Prophet Abraham- God’s special friend

Prophet Abraham (peace be on him), a great reformer,– is remembered every year by Muslims around the globe as the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) comes to an end. His love and devotion for his Creator is exemplary and teaches the mankind a great lesson. Prophet Abraham had a dream that he was slaughtering his son. When his son turned twelve, Prophet Abraham told him about this dream, to which he responded by saying, “’Oh my father, do as you are commanded, you will find me, if God wills, steadfast in my faith’”.’ And when they both submitted to the will of God, and Abraham had thrown him down on his forehead. We called to him, ‘O Abraham. You have, indeed fulfilled the dream.’ Thus, indeed, do we reward those who do good.” (Qur’an; 37:101-106). It is this very spirit of sacrifice of Prophet Abraham that is remembered and celebrated by Muslims around the globe every year, by slaughtering animals such as, goats and sheep at the End of the Holy Pilgrimage (Hajj). Even though God did not require Prophet Abraham to fulfil his dream in reality, this incident shows his utmost sacrifice that he intended in love of his Creator. In addition, this Divine Commandment serves to abolish human sacrifice- a cruel practice of the time. In essence, Prophet Abraham’s life teaches us to live a life solely to please our Creator.- Our Lord. “And who is better in faith than he who submits himself to God, and he is a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, the upright? And God took Abraham for a special friend” (Qur’an; 4:126).