The event commemorated by Eid-al-Azha, or Bakrid, took place 2,793 years before the migration of Prophet Mohammed. It is a true tale stranger than fiction as narrated in the Koran.
“Then, when [the son] Reached [the age of serious] work with him, He said: O my son! I have seen in vision That I offer thee in sacrifice” (Saffat: 102). Hazrath Ibrahim stood in the doorway as he spoke to his son Hazrath Ismail about the vision, his face dejected. For Prophet Father and Prophet Son, death was both fact and mystery, and sacrifice was demanded of both Ibrahim and Ismail. When the father conveyed the command of Allah, Hazrath Ismail said: “O my father! Do as thou art commanded.”
The morning of the next day, 10th Zilhaj, witnessed the unusual scene of the father set to sacrifice his son. Ibrahim paused after a few steps to stay in step with the son, Ismail, blindfolded himself and got ready to slaughter him. But there was surprise for him. He saw his son standing and a slaughtered lamb lying nearby. He was thankful but wondered whether his sacrifice has been rejected. Then Allah said: “O Ibrahim! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision.” There was joy of fulfilment for Hazrath Ibrahim after the pain.
Qur’bani is performed by Muslims to commemorate the intended sacrifice of Hazrath Ibrahim. And it is a ritual ordained to be performed by the Hajis during the Haj in Makkah. There are norms for the distribution of meat obtained from Qur’bani to ensure that the destitute get delicious food at least on this day, and it is the hallmark of Islamic jurisprudence. The apathy of the present generation towards aged parents has forced the government to focus attention on the social obligations of the progeny to parents. Eid-al-Azha holds a message to the younger generation in particular to borrow inspiration from it and extol the code of implicit obedience set by Ismail.
