Reflection on the Condition and Honour of our Third Father

 

Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah stated:

Ponder over the condition of our third father Ibraaheem, the Imaam of the monotheists, the chief of the Prophets, the pillar of the world, the intimate friend of the Lord of existence from the progeny of Aadam. Think over what led to his trial, his patience and his sacrifice to Allaah. Reflect on how it resulted in the sacrifice of himself to Allaah and his support to the religion of Allaah until He took him as an intimate friend and ordered His Messenger and intimate friend, Muhammad to follow his religion.

I will inform you of one trait from that which made Allaah to honor him in his trial concerning the slaughtering of his child. Allaah the most High rewarded him for surrendering his child to His command by blessing his lineage and making it plenty such that it filled the plain and mountain.  Allaah the most High has not honored anyone above him, as He is the Most Generous of the generous. Thus, whoever abandons something for His sake or does something for His sake, Allaah will grant him double and multiples of what he abandoned and reward him with manifolds of what he did for His sake.

When He ordered Ibraaheem to slaughter his son, he hastened to the command of Allah, his son agreed with his father out of pleasure and submission from both of them and Allah recognized the truthfulness and the devotion from them, so He ransomed him with a great sacrifice and He granted them what He gave them of virtue.  Part of the gift He bestowed on them was that He blessed them in their offspring to the extent that they filled the earth, because the aim of having a child is to procreate and produce offspring. Hence, Ibraaheem said: “My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous.” [Soorah as-Saaffaat: 100]

He also said: “O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salaah (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and (also) from my offspring.” [Soorah Ibraaheem: 40] Hence, the utmost of what he should be cautious and fearful of in slaughtering his child is the extinction of his lineage.  However, when he offered his son for sacrifice and the son submitted himself, Allaah multiplied his progenies for him, blessed them and made them plenty until they filled the world and He placed Prophethood and revelation among his offspring, among whom was Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam).

Source: Miftaah Daar as-Sa‘aadah wa Manshoor Wilaayah Ahl al-‘Ilm wal-Iraadah, by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, translated by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam.