01: Eid al-Adha 2024 | Prayer & Khutbah - Shaykh Abdul Hadi

Eid al-Adha Khutbah 2024

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

The Joy and Meaning of Eid al-Adha

Brothers and sisters, alhamdulillah, this is our Eid. We have two such happy occasions in a year to celebrate. This Eid especially reminds us about the sacrifices and hard struggle of the great Prophet Ibrahim.

Although all messengers of Allah, regardless of their time period and geographical location, they all have focused on one point — about Tawheed, conveying the message of the oneness of Allah without associating any others with Allah. This was the focus and important point of all messengers and their Dawah. This is the foundation of our Deen, and upon this we can construct the building of righteous good deeds. As long as our Iman is strong and our faith is solid, then our practical life and our good deeds will be fruitful.

The Trials of Prophet Ibrahim

When Prophet Ibrahim conveyed this message, he faced a lot of problems, challenges, and hard times — starting from his own family members. Even his father threatened to stone him to death, and he forced him to leave home. His close family members and friends became enemies to Ibrahim, and the authorities of the time tried to burn him alive, and physically they did. But Allah protected Ibrahim, and he came out from the flame unharmed and safely.

Then they forced Ibrahim to leave his birthplace, his hometown. He accepted this challenge as well, and he left everything behind to please Allah, to gain the pleasure of Allah, to reserve his place in Jannah, and to protect himself from hellfire.

Ibrahim: The True Muslim

Allah presented Ibrahim as an example. Perhaps this is the reason why many famous religions these days — such as the Yahud, the Nasara, and even the Mushrikeen of the time — they used to claim that "we are the true followers of Ibrahim." Each and every famous religion and its followers tried to show their attachment and link with Ibrahim. But Allah refused and rejected this false claim, saying that Ibrahim was not Yahudi. And he was not Christian. And he was not Mushrik. And then — who was he? Allah says he was a pure and sincere Muslim, and his whole life was built around this.

The Declaration of Tawheed

And all pilgrims, alhamdulillah, after spending a lot of money and effort, they have arrived. Yesterday they spent time in Arafat, and after Arafat, today they are in Mina. Repeatedly they are saying the Takbeer. And all other Muslims throughout the world are saying it as well.

What is this? Is this a cultural thing? Or just chanting? No, it is not. This is a declaration of the faith. A declaration of Tawheed — the oneness of Allah. And when we are saying this, we have to consider and think about its meaning as well, just as Ibrahim's whole life — and the lives of all messengers — was built around this.

What does Allah say in Surah Al-An'am, Verse 162:

"Say, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death belong to Allah." And I am free of all types of shirk.

The Message of This Eid: Are We Ready to Sacrifice?

As we remember the life of the great Prophet Ibrahim, as well as our noble Prophet Muhammad, and their sacrifices to please Allah, we have to consider ourselves and reflect. Are we ready to give up haram things? Prohibited things according to the Islamic Shariah, which contradict Islamic teaching — are we ready to give up these things?

My brothers, my sisters — if we cannot give up all these prohibited things in our life, then how can we expect to give up and sacrifice bigger challenges in our life? So if there is something going on which is not according to the Shariah, then be ready to give it up. Give priority to the Islamic Shariah. Stop from prohibited things. This is the message of this Eid.

Qurbani: An Act of Ibadah, Not Merely Charity

We also have to remember another important point. Qurbani is an act of Ibadah. And Ibadah we cannot perform according to our own understanding. Ibadah we cannot perform according to our desires. Ibadah should be according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah.

Perhaps for some brothers there is confusion — they consider Qurbani as a charity, which is not the case. In Qurbani, because it is an act of Ibadah, it should be according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah.

The first point is sincerity and ikhlas in Qurbani. According to your sincerity, according to your taqwa, Allah will give you reward. The second point — the Prophet himself used to slaughter two sheep with his own hands. And according to the Sunnah, the Qurbani should be done after Salatul Eid, after the prayer. Otherwise, it will be considered as general meat like what you are buying every day for your family.

If you perform the Qurbani before Salatul Eid, there are rules and regulations for Qurbani as stated in the authentic hadith. The Prophet said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5562; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1962)

If any person performs his Qurbani before Salatul Eid, he will not get the reward of Qurbani. Rather, it will be considered as general meat like what you are purchasing every day.

So yes, we do help the poor and needy. But Ibadah should be according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah. One reason, perhaps, is the competition between various charitable organisations these days — they mix this up, and people do not understand the difference between Sadaqah and Qurbani. Obviously, we have to help those who are needy and poor, but do not change the act of Ibadah from its proper form. Ibadah should be according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah.

Du'a and Closing

May Allah accept our good deeds. May Allah forgive our mistakes. May Allah accept all the pilgrims and hujjaj who are performing Hajj. May Allah accept their Hajj and their efforts.