Imam of Nations

Eid-ul-adha marks the sunnah of Syedena Ibrahim (A.S)

Syedena Ibrahim (A.S) the Patriarch of Prophets was slated by Allah (SwT) to be the Imam of Nations. The exalted status he attained was the result of supreme sacrifices offered in the service of Allah (SwT). Imbibed with the Divine Message, he took exception to the religious practices of his father—Azar. He revolted against Nimrod. Nimrod posed to be the temporal and spiritual head of the nation; he was born and bred in. And, finally asked to offer the sacrifice of his son—Syedena Ismail (A.S) he did not hesitate.  The valiant son proved to be as resilient as the father was. As the moment of supreme sacrifice came, the heavenly message asked for an animal sacrifice, instead. Eid-ul-adha thus marks the Sunnah of Syedena Ibrahim (A.S).

The sacrifices of Syedena Abraham (A.S) in the sacred cause earned him the title of Imam of Nations, as laid down in the Holy Verse:

And remember that Abraham was tried by the Lord with cer-tain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the nations.’’ He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!’’ He answered: ‘’But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers.’’ (2:124)

Nation (Ummah) of Syedena Ibrahim (A.S) encompasses People of the Book—Jews, Christians and Muslims. The off sprigs of the Patri-arch of Prophets remained in the Prophetic Trail: Hazraat—Ishaq, Ismail, Yaqub/Jacob, Yusuf/Joseph, Zakaria/Zachariah, Yahya/John, the Baptist, Issa/Jesus (A.S)’s and finally the last—most exalted in the Prophetic Trail: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The exalted in the Prophetic Tale in their appointed times became Imams of the people leading them on the path of Allah (SwT) and the divine promise held that leadership would not be within the reach of evil-doers, it holds to this day and it would hold for ever!