Day 4: The Altar of Sacrifice

The obedience, servitude to and love of Allah is much thicker than bondage of blood, money, friendship, political affiliations, etc, below are instances of sacrificing for the sake of Allah, indeed the bond of deen is superior. 

The One Who Fights Allah:

“It is not fitting, for the prophet and those who believe, that they should pray for forgiveness for pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that they are companions of the fire. And Ibrahim prayed for his fathers' forgiveness only because of a promise he had made to him.” (Ref. Qur’an 19 verse 47) But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he dissociated himself from him: For Ibrahim was most tender-hearted, forbearing. (Qur’an 9 verse 113-114). Although Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had promised to pray to Allah for his fathers forgiveness, it had become apparent to him that his pagan-loving, unbelieving father had rejected Allah.

The Cut-Throat Sacrifice:

Prophet Ibrahim was faced with having to sacrifice his own son who was also a Muslim. “Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! do as thou art commanded: thou will find me if Allah so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy! So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him "O Ibrahim! You hast already fulfilled the vision!" thus indeed do We reward those who do right!” (Qur’an 37 verses 102 - 105).

The Unrighteous One:

Nuh (peace be upon him) also had to give up on his son for the sake of Allah. He loved his son so dearly, he wanted him to be saved, but the son publicly rejected his father. He wanted out and he got that. But still “…Nuh called upon his Lord and said: "O my Lord! Surely my son is of my family! And Your promise is true and You are the Justest of Judges!" He said: "O Nuh! He is not of thy family: for his conduct is unrighteous.  So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel lest thou act like the ignorant!" (Qur’an 11 verse 45-46).

The One Who Sympathizes With Evil:

When the warning came to Lut about the activities of his people and their impending destruction, he called for his people to surrender to Allah (SWT), he abandoned his wife because she held back with the wrongdoers, the gay community of Sodom. For her it is cool to be gay and a choice to be made. “(The Messengers) said "O Lut! We are Messengers from Your Lord! By no means shall they reach you! Now travel with your family while yet a part of the night remains and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): to her will happen what happens to the people.  Morning is their time appointed: is not the morning nigh?" (Qur’an 11 verse 81).

- Contributed by Shamsideen AbuSuad, UK.