For Ibrahim at the Time of Breaking the Idols and the Slaughter of His Son

.از براي ابراهيم وقت شكستن بتها و ذبح پسرش‌

مجلس نهم و دهم: مجلس ديگري بود از براي ابراهيم و آن وقتي بود كه خواست بتها را [ صفحه 219] بشكند، پس گفت: من بيمارم يعني از براي مصيبت سيدالشهداء، چنانكه در تفسير است. [612] .دهم: مجلس ديگري از براي ابراهيم (عليه‌السلام) بود در وقتي كه مأمور شد به ذبح پسرش چنانكه از حضرت رضا (عليه‌السلام) مرويست كه چون خداوند امر نمود ابراهيم (عليه‌السلام) را كه ذبح كند گوسفند را در جاي پسرش اسمعيل، تمنا نمود ابراهيم كه كاش فدا نيامده بود، و پسرش را به دست خود ذبح مي‌كرد، تا اينكه دلش شكسته مي‌شد و به درجه‌ي رفيعه‌ي صبر و رضا فائز مي‌گرديد، پس وحي شد به او كه اي ابراهيم كي محبوب‌ترين خلق است به نزد تو؟ عرض كرد: حبيب تو محمد (صلي الله عليه و آله) وحي رسيد: كه آيا او احب است به نزد تو يا نفست؟ عرض كرد: بلكه او احب است به سوي من از نفسم، فرمود: آيا فرزند او را بيشتر دوست مي‌داري يا فرزند خود را؟ عرض كرد: فرزند او را، فرمود: آيا مذبوح شدن فرزند او به تيغ ستم دشمنان بيشتر دلت را مي‌سوزاند يا ذبح ولدت به دست خودت در طاعت من؟ عرض كرد ذبح ولد او به دست دشمنان بيشتر دل مرا مي‌سوزاند، فرمود: اي ابراهيم جمعي كه گمان مي‌كنند خود را از امت خاتم انبياء، هر آينه خواهند كشت فرزندش حسين (عليه‌السلام) را به ظلم و عدوان مانند گوسفند و به اين عمل مستحق غضب و سخط من مي‌شوند، پس ابراهيم جزع نمود و دلش شكست و گريست، پس وحي رسيد كه اي ابراهيم فدا نمودم جزع تو را بر اسمعيل به جزعت بر حسين (عليه‌السلام) و واجب نمودم از براي تو درجات رفيعه‌ي اهل مصايب را، و اين است تفسي (و فديناه بذبح عظيم): [ذبيحه‌ي بزرگي را فداي او كرديم]. [613] .

For Ibrahim at the Time of Breaking the Idols and the Slaughter of His Son

The ninth and tenth gatherings:

The ninth gathering was also for Ibrāhīm (a.s.) when he intended to break the idols. He said:

“I am sick.”

According to some commentaries, this meant that he was grieved because of the tragedy of Sayyid al-Shuhadāʾ, Imām al-Ḥusayn (a.s.). [612]

The tenth gathering was another gathering for Ibrāhīm (a.s.) when he was commanded to sacrifice his son.

It is narrated from Imām al-Riḍā (a.s.) that when Allah commanded Ibrāhīm (a.s.) to sacrifice a ram in place of his son Ismāʿīl, Ibrāhīm wished that the ransom had not been sent and that he had been allowed to sacrifice his son with his own hands, so that his heart would be deeply broken and he would attain the lofty rank of patience and submission.

Then Allah revealed to him:

“O Ibrāhīm, who is the most beloved of My creation to you?”

He replied:

“Your beloved, Muhammad (s.a.w.a.).”

Allah said:

“Is he more beloved to you or your own self?”

He replied:

“Rather, he is more beloved to me than my own self.”

Allah said:

“Do you love his son more or your own son?”

He replied:

“His son.”

Allah said:

“Would the slaughter of his son by the sword of the oppression of his enemies cause you greater grief, or would the sacrifice of your own son by your own hand in obedience to Me cause you greater grief?”

He replied:

“The slaughter of his son by the hands of his enemies would grieve me more.”

Allah said:

“O Ibrāhīm, a group of people who consider themselves from the nation of the Seal of the Prophets will kill his son, Imam Husain (a.s.), with zulm and aggression, just as a sheep is slaughtered. Through this act they will deserve My anger and My wrath.”

At this, Ibrāhīm (a.s.) became distressed, his heart broke, and he wept.

Then Allah revealed to him:

“O Ibrāhīm, I have accepted your grief for Imam Husain (a.s.) in place of your grief for Ismāʿīl, and I have made obligatory for you the lofty ranks of those who suffer great calamities.”

This is the meaning of:

وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ

“And We ransomed him with a Feat Sacrifice.” (Qur'an 37:107, M. H. Shakir)

[613]