Eid al-Adha, (known elsewhere as Eidi Korbon and meaning the 'Festival of Sacrifice') commemorates the story of Abraham's test of faith and the substitution of a ram in place of Abraham's son as a sacrifice to God.
The Qur'an offers a summary of the story in Surah as-Saffat:
"Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: 'O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!' (The son) said: 'O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!' So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him "O Abraham! 'Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!' – thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial – And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice"
For the full description we turn to the first book of the Tawrat. You can read it in its entirety here.
The story itself is wonderful, but it's the esoteric symbolism behind it that truly fascinates. As we look underneath the facts of the story we begin to see a foreshadowing of a person and event in the future.
Consider:
1.
God Almighty's request to Ibrahim was all the more shocking since his son was his only son and was born by a miracle since both Ibrahim and his wife Sarah were too old to have children.
2.
Ibrahim placed the wood needed for the sacrifice on his son and his son carried it up the mountain on his back. (Gen 22:6)
3.
The mountain which Ibrahim and his son climbed (Mount Moriah) became the site of Jerusalem centuries later.
4.
Ibrahim tied his son up and placed him on the altar for the sacrifice. Given that his son had carried the wood up the mountain and that Ibrahim was over 100 years old at the time, his son would have easily been able to resist and overpower his father if he had wanted to. Instead, he willingly offered himself for sacrifice in obedience to his father. (Gen 22:9)
5.
In answer to his son's confusion about what they would be sacrificing, Ibrahim answers that God will provide a lamb. (Gen 22:8) However, when God Almighty does provide a substitute instead of Ibrahim's son, he provides a ram. (Gen 22:13)
6.
Remembering that God had promised him a lamb, Ibrahim renamed the area "The Lord Will Provide" and prophesied that "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided". (Gen 22:14)
7.
God Almighty promised Ibrahim that through his offspring every nation would be blessed. (Gen 22:18)
Taking these 7 key points into consideration, consider these facts about Jesus:
Jesus:
- He was born through a miracle (Luke 1:31-35)
- Jesus carried the cross/wood for his death and sacrifice on his back as he climbed the mountain (John 19:17)
- The hill Jesus climbed and on which he was sacrificed was the site of Mount Moriah, just outside the city walls of Jerusalem
- Jesus went to his death willingly (John 10:18)
- The prophet Yaya, when he first met his cousin Jesus, proclaimed to the crowds "Behold, the Lamb of God ..." (John 1:29)
- God had promised a future fulfilment of His promise to provide a lamb, a promise that came true with Jesus, on the same mountain of the Lord.
- Yaya continued, saying "... who takes away the sin of the world". (John 1:29) Jesus, the offspring of Ibrahim, thus became a blessing to every nation. (Gal 3:14)