Irfan (Volume 2) IRFAAN 2

139-140

We now describe here the Philosophy behind the Sacrifice (offered on Eid ul Adha). It has come in a dictum that when Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihis-Salaam (Abraham) started building the Khana-e-Kaba, every time the structure collapsed and could not stay standing. Hence, he asked Allah Almighty regarding this matter. It was Replied that he should offer Sacrifice. Hence, many times more and more camels were offered as Sacrifice but the demand for Sacrifice stood unfilled. At last, he received this Order that he should offer the most beloved and the dearest thing in Sacrifice as Allah Almighty says:

You will not attain unto piety until you spend of that which you love (3:92)

Thus, in wake of this, Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihis-Salaam (Abraham) thought in his heart that his dearest possession could be his son Hazrat Ismaeel Alaihis-Salaam (Samuel). So, he decided to Sacrifice him. On the other hand, Allah Almighty just wanted to test Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihis-Salaam (Abraham), not to get Hazrat Ismaeel Alaihis-Salaam (Samuel) slaughtered and killed. Hence, a lamb was sent from Heaven to replace Hazrat Ismaeel Alaihis-Salaam (Samuel) under the knife and he was saved. Following this Sunnat of Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihis-Salaam, Hajji offer Sacrifice by slaughtering animals at the Station of Mina and the rest of the Muslims in their respective countries. On the other hand, those people, who want to sustain the Baytul-Mamoor and the original Ka'ba of heart, they offer the dearest thing, that is, their Nafs for Sacrifice. Really, Nafs is the dearest and the most wanted thing as compared to one's children, family, sisters, brothers, parents and all the kin as the Overlord of World Hazrat Muhammad Sal Allahu Alaihe Wa Aa-lehee Wa-sallam once asked Hazrat Umar Ibne Khataab Radhi-ya-Allahu Ta-aala Anhu that 'O Umar! How much dear and beloved I am for you?' He obediently replied that 'O highness! Yours highness is dearer to me than my children, family, sisters, brothers and parents all together'. His highness said that 'O Umar! Am I dearer to you than your Nafs in your left shank of body also?'

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He humbly replied that 'O lord! Verily! I believe you dearer than my Nafs even'. Here he said that 'O Umar! Your Eimaan has become Perfect'.

Every next day, we observe in the world that people kill their parents, children and sisters and brothers for this Nafs of their own. Also, we have already elaborated in previous pages that upon returning from the Battle of Tabook, the Holy Prophet of Allah Hazrat Muhammad Sal Allahu Alaihe Wa Aa-lehee Wa-sallam had declared the battle with the Kuffaar and the Murshideen the Jihad e Asghar (minor) and the Jihad with Nafs the Jihad e Akbar (greatest). Hence, the Sacrifice of Nafs is the Greatest and Weighty Sacrifice. In short, Allah Almighty demands the Sacrifice of Nafs from His Seekers and Aashiqeen for sustaining their tie with the Greatest Ka'ba of Heart because Nafs is the biggest Aazar and Idol Maker that introduces and sustains the different kinds of Idols of Haughtiness, Jealousy, Lust, Greed, Libido, Shirk, Kufr and Nifaaq , etcetera inside the Greatest Ka'ba of the Heart and makes the Great Ka'ba of Heart an Idol Temple!

Heart is the grandest Ka'ba, empty it from idols [that is, do not make is the dwelling place of the carnal desires],

And heart is a chaste place; do not make it the idol-temple.

[Jalal u Din Rumi]

Since these incorporeal idols are severer and more dangerous than the Outwardly and Material idols of stones made by the Kuffaar, therefore, these are notorious for nothing they can do. No idol of stone had ever invited the human being towards evil. On the other hand, the most influential idol of the Nafs and Desire has engaged not only the ignorant people but also some big and renowned scholars in its worship after having driven them astray.

Allah Almighty says: Have you seen him who makes his desire his god, and Allah sends him astray purposely? (45:23)

No doubt, by offering the Sacrifice of the Nafs on the Path of Allah Almighty, the Greatest Ka'ba of Heart becomes firm and a tie is established therewith which is the special Sanctum of Allah Almighty as is evident from the following Hadis-e-Qudsi: