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102. When he was old enough to assist in his endeavour, he said, My son! I see in a dream that I am sacrificing you. See what you think. He said, Father! Do whatever you have been commanded. If Allah wishes, you will find me to be patient. (

103. So when they had both submitted [to Allahs will], and he had laid him down on his forehead, 104. We called out to him, O Abraham! 105. You have indeed fulfilled the vision![651] Thus indeed do We reward the virtuous! 106. This was indeed a manifest test. 107. Then We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,

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The Great Sacrifice

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Ibraheem (AS) took his wife Hajira and his son Ismael (AS) to the holy Kaabah. He then left the baby Ismael (AS) along with Hajira at the Kaabah. When he returned to meet them thirteen years had passed. Ibraheem (AS) was tested by Allah (SWT). Ibraheem saw a vision in which Allah (SWT) commanded him to sacrifice his son Ismael (AS). When Ibraheem (AS) was in between the mountains of Safa and Marwa he discussed this with his son Ismael (AS); Ismael (AS) said with the will of Allah (SWT) you will find me among the patient ones. Shaytan appeared in the guise of an old man and tried to prevent Ibrahim from offering the sacrifice. Having failed to convince Ibrahim he turned to Ismail and persuaded him to run away and save his life. Both the prophets of Allah saw through his scheme and as a sign of repulsing his accursed intrigue Ibrahim threw seven small stones at him. When Ibraheem (AS) blindfolded himself and Ismael (AS), as the knife was about to cut the throat of Ismael (AS) Allah (SWT) replaced Ismael with a ram (male sheep). Keeping this story in mind if we ponder on the verses of the Quran above, the last verse makes us think and wonder. Allah (SWT) says that He ransomed him (Ismael AS) with a great sacrifice. It does not make sense that a male sheep was a great sacrifice in comparison to Ismael (AS). Ismael (AS) was also one of the Prophets of Allah (SWT). The great sacrifice spoken of in this verse refers to a sacrifice kept in store by Allah (SWT) which was to come in the future. The open test that Ibraheem (AS) and Ismael (AS) faced was not human sacrifice rather it was obedience to the Will of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) is telling us that He put off this great and open test off for a later date. Allah (SWT) wished that a greater test than that faced by Ibraheem (AS) and Ismael (AS) be completed successfully later so that it may be a lesson to all. On the plains of Karbala in 60 AH Imam Hussain (AS) fulfilled this test with the greatest of ease. At no step did the Imam (AS) hesitate and he passed the test with flying colors. Aqa Mahdi Puya says: Shah Wali-ullah, in Sirrush Shahadaytan, and many other well known authors of traditions and history have accepted the fact that dhibhin azim refers to the sacrifice of Imam Hussain. Sleep is a state of partial consciousness for the prophets of Allah, so their dreams come true and are fulfilled. What Ibrahim, as a prophet of Allah, saw in his dream was as valid as an experience in wakefulness. Ibrahim told Ismail what he saw in the dream as an indication, and Ismail accepted it as an imperative. What Imam Hussain bin Ali saw in his dream in Madina was also an imperative. The Holy Prophet asked him: "Go to Iraq and give your life in the cause of Allah, because Allah has so willed." In the case of Ismail the sacrifice was stopped but the sacrifice Hussain offered was accepted by Allah as dhibhin azim

Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail Prophet Muhammad has the highest and best position are at a very high and elevated status among the Prophets among the Prophets. Prophet Ibrahim purified the house of Prophet Muhammad came to purify humanity (Quran, Allah,(Quran, 2:125) 2:129) Prophet Ismail was Allah's blessing, Prophet Muhammad was also a blessing, in answer to

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in answer to Prophet Ibrahim's prayers. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous son)!" (Quran, 37:100) Prophet Ismail participated in the purification of the house of Allah (Quran, 2:125)

Prophet Ibrahim's prayers. "Our Lord! and raise up in them an Apostle from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them" (Quran, 2:129) Imam Hussain is among those "Members of the Prophet's household" whom Allah has promised a complete purification... Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the (Prophet's) House! and to purify you, a (thorough) purifying. (Quran, 33:33) One of the distinctions of the Holy Ka'bah is that it is the birthplace of Imam Ali, the father of Imam Hussain.

The Holy Ka'bah, the Qiblah and Sacred place of pilgrimage for all Muslims, is the "Construction" of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. Prophet Ismail has been blessed by blessings and perpetuated praise among the later generations. "And We left for him a good name among the succeeding generations." (Quran, 37:107)

Imam Hussain is among those blessed members of the Prophet's household, whom all the Muslims have been ordered to love, to an extent that love for them has been equated with the "reward" of Prophet Muhammad's services to us.... "Say (O Muhammad!): I do not ask of you any reward (or fee) for it (my service to you) but love for my near relatives" (Quran, 42:23) http://www.al-shia.org/html/eng/books/history/eidul-azha/eidul-azha.html

Excerpts from the first speech of Imam Hussain (AS) at Karbala on Ashura
O people! Listen to my words and do not hurry (to attack me) so that I may remind you of the duties you have towards me, so that I may free myself from any blame for coming to you. If you accept my excuse, believe in what I say and give me Justice, you will become happier through that and you will have no reason to fight against me. (But) if you do not accept my excuse and do not give me justice of your own accord, So conspire together, along with your partners, leaving nothing vague in your plan, then carry it out against me without giving me respite My guardian is indeed Allah who sent down the Book, and He takes care of the righteous.

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Ayaat recited by Imam Hussain (AS) in his speech

Sura 10 Ayat 71
71. Relate to them the account of Noah when he said to his people, O my people! If my stay [among you] be hard on you and [also] my reminding you of Allahs signs, [for my part] I have put my trust in Allah. So conspire together, along with your partners,[266] leaving nothing vague in your plan, then carry it out against me without giving me any respite.

Sura 7 Verse 196

196. My guardian is indeed Allah who sent down the Book, and He takes care of the righteous.

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