`Eid ul-Adh-haa, The "Feast of Sacrifice," commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (as) in follow Allah's instruction to sacrifice his son. As the holy day draws near, Sheikh Din Muhammad Abdullah al-Dayemi offers the khutbah (discourse) he gave in 2004 regarding this historic occasion.

Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar La ilaha illa Llah. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd.

Let us declare God's greatness. Greatness upon greatness. Greatness beyond our capacity to conceive greatness. A greatness that eclipses the limitations of our minds. Let us bear witness, La ilaha illa Llah, that there exists no reality or truth and that there is no god, other than the One Reality, the One Truth and the One God. Let us remember that there is nothing or none other than God that is worthy to be given ultimate praise. Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'aalamiin. Let us give our praise to Allah who is the Lord and Cherisher of this world, of all worlds and of all realms. Let us remember that it is from Allah that we come, and as Allah sustains us, it is unto Allah that we return.

As we testify our devotion to God, let us also at this time bid peace and blessings, salawat, upon the noble Prophets of all times, may Allah sanctify their secrets. May Allah's (rahmat) mercy descend upon their souls as we venerate their legacy. Let us bid peace and blessings upon our beloved Master Muhammad (saws), upon the family of Muhammad, upon the house of Muhammad, upon the companions of Muhammad, upon the noble circle of Muhammad and upon the Community of Muhammad (saws).

As the name "Muhammad" means the most praiseworthy, let us also bid our peace and blessings upon those things that our Prophet Muhammad loved, for the reasons that he loved, among them the Holy Qur`an, the Sunnat, the illumined teachings, the right-guided Khaliifat, the Shuyukh (Masters) of the mystic orders of Sufism, and let us pray for peace and blessings on this 'Eid day upon our own small efforts - the Community here in Southern Illinois, the Community of the Dayemi Tariqat in the United States, Europe and upon our Community of Dayem in Bangladesh.

Let us bid peace and blessings upon our Hadrat Shah Sufi Muhammad Dayem (ra) and upon his namesake Hadrat Shah Sufi Sayyid Dayemullah (ra), may Allah be most pleased with them. As-salaamu `Alaykum, and may peace be upon you. 'Eid Mubarak ('Eid Blessings)!

To me it always feels a little odd observing 'Eid ul-Adh-haa in the United States, because this celebration is not generally recognized by the customs of this culture. We must carve out time from our schedules, and yet it is special to mark this time by being together in our small group. In this way, the holiness of the 'Eid remembrance isn't neglected, even though the whole of this society isn't set up to support our observance.

During this time period in other cultures and societies, you would see the excitement of the public as 'Eid draws near. On the street corners are vendors who are selling their gifts and wares. Sheep, goats and animals are being lined up for their final qurbaan (sacrifice).

Take a moment during this khutbah (discourse) to be in remembrance of the sacredness of the 'Eid gathering. As we remember, let us not forget our brother and sister pilgrims who have completed the hajj (pilgrimage) this year. May Allah accept their hajj, may Allah be pleased with them, and may we all complete the rites of the hajj in this lifetime. I am not only referring to the pilgrimage to Mecca, but may Allah accept the hajj (journey) that we're all making through this life.

In the name of Allah most Merciful and most Compassionate.

Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. ~ SURAH AL-BAIYINA

Today is a day in which we remember two things: 1) faith, which is exemplified through trust, and 2) submission by the willingness to perform a righteous deed. 'Eid ul-Adh-haa expounds upon the life and pastimes of the Noble Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)(as), and as such, faith and submission are paramount to the story. It is due to his profound faith and submission that the Prophet Ibrahim has earned the title, as well as has been offered as an example of a perfected "Muslim" (one who has submitted) in the Holy Qur`an.

We should be reminded that the Arabic word "Muslim" is derived from "as-Salaam" which appears as one of Allah's names for "Enduring Peace" in the Holy Qur`an. Therefore, a "Muslim" is one who is making "Salaam." The true Muslim realizes Eternal Peace by the submission of one's whole self to the Divine Self. The true Self is Allah's own essence. Through an individual self, Allah brings the realization of Salaam (Peace) as the individual surrenders to the Divine Will.

We study and reflect on the legacies of those whom we call Muslims for the purpose of defining and describing "Muslim character, Muslim activity, Muslim thoughts and Muslim words." We draw from a stream of inspiration that allows us to determine the course for greater submission of ourselves. How can we best unearth the Peace that is within us?

Say Allah speaks the truth. Follow the religion of Ibrahim, the sane in faith.  ~ SURAH I AL-ALl AL-IMRAN

It is quite interesting that the Prophet Ibrahim (as) is described as the "sane in faith" in this verse. Although I am not going to recall the whole story in this khutbah, such as we have done on other 'Eid celebrations, I would like to mention that the critical drama of the great Prophet's story seems quite insane. Yet, the Qur`an instructs us to the follow the "sane in faith" regardless of the seeming insanity of what his faith would have him do. The Prophet Ibrahim demonstrates to us a faith that is entirely subject to total reliance and trust, and he is even ready to perform an act of faith in submission to his Lord that is undoubtedly unthinkable by members of any "civil" culture in our modern world. What is so sane about his act of faith?

Let us briefly review the great Prophet Ibrahim's story. It is told that a dream/vision was commenced upon him. He received the revelation to sacrifice his child in order to demonstrate the completion of his submission to Allah. Among the "People of the Book," the members of the Jewish and Christian faiths believe that the child to be sacrificed was Ishaq (Isaac). The followers of the Prophet Muhammad (saws), in accordance to Qur`anic teachings, believe that person to be Isma`il (Ishmael). I would like to point out that whichever son was to be sacrificed, it is hardly important compared to the entire lesson of the story itself.

Perhaps among the followers of Muhammad, it is thought that Isma'il was the one being offered because we historically accept that he was the firstborn. If you understand the significance of the "firstborn," then in addition to the horror of taking your own child's life, without doubt you must reflect on the additional consequences of the action. In the old scriptures, the firstborn symbolizes that which is closest to you, your entitlement, future heir, guarantee to prosperity for future generations and the promise of felicity for your people. To be denied the firstborn might he akin to being cut off from your future generations.

God promises Ibrahim (as) that he will become the "father of a multitude," yet orders him to sacrifice his son. And through the willingness to perform this act of sacrifice, Allah makes a covenant with Ibrahim to become the father of a multitude, the great patriarch of three of the world's greatest religions, that would later be know as an "Abrahamic tradition." Quite a twist!

Okay, his mad dream/vision descends upon him. Put yourself in his position for just one moment, especially those of you who are parents. Pretend that you have a dream/vision wherein you believe that it is indeed God/Allah who has instructed you to kill your kid! It would be very hard to reconcile that message.

So, Ibrahim prays to God to remove the instruction as well as he attempts to suppress the disturbing vision by procrastinating. Legend has it that the dream/vision appeared to him three times. The noble Prophet attempted to abdicate his responsibility for following through on the action demanded of him by, each time, offering a substitution for what the dream instructed him to do. Allah commands him to sacrifice his own born. Understandably, he sacrifices camels, sheep, goats and cows instead.

The Prophet Ibrahim cannot figure a way out. How could this revelation be possible? He becomes upset with Allah. But in the end, he is left with no other choice, because the recurrence of the revelation is perfectly clear. It's too strong. It's maddening.

Have you ever had an issue arise in your life that is so paramount, so dominating, that even if you don't want to and try not to deal with it, you have no choice but to deal with it? You must address it. The issue is up for you, and the time is now. The only way to possibly find your peace with yourself is to go to the issue and address it.

Ibrahim (as) finally made the decision to take action by following the instruction he believes was sent from God. As he makes his way to the altar of sacrifice, who shows up? Shaytan. This is the meaning behind the symbol of the jamarat (pillars) where the stones are thrown in the Arabian desert during the hajj. A'udhu bi-Llahi minash-shaytan ir-rajiim. "I take refuge in Allah, away from you, the accursed or the stoned one."

The apparition of doubt, distraction, deception and separation speaks to him and asks, "Man, what are you doing? Just what do you think you're doing over there?" "What do you mean?" asks the Prophet. "You are taking your child away to a secret place to kill him, aren't you?" retorts Shaytan. "Is that what you're really going to do?"

This is how the ego, the lower self and selfish false desires appear in our lives. Subtle and strong. "Did you think about what you're doing?" Shaytan continues. "I think so," responds the Prophet Ibrahim. "Are you sure? Just how many times did you think about it? Did you go and ask God directly? Are you sure you asked God? Could that possibly be God that told you to do that?" rifles the Devil.

At this juncture, we have a major crisis. In order to resolve it, one must be able to discern the center of one's own being. You have to be able to distinguish among the differing internal voices. According to some Sufi legends, the testing didn't stop here. The conscience of the man is not so easily let off the hook. Shaytan goes to both the noble Prophet's wife and to the child, asking the same questions. The test of faith also calls into submission the devotion and the commitment of the Prophet Ibrahim's entire household. Both his wife and son proceed behind the decisions and actions of Ibrahim (as) in faith, according to the Sufis. Isma'il replies, "Allah and the Prophet know best. I am submitted. Count me among the Muslims." Isma'il even agrees to wholeheartedly volunteer himself for the sacrifice. The ancient wisdom within the child's heart speaks forth and responds to the call, "Let me also be submitted, and I give myself to you to be taken." This story isn't just about the personage of the Prophet Ibrahim (as). It is about faith and submission also seen expressed in the boy and his mother.

The child of a human being should be regarded as an expression or symbol of that which is the closest thing to a person, akin to even being that person, or closer. A child is the nearest and dearest thing that could be one's own, and it holds the greatest possibility for attachment. Nature causes all species to have enormous, even death defying, attachments to their children. Parents will go to any extent to protect their young with the willingness to sacrifice their own lives. Protection extends to pride. Pride of progeny, family, bloodline, tribe and culture.

Is it possible that God is so cruel that Allah would test us by making us sacrifice those things that we personally love most? Is this a sick joke? However, you must look deeper. Consider this subject on a spiritual level, not a material one. If one is attached to an object of their personal desire greater than one is submitted to Allah, isn't this a type of shirk (associating partners with God)? Isn't this a breach of the Ten Commandments wherein we are ordered to "have no other gods before Me"?

We all too often see our possessions, such as our children, as a product of our own creation, as if to think that we created them. This perspective dangerously thrusts us into the center, into the limelight. Are human beings God? Allah created the earth, the heavens and the hell. All realms of all existence, whether animate or inanimate, are God's expression. God is unique, because no other, or none other, can initiate creation. Humans can only adapt and organize.

In the Qur`anic depiction, Allah raises up Hadrat Adam (as), the quintessential human, and declares, "Do you see what I have made?" With all of the false pride and attachment to possessions, position, knowledge, family, power, etc., don't we fall under the veil of illusion that this is our creation instead of Allah's?

Isma'il is the sacrifice of your illusion that you are a creator. Preoccupied, self-obsessed, self-absorbed narcissism has you turn your back on Allah, who is the Creator. Submit your whole self, and walk away from the false illusion that you have created and that the whole world revolves around your personal desires. Give it up. In order to be completely submitted as a "Muslim," the perspective of mine will have to be conveyed and transcended into Allah's alone. So often it takes an experience of inconceivable magnitude to get us to realize and remember Reality again.

It's probably a good thing that this story took place some thousands of years ago. Can you even imagine if the incident with the Prophet Ibrahim and Isma'il (as) had happened in recent times? Nobody would come to the path. They would be too afraid because of the crazy, immoral stuff going on! Okay, it was 6,000 years ago. That's cool. It is far enough away from us to contemplate. However, if you found out this event happened last week over on Oak Street, when Din Dayemi went into the backyard to sacrifice his son, both the police and the Department of Child and Family Services would be having a field day. Try to bring the feeling and the lessons of the story close to you. What is your Isma'il?

Faith calls upon us to exercise an ineffable faculty within where we connect to a truth that is beyond our capacity to conceive. You can't see, hear, smell, taste or touch faith and trust. Faith and trust are not discernable with a microscope or telescope. You cannot put them on a scale, and there is no way to measure their circumference or diameter. Yet, it requires faith and trust to become a Muslim. Faith and trust require the presence of something altogether different than any material thing. They both require an awakened heart.

It is impossible to have faith without love, and there will be no trust unless there is faith. As a result, no one will be a Muslim, submitted into Divine Peace, without love, trust and faith. No one can think his or her way to God, nor can one actually think their way to becoming a good person.

Behold. His Lord said to him, "Bow, thy will to Allah." And he said, "I bow my will to the Lord and Cherisher of the universe." And this was the legacy that Ibrahim left to his sons and so did Jacob. "Oh, my sons, Allah has chosen the faith for you. Then die not except in the faith of Islam or submission." ~ SURAH AL-BAQARA

Please remember that the Qur`an was revealed within a contextual time period of Arab patriarchy. The language and symbols are expressed in masculine language, i.e., future generations, inheritance, leadership, political struggle, etc. If you read the whole of the Qur`an, however, you realize the limitations of the recorded language. The universal principles are meant for all humanity.

For those whom Allah has written faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Allah's Self, Allah will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow to dwell therein. Allah will be well pleased with them and they with Allah. They are the party of Allah. Truly it is the party of Allah that will achieve felicity. ~ SURAH MUJADILA

If you want to develop the higher faculties of faith and trust that lead to submission, such as exhibited by the Prophet Ibrahim (as), I want to remind you of the basic points of faith as I have outlined in our teachings:

1)    Take risks in life in order to expand the scope of your limited experience. Risk having a greater life experience. If we don't ever have the willingness to risk, we are never moved to a place beyond our previous limit. So even though we might be afraid, if we actually want to grow into being faithful, we must be consciously willing to take risks that exceed the confines of our previous limits.

2)    In order to complete our faith, and have it become whole, we're going to have to come to peace with our past. We must exercise the insight that whatever has happened to me in the past, whether it was performed through thought, word or action, has brought me to this moment here and now. I cannot undo any single thing or event, and by the fact that not one of them can be undone, each was required for me to be present now. Everything that has happened was required. Each impression of the past is connected to this present moment. Learn from the past, and learn to accept what happened. Now, let go.

3)    For whatever is occurring in the present through thought, word and action, no matter what it is and no matter how it appears, it is a lesson of instruction from our beloved ar-Rashid, Allah's name as the Divine Instructor/Guide. This is your life's custom coursework. There is a pervading spiritual intelligence that guides life and allows you to have all lessons through life experience. Everything that you encounter is a teaching for a very specific purpose. Quit resisting, and do your homework!

4)    The fourth point is difficult. It requires spiritual practice and vigilant observation with relentless self-inquiry. No matter how things appear in the zahir (apparent, external existence), the Reality, that we call al-Haqq or Truth, is perfect. I know that's a big pill to swallow, but everything that has, is or will take place has its perfection. You must be able to find it so that you can see it.

Here we have four elements: taking a risk for greater experience to expand beyond previous limits; reviewing and seeing the past in such a manner that one develops the insight that whatever has taken place has brought one to this moment and therefore was required; the present moment is providing one, through life, with custom instructions. These instructions are the course-work providing for one's subsequent destination; and, Reality, and how it plays itself out, is perfect.

It is Allah who sends down tranquility into the hearts of the believers, that they may add faith to their faith. For to Allah belong the forces of heaven and the earth and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. ~ SURAH AL-BATH

How will you know that your faith is increasing? You sense the feeling of tranquility in your heart. As tranquility increases in your heart, you feel differently about yourself - more internal peace. When people have greater peace in their heart, they become more spiritually confident and are willing to take greater risks and try things they haven't done before. They are less afraid. They are willing to review and see life in a new manner.

Peace and tranquility bring about a sense of greater connectedness to life. We become more "present" allowing life to happen in the moment, rather than clinging to attachments. This state of the heart allows for better learning from life's lessons. Peace and tranquility allow you to reconcile all apparent contradictions. You witness the whole of life from beyond contradictions, and then you can see directly Allah's perfection. The whole "thing" has been perfect. The Divine Plan, Life, and you would never have had the guts to write the script. But it's perfect.

Those that have faith find out that their fear is lessened. He who works deeds of righteousness and has faith will have no fear of harm nor of any curtailment. ~ SURAH TA-HA

No fear. Faith makes one fearless, and the willingness to make the effort to increase one's faith transforms one from loving fearfully to one who loves fearlessly.

Allah is the Protector of those that have faith. From the depths of darkness, Allah will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the evil ones. From light they will lead them forth into darkness. ~ SURAH AL-BAQARA

We have a choice about how we walk and with whom we walk. What call will we follow, and what company will we keep? We see the examples of those who have taken the final steps on the path. Their faith is exemplified by their willingness. Their willingness is demonstrated through the sacrifice of the worldly symbols that most people cling to as their closest attachments. These attachments are the ones that typically stand between a person and God. The great Prophets and Saints have retired the separate darkness of their own individuality, of their own withholding. They are those that do the best of deeds, and they are the best of creatures - the faithful.

Let us be in remembrance as we go forward from this 'Eid and eat from the sacrificial meal that symbolizes Allah's mercy, we are connected to Allah at all times, through all things. Let us turn towards Allah and submit the whole of ourselves. Let there be nothing that obscures our sight and prevents our union. Let us sacrifice whatever we hold apart from devotion to Allah, and let us remember the simple ayat, Allah is with you wherever you are.

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil alamiin wa Allahumma Amin.

Ya Allah. It is to Thee alone that we turn. It is to Thee alone that we bow. It is to Thee alone that we pray. Oh Allah, it is to Thee alone that we prostrate our existence. Allah, as we turn towards You, we recognize that You, who are beyond our minds and beyond our fathom, are the great mysteriousness from which we have come, that You have caused us to be from nothing. As You, sustain us along with everything in this world, Allah, it is unto You that we return to that great mysteriousness that no one can fathom. Allah, we pray that You can help us convey the obstinate stubbornness of our own individuality into the grand Opening of Your Will. Allah, please help us to make our own wills Your Will. Allah, we pray that You guide us on a path that is straight, a path that is right, a path that leads to the abode of Thy blessedness. Allah, we pray that You shine Your Countenance upon us, and that wherever we turn our face, as You have reflected to us in Qur`an Kariim, we might see Your face. Allah, we pray that the Truth might be unveiled before our eyes and that we may have the vision of You within our hearts. Allah, we pray at this time that we may be strengthened as a Community. And that we may do righteous deeds, and we may be among those that believe and those that do good. Allah, we ask You to protect us from becoming those that do harm, from those that cause chaos and from those that go astray. Allah, we pray for blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad and upon his family, upon his progeny, upon his circle. We pray peace and blessings upon the Prophets of all times, irrespective of who they are and what tradition they came from, as You have taught us that they are all Messengers of Your One Word and One Truth. Allah, we pray in thanks and gratitude for the many ways that You have reached us and blessed us through the many paths. Allah, we pray for peace and blessings upon the great exemplars of all time. You have given to us the signs, and You have given us the heritage of those noble men and women whose lives we can look to, and therefore, we again pray peace and blessings upon the Family of Ibrahim (as). Allah, we ask that You teach us and train us, restore us into unity and give us faith. Allah, give us faith that we may empty ourselves of the smallness of ourselves and that we may open ourselves to the grandeur of Your Divine Self. Allah, help us to loosen our attachments from those things that prevent us from moving forward. Allah, You have instilled love between our hearts. We ask You to increase that love, that we may die into that love and that we may love our own true Self non-differently than we love the Self of our neighbor, and that we may want for each other what we want for ourselves. Ultimately, Allah, we ask You to give us realization. Allow us to realize You within our own Selves and realize You by knowing each other and the Community that we have dedicated for You. Allah, we ask You to bless Hadrat Shah Sufi Dayem and his namesake Hadrat Shah Sufi Sayed Dayemullah. We ask You to bless our family in Bangladesh and strengthen and bring courage and maturity to our beloved young Sheikh Faiz Muhammadi Ahmedullah, may You be pleased with him, and may he stand upright and lead his people. Allah, we ask that You forgive us our shortcomings and forgive us the bitterness and the smallness that we have ensconced ourselves in when You have already awakened us to know better. Allah, we ask You to forgive this Sheikh for his inequities and for his mistakes. And we ask that these things be sacrificed on the altar, that You may restore us with good wisdom, that You may restore us to be right-guided, and that You may restore us with greater compassion and patience. Allah, please help us to realize our goal. Please help us to realize the beauty and the love of the return. And please make this moment of 'Eid a moment from which we can step forward into greater peace and happiness. Allah, we also pray for peace and blessings upon the world at this time of 'Eid, upon all men, women and children, upon all races, upon all countries. We ask You to help us to abate war. We pray at this time that Your Nur an-Nur, Your Light of Intelligence and Divinely Guided Wisdom reaches the hearts of the world's leaders. Ya Allah, we pray for the children of the world, we pray for all who are suffering from lack and from need, and we ask that through us we might learn the lesson of sacrifice that we can help to diminish the pain of humanity through our work and through our service by Your Divine Will and Blessings. Allah, we pray in testimony of our faith that You are One, and that You are Indivisible, that You cannot be divided, that You are Tawhiid. La ilaha illa Llah. And, we pray in testimony of our faith that You have delivered this divine guidance through awakened humanity in the form of Your Messengers, as You have revealed it to us through our Master Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salaam.