| Qur'anic stories | | | 
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Qur'an Stories - The Sacrificed
When Abraham (peace be upon him) left his people's land, he asked his Lord to
bless him with a pious son. Therefore, Allah gave him glad tidings that he would
be the father of a gentle son, Ishmael (peace be upon him). Ishmael was born when
Abraham, the Close One to Allah, was eighty-six years old. When Ishmael was old
enough to walk, Abraham saw in a dream that he sacrificed his son. As prophets'
dreams are revelations, Abraham's dream was a great trial with which Allah afflicted
him. The Qur'an says, "He [Abraham]
said; 'O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I must sacrifice you, so look,
what do you think?'" In reply, Ishmael said, "O
my father! Do what you have been commanded. Allah willing, you shall find me of
the steadfast." Then, they were commanded to submit themselves to Allah's
Will. The Qur'an says, "When they had
both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead
(for sacrifice)." As Abraham and Ishmael submitted to Allah's Will and began
to carry out His commandment, Allah sent angels with glad tidings. The Qur'an
says, "We called out to him, `O Abraham!
Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!' Thus indeed We reward those who do right.
This was obviously a trial.
And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.
And We left (blessing) for him among generations (to come) in Later times.
Peace and salutation to Abraham! Thus
indeed do We reward those who do right.
For he was one of Our believing servants."
When Abraham and his son Ishmael
passed the trial successfully, Allah redeemed Ishmael's life with a white ram
that had sound eyes and horns which Abraham found tied to a tree near Thabir
Mount. So he sacrificed it at Mina.
Afterwards, this act has been perpetuated by the
rituals of Hajj, especially the rite of sacrifice.
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