Qur'an Stories : The Sacrificed

Qur'an Stories > The Sacrificed
Taken from al-islam.com

When Abraham (peace be upon him) left his people's land, he asked his Lord to bless him with a pious son. Therefore, Allah gave him glad tidings that he would be the father of a gentle son, Ishmael (peace be upon him).

Ishmael was born when Abraham, the Close One to Allah, was eighty-six years old. When Ishmael was old enough to walk, Abraham saw in a dream that he sacrificed his son. As prophets' dreams are revelations, Abraham's dream was a great trial with which Allah afflicted him.

The Qur'an says, "He [Abraham] said; 'O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so look, what do you think?'"

In reply, Ishmael said, "O my father! Do what you have been commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me of the steadfast."

Then, they were commanded to submit themselves to Allah's Will.

The Qur'an says, "When they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice)." As Abraham and Ishmael submitted to Allah's Will and began to carry out His commandment, Allah sent angels with glad tidings.

The Qur'an says, "We called out to him, `O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!' Thus indeed We reward those who do right.

This was obviously a trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We left (blessing) for him among generations (to come) in Later times.

Peace and salutation to Abraham! Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For he was one of Our believing servants."

When Abraham and his son Ishmael passed the trial successfully, Allah redeemed Ishmael's life with a white ram that had sound eyes and horns which Abraham found tied to a tree near Thabir Mount. So he sacrificed it at Mina. Afterwards, this act has been perpetuated by the rituals of Hajj, especially the rite of sacrifice.