Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allah
have mercy on him) said:
Ponder over the condition of our third
father Ibraaheem, the Imam 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 Adam. Think over what led to his trial, his patience and his
sacrifice to Allah. Reflect on how it resulted in the sacrifice of himself to Allah
and his support to the religion of Allah 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 Allah to honor
him in his trial concerning the slaughtering of his child. Allah 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.
Allah 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, Allah
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, Allah 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 (peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him).
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.
