Significance of Eidul Azha
By Prof S.M. Mahfooz Ali
Islam is not a system of rituals but a way of life free from excesses of asceticism and epicureanism. It believes in a balanced life. Balance (Mizan) is its key-note. It also believes in a principled life. Islam covers all the human activities and controls them.
Its main emphasis is on human welfare and normalization of human relationships. Its prayers, its laws, its rituals, its festivals all aim at securing the well-being of man in this world and in the Hereafter as well.
The groups of various faiths observe the rites, ceremonies and festivals that are based on the fundamental principles and the main objectives from which they derive their meaning and significance. It may be a mythology, a faith or an ideology. Festivals are common to all communities - civilized, semi civilized, advanced or developing.
Re joicings and merry-making are its keynotes, which are also natural to all humans. They appeal to sensation and animal instinct. But Islam gives it a touch of sobriety and seriousness without curbing the natural instinct.
Islam redefines enjoyment as an activity which, on the one hand accounts for its identification with the will of Allah and the well-being of the destitutes and the down-trodden of the society, on the other.
Islam always induces its believers to ameliorate the lot of those deprived of the amenities of life and to achieve this end Islam reorientated and systematized even the objects of pleasure.
The best pleasure for the believer comes from the realization that he has earned Allah's pleasure through prayers or through benevolent acts recommended by Allah and His Prophet (SAW).
The pleasure of Eidul Azha comes from the satisfaction in establishing the spiritual, moral and social order of Islam. Consequently the pleasure of Eid is not a licence but a symbol of gratitude to Allah Who gave us strength, stamina and the will to establish the system of sacrifice in its true spirit.
Let it be noted that on occasions of prayers, festivals and re joicings or sorrow, the believers are advised to pray and do good deeds which may ameliorate the status of the downtrodden and solve their problems.
Islam emphasises on its followers the need to look after the neighbour and be ready to help him. The Haj is a unique prayer. It is highly paying both individually and collectively in various walks of life.
Since various prayers have their own significance, benefits and good for the believers, let us examine its effects on human life, culture and civilization to benefit from it.
We know that Haj emphatically symbolizes the sacrifice which Hazrat Ibrahim offered on the call of Allah and Allah was so pleased with this act of him - his sincere sacrifice and total surrender to the will of Allah - that He declared it as the most significant religious occasion for all the believers. Allah describes this act of sacrifice in these words:
Tell them 'My service and sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, the creator and Lord of all the worlds (Al-Quran). If we wish to remain faithful to Allah and His apostle, we shall have to imbibe the spirit of Ibrahim's sincere sacrifice.
Haj offers an opportunity for the Muslims living in different parts of the world to gather at one place. It, in fact offers a congregational ground what the Muslims of the world can meet, discuss and decide they ought to do to face the threats and challenges facing them.
It is a pity that this most important aspect has been ignored. On this day let us pray: "Oh Allah: weld our hearts together and reform our souls thus enabling us to face the awesome challenges of today. The occasion is a source of moral and spiritual reconstruction of the Ummah.