The twelfth month of the Islamic calendar is called Dhul Hijjah. It is the month that contains one of the greatest pillars of Islam – Hajj or the major pilgrimage. It also contains one of only two Islamic reoccurring festivals, Eid ul Adha. These two special occasions, the Hajj and Eid ul Adha, are inextricably linked by one special man, Prophet Ibrahim, known in Jewish and Christian traditions as Prophet Abraham.
Making the pilgrimage is often called following in the footsteps of Ibrahim. This is due to the fact that the rituals involved in the pilgrimage replicate many of the events in Prophet Ibrahim’s life. Eid ul Adha commemorates a specific trial in the life of Ibrahim. He was commanded by God to sacrifice, his son Ishmael. Eid ul Adha occurs on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the day on which most of the Hajj rites have been preformed and the pilgrims slaughter an animal to honour Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience to God.
“Surely Ibrahim was an example, obedient to God, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Quran 16:120-121)
In a divinely inspired dream, Ibrahim saw himself sacrificing his son Ishmael. All members of Ibrahim’s family demonstrated complete trust in God, therefore Ibrahim revealed the dream to Ishmael. He readily agreed that his father must carry out the command of God. Together they went to the place of sacrifice and offered Ishmael’s life to God. Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. At this point the shaytaan (satan) tempted Ibrahim trying to make him disobey God, but Ibrahim resisted and drove the shaytaan away. Ibrahim looked down at his son for what he believed was the last time but as the blade came close to Ishmael’s neck God stayed his hand and revealed that there was no need for Ibrahim to continue. His sacrifice had already been fulfilled.
Giving up something big for the sake of God, such as the life of your child, must seem like a huge and unimaginable sacrifice. Today even going without something small, such as a cup of coffee, to donate the money to charity seems like a large sacrifice. Try to imagine how Ibrahim must have felt as he held the blade above his child’s neck. In the last moment he was relieved of his duty to follow God’s commands. Having complete trust in God, knowing with certainty that God knows and wants what is best for us is often difficult, but it should not be.
“…And whosoever fears God and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine….” (Quran 65:2-3)
God replaced Ishmael with a sheep and it is for this reason that Muslims sacrifice an animal on the celebration of Eid ul Adha; however it is more than a celebration, it is a reminder. We are reminded of our own submission to the will of God. Those Muslim’s who are not making the pilgrimage and who can afford it sacrifice an animal in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s test.
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you….” (Quran 22:37)
The act of animal sacrifice is often misunderstood. God has no need for the blood or the meat; in fact God has no need for any of our acts of worship. However for our own benefit God commands us to turn to Him and obey Him. God looks for our piety, our goodness and our charity. The animal sacrificed is usually a sheep, a goat or a cow.
Distributing the meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha strengthens many of our efforts to please God with our piety. Usually, a portion is eaten by the immediate family and relatives, a portion is given away to friends and neighbours and a portion is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up our bounties to strengthen ties of kinship and friendship and our enthusiasm to give up things that are of benefit to us in order to help those who are in need. In the sacrifice we recognize that all blessings come from God.
Eid ul Adha commences on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah. For those who are not at the pilgrimage, it begins with an extra early morning prayer performed in congregation, called the Eid prayer. It is a time of celebration, a time to visit family and friends and thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us. It demands contact with relatives, kindness to family and neighbours, and empathy and compassion for the poor. Above all Eid ul Adha reminds us that God is great and that He is the source of all bounties. Through the good times and the trying times God is the source of all comfort and all peace, and submission to Him brings the greatest benefits of all.
One of the qualities of human nature that Islam encourages people to uphold is generosity. The need to be generous towards family, friends, neighbors, strangers and even enemies, is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. There is no better time to talk about generosity then in the Islamic month of Ramadan.
These are the last days of Ramadan 2009 for Muslims across the globe. Consequently, Muslims are examining their lives and asking themselves if their day-to-day actions are pleasing to their Creator. The intense, devotion of Ramadan has caused the believers to examine their hearts and minds.
Well known as a month of fasting, those new to Islam have discovered that Ramadan is also a month of charity and kindness. The fasting days and prayer-filled nights have softened hearts and created ripples of compassion and generosity. This month of devotion arrived quickly, settled softly, and God’s blessings, mercy, and forgiveness descended. Ramadan’s blessings have welled into a river of generosity.
“The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel (angel) visited him, and Gabriel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Quran to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which spreads rain and other blessings).” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Throughout the 29/30 days of fasting, Muslims give generously. They reach deep into their pockets and give to charities, and those in need, both openly, and secretly. However, charity in Islam is not only by giving money. It is any act of kindness or generosity given with an open heart and a desire to please God. Charity is something as simple as a smile or as grand a gesture as building a school or a hospital; charity is also every kind or generous act in between.
Muslims are encouraged to be generous at all times, however Ramadan serves as a reminder. When the worries of the world and the trials of life are overwhelming frail human beings tend to forget that God has provided blessings too numerous to count. Ramadan reminds us that these blessings are not meant to be clutched to the chest or hoarded away. God expects us to be generous and spend out of what He has provided.
God is Al Kareem, the most generous. Everything originates from Him and everything will eventually return to Him, it therefore makes sense to consider our possessions and wealth as trusts. We are obligated to preserve, protect, and ultimately share whatever we have been provided with.
“Say: “Truly, my Lord blesses the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also restricts it for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Quran 34:39)
Throughout Ramadan Muslims look to the examples of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and his companions and contemplate the true meaning of generosity. It does not mean to give away something that you no longer require. It means to give of those things that you love and desire or in many cases even need.
Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) said, “A lady, along with her two daughters came to me asking for some alms, but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and she divided it between her two daughters.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
The men and women around Prophet Muhammad understood the true value of generosity. They recognized that kind and generous acts are an investment in the future. Our good deeds, thoughtful words, and acts of random kindness will be rewarded abundantly in the hereafter. Whatever money we spend for the sake of pleasing God will be returned to us many times over. Whatever possessions we give freely, will be replaced, if not in this life, in the Hereafter.
While generosity is a virtuous act at any time of the year, during Ramadan our good deeds and acts of kindness and generosity will be rewarded many times over. It is a month of mercy, when God allows us to reap rewards that far outweigh any sins we may have accumulated throughout the year. Ramadan is a month filled with reminders of God’s generosity, kindness, and forgiveness. God forgives the faults and sins of humankind even though they may be as numerous as the froth of the sea,[1] and His forgiveness and mercy are not restricted to Ramadan.
However, this month, the month that contains a day better than 1000 months spent in worship (Quran 97:1-5) is sign of God’s love for humankind. Ramadan is a time when believers set aside 30 days for special devotion and generosity. The fasting of Ramadan reminds the believers that the world is filled with people who are unable to find enough food or drink for their needs. Ramadan is a chance for the believers to be generous with their time, their wealth, and their possessions.
Generosity and random acts of kindness truly make the heart happy. Any one, who has given from their wealth or possessions with a pure heart, wanting only to please God, knows just how joyful these acts can be. However, what of those who have not even one dollar to spare? God’s generosity knows no bounds therefore even in the direst circumstances human beings are able to be generous.
The people came to the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and asked, “If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot find even that?” He replied, “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
Ramadan is known as the month of fasting, Ramadan is a gift from God, a manifestation of His mercy and reminder of human kind’s inherent goodness. Ramadan is the month of charity and generosity.
