The True Sacrifice

Praise be to Allah (SWT), peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Indeed, We have created humankind in struggle. [Al Balad, 90:4]

In this month of Dhul Hijjah, it is imperative that we start to ponder on the true sense of sacrifice to put into practice during our lifetime. It is unfortunate that a number of Muslims, who have been influenced by colonialism and have adopted a conciliatory attitude towards Allah’s (SWT) enemies, have reduced the sense of sacrifice of Eid ul Adha, to the sacrifice of animals only. Through this behaviour, they imitate those who used to sacrifice animals out of ignorance and idolatry, in times of Jahaliyah.

Allah (SWT) tells us in the above verse that Man has been created for a life of battles, a life of perpetual tests. Irrespective of social status, lifestyle, age, or physical condition, we are called to a life of sacrifice and tests.

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is the ultimate triumph. [At Tawbah, 9:111]

There is no guarantee for the one who believes in Allah (SWT) that his life will be devoid of difficulties and tests from Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) reminds us of Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) example:

˹Remember˺ when Abraham was tested by his Lord with ˹certain˺ commandments, which he fulfilled. [Al Baqara, 2:124]

For their part, Palestinians give us a lesson in sacrifice and patience in times of tests, daily.

Let’s Talk About Sacrifice

Being Muslim means that we have signed a contract with Allah (SWT), which entails a commitment, and respecting this contract shows that we recognise Allah (SWT) as the Supreme, All-Possessing. Consequently, we need to be ready to sacrifice ourselves, our families, our wealth and all that we aspire in this world for the hereafter.

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is the ultimate triumph. [At Tawbah, 9:111]

What we are enjoying today does not actually belong to us. We need to remember that we are not here to live our lives as owners or enjoy worldly life. Everything belongs to Allah (SWT) and we need to sacrifice everything for His pleasure.

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah […] [At Tawbah, 9:111]

It is important for us to understand that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions have sacrificed everything. They have gone through many difficulties, have given their lives, their country, their wealth and their families to spread Allah’s (SWT) word. Today, we are proud to be Muslims.

Islam had instilled in them a sense of mission and a responsibility to right the wrongs in society.

We have forgotten that to be a Muslim means to engage in jihad, meaning engaging in a serious battle to understand our relationship with Allah (SAW) and all that it requires, but also to maintain Allah’s (SAW) deen.

In Fiqh us Zakaat, Yusuf Qaradawi says that the most honourable form of jihad is the fight for the liberation of Muslims lands from unbelievers, irrespective of the latter's religion or ideologies. Moreover, the fight to maintain Allah’s (SWT) deen as explained by Him, should be our priority.

He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with ˹true˺ guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists. [At Tawbah, 9:33]

What About Us and Our Sacrifices?

We need to sacrifice ourselves so that Islam is applied as a complete deen. We need to sacrifice ourselves to live in a society guided by Islamic principles, in the face of Allah’s (SWT) enemies. We need to sacrifice ourselves to oppose what is wrong, in the form of idolatry, polytheism, Islamophobia, corruption, LGBT and other scourges.

We need to respect our commitment to Allah (SWT). We are in this world to live in complete obedience and submission to Allah (SWT). This can only happen when we adopt a mindset of sacrifice.

Such a commitment requires appropriate preparation.

Prepare against them what you can of ˹military˺ power and cavalry to deter Allah’s enemies and your enemies as well as other enemies unknown to you but known to Allah. Whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be paid to you in full and you will not be wronged. [Al Anfal, 8:60]

This preparation will require a physical as well as logistic investment. We will have Shaitaan’s armada which will take the shape of a dominant authority, through local or foreign agents, against us.

Finally, engaging in such a battle to forbid evil, and to put Allah’s (SWT) system in place, demands a return towards the Creator, the Conceptor of this deen, and consequently demands a return to activism. The Muslim is not allowed to behave as an indifferent lethargic spectator.

We have been conditioned by the kufr ideology, so much so, that we are reluctant to engage in activism, in battles for justice. Why do verses where Allah (SWT) promise Paradise to those who fight for His cause, no longer appeal to us? Why do we resist activism?

The answer lies in the way the world around us shapes us. We are not born with an aversion to defending what is right. We are conditioned to see Islam through an individualistic prism, which devoid our lives of the very essence of faith. Islam has become a selfish quest; we are more interested in personal salvation, ignoring the critical situation of our Ummah, believing that such quests will distance us from a proximity with Allah (SWT).

Meanwhile, preachers, here and abroad, have deviated khutbah, promising mirages to people, which are, according to them, accessible without effort or sacrifice. It is high time the Ummah came out of its torpor to combat oppression, wherever it is.

Let’s sacrifice ourselves for Allah (SWT) and trust Him completely. The sacrifices of our sister, Aafia Siddiqui, in an American prison, or that of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Marwan Barghouti, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, should not be in vain.

For Allah (SWT) calls upon us:

Do you think you will enter Paradise without Allah proving which of you struggled ˹for His cause˺ and patiently endured? [Ali ‘Imraan, 3:142]

May Allah (SWT) help and guide us.