I hope Eid went well for all of you and that you spent a beautiful time. Since Eid-Al-Adha is focused on Ibrahim and his trials, I thought it well to focus this input on him. We have been looking at aspects relating to our striving to reach Jannah. Last time, before Eid, we were looking at personal growth, improving our character. After doing the Eid Khutba, and talking about Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام), about his devotion to Allah as an example… I couldn’t help but consider the inputs I have written regarding our own striving, and consider the tremendous trials that Ibrahim faced. He was ready to sacrifice his own son, and also to leave his wife and his son in a place without water or life. The kind of trials we face is nothing in comparison, it is hard to imagine what he had to go through, but despite all that… he remained strong in faith, mashallah.
سورة النحل ١٢٠-١٢١
إِنَّ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةٗ قَانِتٗا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفٗا وَلَمۡ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ
شَاكِرٗا لِّأَنۡعُمِهِۚ ٱجۡتَبَىٰهُ وَهَدَىٰهُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِيمٖ
Surah An-Nahl 16:120-121
Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allah, (and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with Allah:
He showed his gratitude for the favours of Allah, who chose him, and guided him to a Straight Way.
His name is mentioned several times, and many times a day, during prayer, (in the part known as “Salawat” (صَلَوَات)), being mentioned as one favoured by Allah when asking Him to grant the same to Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم). With that in mind, we may realize the importance of his contributions to the faith we now hold.
سورة آل عمران ٦٨
إِنَّ أَوۡلَى ٱلنَّاسِ بِإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَٰذَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَلِيُّ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
سورة الصافات ١٠٨-١١٠
وَتَرَكۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ
سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ
كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:68
Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who follow him, as are also this Prophet and those who believe: And Allah is the Protector of those who have faith.
Surah As-Saaffaat 37:108-110
And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times:
“Peace and salutation to Abraham!”
Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
I started to contemplate these things during this time of Eid-Al-Adha, and it came to my mind what a strong character he must have had, considering all the things he went through. As we consider our path to Jannah, and the aspects and points I have described so far… we might do well to remember the ones who walked the path before us, including our Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), who all suffered hardships that no one else has suffered… they stayed strong through their trials. Because they had faith.
سورة النساء ١٢٥
وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ دِينٗا مِّمَّنۡ أَسۡلَمَ وَجۡهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحۡسِنٞ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفٗاۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلٗا
سورة آل عمران ١٣٩
وَلَا تَهِنُواْ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُواْ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ
سورة آل عمران ١٦٠
إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ ۗ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Surah An-Nisaa 4:125
Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in Faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:139
So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:160
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you: If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? in Allah, then, Let believers put their trust.
We will continue to consider our path to Jannah in the next input inshallah. Be sure to not miss it. For now, I wish everyone a beautiful and blessed time ahead, inshallah. All comfort and safety, from the heart.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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