Aubaid Akhoon
Every year, the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Adha arrives with the fragrance of sacrifice, obedience, patience, and unwavering faith. Animals are sacrificed across the world, families gather in joy, and Takbeer echoes through the air. Yet beyond the rituals lies a deeper message that many hearts fail to absorb. Eid-ul-Adha is not merely about slaughtering an animal; it is about slaughtering pride, laziness, hopelessness, selfish desires, and every attachment that distances us from Almighty Allah.
Many years ago, Hazrat Ibrahim made a choice that transformed human history forever. He loved his son deeply, yet he loved Allah more. When the divine command came to sacrifice his beloved son, he submitted without hesitation. But Allah Almighty did not intend to take away his son; rather, He intended to remove every attachment that could compete with love for the Creator.
And this is the beauty of sacrifice: when a believer lets go of worldly attachment for the sake of Allah, what is returned becomes purer, more blessed, and more meaningful.
Thus, in these sacred days of sacrifice, every believer must ask:
Which attachment must I sacrifice?
Is it laziness?
Is it arrogance?
Is it hopelessness?
Is it the unhealthy obsession with comfort and easy success?
Or is it the endless complaining despite countless blessings?
The great acts of worship in Islam—Hajj, Umrah, the Day of Arafah, Eid-ul-Adha, Al-Udhiyyah, and Ayyam-ut-Tashriq—all trace their spiritual roots back to the family of Prophet Ibrahim. Yet many people know the rituals without understanding the struggles behind them.
Before becoming “Imam-un-Nas” — a leader for humanity — Prophet Ibrahim (AS) endured unimaginable trials. He was thrown into the fire, abandoned by his people, separated from his family, and tested repeatedly by Allah Almighty. But every trial only elevated his rank because he responded with patience and complete trust in Allah.
One of the most touching chapters of his life was his longing for a righteous child. It is narrated that Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) was around eighty-six years old, while Hazrat Hajira (AS) had also reached old age. For years, they remained deprived of children. Yet Ibrahim (AS) never allowed despair to overcome his faith. He continued to raise his hands sincerely before Allah Almighty, and eventually Allah blessed him with righteous offspring whose legacy continues to illuminate the world.
This incident alone is a timeless message for humanity, especially for those couples who silently endure the pain of childlessness. In a society where many lose hope after exhausting treatments and worldly means, the life of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) teaches us that despair has no place in the heart of a believer. Delays are not denials. Allah’s timing is beyond human understanding.
Patience does not mean weakness; patience means trusting Allah even when the heart is tired.
The Qur’an beautifully explains the spirit of sacrifice:
“Say: Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.”
This is the true essence of Eid-ul-Adha — dedicating one’s desires, ambitions, wealth, comfort, and even life itself for the pleasure of Allah Almighty.
And when we reflect upon this message, another inspiring life from our modern age comes to mind — the life of Paul Alexander.
Paul Alexander was not a prophet, nor a king, nor a wealthy ruler. He was an ordinary man who became extraordinary through patience and perseverance. Struck by polio at the age of six, he spent most of his life trapped inside an iron lung, unable to breathe naturally like ordinary people. Imagine the pain, helplessness, and isolation he endured for decades. Many healthy people break down mentally over minor inconveniences, yet this man continued to live with courage despite being confined inside a machine.
What makes his story remarkable is not merely survival but contribution. Despite his condition, Paul Alexander pursued education, became a lawyer, wrote books, inspired millions, and transformed his suffering into motivation for humanity.
He could have surrendered to despair.
He could have spent life complaining.
He could have blamed destiny.
But he chose gratitude over bitterness.
And herein lies the painful contrast with many among today’s youth.
There are young men blessed with health, strength, education, mobility, and opportunity, yet they remain idle for years, waiting only for a government job with less workload and a high salary. They reject honest labor, private work, business, skill development, freelancing, agriculture, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship because modern society has wrongly convinced them that dignity only exists in comfort. This mindset is dangerous.
A generation addicted to ease can never build a strong society.
The tragedy today is not unemployment alone; it is the death of initiative. Many wait endlessly for opportunities instead of creating them. They spend years criticizing systems while refusing to improve themselves. Social media consumes their energy, comfort weakens their ambition, and comparison destroys their peace.
But Eid-ul-Adha teaches something entirely different.
It teaches sacrifice before success.
Patience before reward.
Effort before achievement.
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) waited decades before receiving the blessing of a child.
Hazrat Hajira (AS) ran desperately between Safa and Marwah before Zamzam emerged.
Hazrat Ismail (AS) submitted himself calmly before sacrifice.
And Paul Alexander struggled every single day simply to breathe.
Compared to such examples, many of our complaints appear embarrassingly small.
The real disability is not physical weakness; the real disability is a defeated mindset. A person can be trapped inside a machine and still inspire the world, while another may possess complete physical freedom yet waste life in laziness and excuses.
Eid-ul-Adha reminds us that greatness demands sacrifice. Sometimes the sacrifice is wealth. Sometimes comfort. Sometimes ego. Sometimes unhealthy attachment to status and luxury. And sometimes, the greatest sacrifice is sacrificing the habit of waiting helplessly while life slips away.
Allah Almighty has blessed many of us with healthy bodies, functioning limbs, supportive families, and opportunities that millions can only dream of. Yet gratitude is absent from our lives. We complain more than we appreciate. We desire more than we strive.
True gratitude is not spoken only by the tongue saying “Alhamdulillah.” Real gratitude is using Allah’s blessings responsibly and productively.
A healthy youth wasting his years in idleness while demanding luxury is not honoring the blessings Allah has bestowed upon him.
The story of Paul Alexander and the legacy of Ibrahim together deliver a timeless lesson to humanity:
Patience is power.
Sacrifice is elevation.
Hardship is not the end of life.
And sincere trust in Allah can transform impossible situations into miracles.
As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, let every young person reflect deeply:
What are we sacrificing for success?
What are we doing with the health, time, and abilities Allah has given us?
Are we building ourselves, our families, and our society?
Or are we merely waiting for comfort while opportunities pass silently?
History never remembers those who only complained.
It remembers those who struggled despite pain.
May this Eid-ul-Adha awaken within us the spirit of sacrifice, patience, gratitude, and determination. May Allah Almighty protect us from laziness, hopelessness, and arrogance, and grant us the strength to live meaningful lives filled with purpose, dignity, and sincere effort.
The author is a renowned educator and coaching consultant in Kashmir, widely recognized as a columnist, motivational speaker, and Associate Editor of Education Quill. He can be reached at akhoon.aubaid@gmail.com
