Wish you and your family EID MUBARAK
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Eid ul-Adha: It is celebrated by Muslims every year *** Prophet Ibrahim The father of the Prophets was the beginnings *** The faith of Ibrahim is called Millat Ibrahim in the Qur'an. Muslims believe that Ibrahim is a prophet of God, in accordance with the narrative of his life in the Qur'an. Ibrahim and his son Ismail are said to have fixed the Kaaba in Mecca. (Qur'an 2:125). Ibrahim also has an important role in one of the Pillars of Islam, the Hajj, which is a pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah and the Grand Mosque. The principal aspect of the Hajj is remembering God's test of Ibrahim where he was asked to sacrifice his first-born son Ismail. Also remembered is his path to the altar where Iblis (Satan) attempted to dissuade him three times. Those places where Satan appeared are marked with three symbolic pillars where pilgrims throw stones. Moreover a part of the Hajj is a commemoration of the sacrifice and efforts of the wife of Ibrahim - Hajre (Hagar), to find water in the desert for her son Ismail, when he was near death with thirst. She ran between the two hills, Safa and Marwa, seven times in search of help. This ritual, known as Saaee in Arabic (means Seeking/searching), is mandatory for all pilgrims to Mecca. On her fourth time on Mount Marwa (completing seven runs between the two mountains), Hajre saw the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) sheltering her son Ismail from the sun as a spring of water emerged from beneath his feet. That spring became the basis of founding the city of Mecca, since fresh water was scarce in that barren land, and many tribes settled around there. The water from this spring, known to Muslims as Zam Zam, is still running and has been for thousands of years, purportedly since this event took place.
The importance of Ibrahim in Islamic tradition is also demonstrated in the five daily prayers of Muslims. Aside from Muhammad, Ibrahim is the only other prophet of God who is mentioned by name four times in each of the five daily prayers that Muslims perform. This is done during the Durood recitation of the prayer where Muslims send their blessings to the prophet.
Ibrahim in the Qur'an
According to the Qur'an, Ibrahim is the spiritual father of all the believers. He is mentioned as an upright person who was neither a polytheist nor a Christian or a Jew (Qur'an 3:67).
The sacrifice
The Islam does specify that it was Ishmael whom Abraham was ordered to sacrifice,
1. The Qura'an states that when angels visited Abraham's house, they told him and his wife that they would have a son, Isaac, and that Isaac would have Jacob as a son. So Abraham had a divine promise that Isaac's life is guaranteed.
Muslims believe Ibrahim's dream was a test from God and a payment for a 'promise' that Ibrahim made after sacrificing so many offerings for God sake; while at that time, after being praised by so many humans and angels, he stated that if it is for the sake of God, even his own child would be offered. God counted those words as a 'promise' Ibrahim had to pay. When Ibrahim told his dream to Ismail, it was Ismail who convinced Ibrahim to fulfill God's order. So this was a test for both Ibrahim, who had longed for a son for such a long time, and for Ismail. Shayṭān (Satan in English) appeared before Ibrahim and Ismail to try to deceive them. Ibrahim and Ismail threw stones at Shayṭān as a response. This is commemorated during the Hajj, one of the rites undertaken by Muslims making the required pilgrimage to Mecca. As Shaytaan had failed to deceive Ibrahim and Ismail, he went to Ibrahim's wife, and mother of Ismail, Hajar. When he told her what had happened she did not believe him, but when he told her that Ibrahim believed he was carrying out God's will, Hajar said: "If it is God's will, let what God wills be done". Their faith had overcome Shaytaan and in the end, God stopped Ibrahim and gave him a sheep to slaughter instead.
The entire episode of the sacrifice is regarded as a trial that Ibrahim had to face from God. It is celebrated by Muslims on the day of Eid ul-Adha.