The Pillars of Islam and Hajj

considered to have performed the worship of Hajj in the true sense. During Hajj, all pilgrims offer animal sacrifice at Mina. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha on specific dates. Eid al-Adha is regarded as a partial participation in the worship of Hajj. Through this festival, Muslims worldwide express their connection with the Hajj performed in Makkah. Once Prophet Muhammad was asked, “O Messenger of God, what are these sacrifices? He replied, “This is the sunnah of your father Abraham. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 3127) This means that the sacrifice that is offered during the Hajj is to follow the way set by Abraham. Therefore, in order to understand the reality of Hajj and sacrifice, it is necessary to study the life of Prophet Abraham from this aspect. Through this study, we shall not only learn the historical background of Hajj and sacrifice, but we can also grasp their true significance. Hajj and Eid al-Adha, with their ritual of sacrifice, serve as a pledge to revive the tradition established by Prophet Abraham. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the true nature of sacrifice in the light of the life of Prophet Abraham.