The background of the festival of Eid- ul - azha in which Muslims sacrifice an animal  is this event.

Ibrahim a.s ( Abraham)  was shown a dream  to sacrifice his son on Allah's command......

   The dream of the prophets were be not as normal peoples' dream but commands from Allah

  So he went on to sacrifice his son  then ... when he told about the dream to ismail a.s.....  he said: I am ready for this if it is the command of Allah but please dont tell mother since she may not be able to bear this and then...  when he took him to the mountain to sacrifice....  he could have asked Allah about the meaning of the dream but he didnt do so even if he used to have communication with Allah  through the angel jibrael a.s

 then when he was taking him to the mountain, satan came and tried to deviate him from this  satan tried to deviate Ibrahim a.s , ismael a.s and his mother....  

 so  when the people who go for hajj( pilgrimage to medina in arab)  they symbolically condemn satan at the three locations where he attempted to deviate Ibrahim a.s and his family  so when he took ismael a.s for this, he said: father please put me with face down since you may not be able to sacrifice me because you are my father then.....  when he did so, and tried to cut the throat,  he attempted many times but since.......  the knife which he was using.....  got another command..  that is . it should not harm ismail a.s.. he could not do so  all the angels in the heaven were in intense sorrow and  were praying to Allah  but Allah was silent to them  then Allah sent an animal from paradice to be placed in place of ismail a.s....... and when Ibrahim a.s noticed.... he saw his son standing smiling and an animal sacrificed

  Allah only asks for sacrifice but never takes it. It is only a test. The more we spent on the commands of Allah, the more return we get. The level of sacrifice expected by someone depends upon the level of responsibility and honour which one is given by Allah

 so the sacrifices expected by prophets were very big ones

and those will not be expected from just anyone

 The festival of Eid- ul - azha which we celebrate is basically the anology of that event. we have very well defined guidelines about the Obligations in Islam.... in this festival.... every one who  can afford.... has to sacrifice an animal(like goat or camel) to copy what Ibrahim a.s did

a.s = alaihissalaam( means peace be bestowed on him)

Ibrahim = Abraham

Jibrael = Angel Gabriel

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