The month of Zulhijjah is the month linked to major events, namely Hajj and the Qurban or Sacrifice (al-Udhiyyah). Every year during Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world commemorate the profound story of Prophet Ibrahim's (Peace Be Upon Him) extraordinary obedience to Allah's command, that is the directive to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (Peace Be Upon Him).

The directive was unquestionably obeyed by Prophet Ibrahim, though it eventually turned out that the beloved son was replaced by a sheep. It was the sheep which was slaughtered instead of Ismail (PBUH).

The historical event has remarkable lessons and impacts that resonate strongly with the realities we face today. The event is not merely about the encouragement to conduct sacrifice or Qurban, and the lessons are not only on the historical narrative but also about the attributes as well as values of complete submission, sincerity, and sound faith shown by Prophet Ibrahim and his son (Peace Be Upon Them).

For one, through the act of Qurban, we are reminded of the importance of sacrificing personal desires for the sake of Allah and the greater good. It also epitomises the values of devotion, sincerity, and sacrifice in our everyday lives.

In fact, the story of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) urges us to deeply reflect beyond the act of Qurban. The story often enables us to internalise the spiritual strength, humility, and commitment shown by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), and to embrace the enduring wisdom found in his story.

The divine command to Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) to sacrifice his son was more than a historical account. It stands as a powerful symbol of profound sacrifice and submission. It teaches us the importance of surrendering personal reasoning in favour of divine guidance.

It represents the sacrifice of personal attachment in favour of obedience to Allah. It depicts the submission of the faculty of intellect to divine revelation, epitomised in the willingness to let go of personal reasoning in acceptance of divine command.

The story tells us about the readiness to forgo one's own plans and desires in respect to a higher will, as commanded by Allah. It urges us to let go of what we hold most dear when the path of justice, obedience, and collective benefit demands it.

This powerful narrative reminds us of essential qualities every servant of Allah should develop: sincerity in sacrifice, absolute obedience, and the courage to relinquish attachments in pursuit of Allah's pleasure. This takes us to contemplate if we truly have the willingness to sacrifice what we hold most dear for the benefit of others and for Allah's sake.

Are we prepared to abandon our strongest arguments, deeply rooted beliefs, and accumulated possessions, simply because the path of obedience, justice, and collective well-being requires it?

In short, Eid al-Adha is not merely about the ritual slaughter of animals. It is also about the sacrifice of the ego, the surrender of worldly attachments or personal desires, and the embrace of eternal values that define the Muslim identity.

Amidst the solemn remembrance of this great sacrifice, we must also recall another significant, though often overlooked, legacy of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH). He had made a heartfelt supplication that he and his descendants be among those who establish prayer or solat. Allah records this prayer in Surah Ibrahim (14:40):

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

"My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, accept my supplication." (Surah Ibrahim, 14:40)

The above prayer reveals Prophet Ibrahim's profound concern not just for his own spiritual state but also for the future of his progeny. This also shows that Prophet Ibrahim did not only embody physical sacrifice but also prioritised a deep spiritual connection with Allah through prayer. He understood that solat is the pillar of spiritual strength, a means to connect with Allah daily, and a core responsibility passed down through generations.

In this prayer, Prophet Ibrahim expressed not just concern for his own steadfastness in worship, but also for that of his descendants. It is a timeless reminder of our duty as parents, educators, and community leaders to nurture spiritual discipline in the next generation.

We must therefore ask ourselves: Have we passed on the habit of solat or prayer to our children? Have we internalised and acted upon Prophet Ibrahim's prayer within our own families?

While the ritual of sacrifice represents a physical sacrifice of wealth, time, and desire in submission to Allah, the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim signifies the inner sacrifice of heedlessness, complacency, and worldly distractions, so that our hearts remain firmly connected to our Lord.

Together, these two acts, Sacrifice and Solat, symbolise the twofold legacy of Prophet Ibrahim. The former is an expression of physical submission, and the latter is a reflection of enduring spiritual devotion. Our life becomes truly meaningful when we honour both dimensions in our personal and family lives.

As we perform the rituals of sacrifice, let us also revive the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim, ensuring that prayers or solat become a firmly rooted practice in our homes and communities. This is the essence of sacrifice, not merely the slaughter of an animal, but the slaughtering of the ego and worldly desires, and the revival of divine consciousness in our lives.

Stated another way, the act of Qurban or sacrifice is a symbol of physical submission, which is relatable to the sacrifice of our wealth, time, and desires. The prayer is a symbol of enduring spiritual devotion, representing the inner sacrifice, which is relatable to overcoming heedlessness, complacency, and distraction.

Anchoring on the verse, as educators, parents, and community members, we must reflect: Have we made prayer central in our lives and in the lives of our children? Have we embodied the discipline, focus, and devotion that solat represents?

As we perform the rituals of sacrifice, let us revive the prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) in our homes and institutions. The true essence of sacrifice lies not just in the act of slaughtering an animal, but in the slaughtering of the ego, the surrender to Allah's will, and the revival of divine consciousness in our daily lives.

As we also welcome the arrival of a new Hijri year, 1447H, we are reminded of another powerful message: the significance of Hijrah, translated as migration. It is not just physical, but also spiritual and mental migration or transformation.

Hijrah, in today's context, represents a journey of self-improvement, development and transformation. It calls us to move from darkness to light, from complacency to productivity, from heedlessness to God-consciousness. It challenges us to improve in all dimensions, namely physical, intellectual, emotional, financial, and spiritual.

Learning from the story of Prophet Ibrahim's (PBUH) sacrifice and his supplication on prayers, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with a high level of readiness and acquire the needed competencies to improve ourselves so as to be better servants of Allah, productive team members in society, more responsible family members, and trustworthy individuals in our communities.

Hence, in conjunction with the commemoration of Hijrah and the dawn of the new Hijri year 1447, let us renew our commitment to self-improvement and family development. Let us strive to become better individuals, by nurturing good relationships with ourselves, others, our environment, our property, our responsibilities, and most importantly, our Creator.

May this new year bring with it renewed purpose, sincere reflection, and increased God- consciousness in all that we do.

Dr. Shukran Abd Rahman is a professor of Industrial and Organisational Psychology in the Department of Psychology, AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). His research areas include career development, change and development in higher education institutions, organizational behavior, academic culture, and the employability of students in higher learning institutions.