It is about foregoing personal comfort and even entitlements in order to put smiles on the faces of others. Sacrifice is it.
On many occasions, it takes sacrifice to cement friendship and camaraderie. Sacrificing time, money, thoughts and interests is often required to let people know we really care about them. It is not about being right always, it is about being good and caring. We owe ourselves a duty of taming the beast of selfishness and materialism that has reduced us to a nation of people without conscience.