LETTERS: Muslims have just celebrated Eid-ul-Adha (Aidiladha) in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The celebration should not just be a public holiday for us and we should reflect on how it relates to the purpose of our existence.
Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was a messenger of God and like other messengers, he was very clear on his purpose. Submitting to God's will, he left his wife, Siti Hajar (RA) and his child Ismail (AS) in a torrid valley with no source of food or water.
In another test of his faith, Allah commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail. Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son and Ismail's submissiveness was a testament to their faith, and at the point of sacrifice, a ram was substituted in the place of Ismail.
The valley became the holy city of Mecca where both Ibrahim and Ismail built the Kaaba and where pilgrims from all over the world gather. To symbolize the sacrifice and faith of Siti Hajar, the saie (journey back and forth between two hills, Safa and Marwah) is made an obligatory ritual in the Hajj. Eid-ul-Adha signifies the completion of Hajj and the offering of sacrifice to commemorate Ibrahim's successful journey towards his purpose.
Fulfilling one's purpose requires sacrifices and it goes without saying that the bigger the purpose, the bigger would be the sacrifice. The great and countless sacrifices made by our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the Sahabah (friends of Prophet) were all based on a clear purpose of spreading Islam and for the benefit of the ummah.
In the context of our everyday life now, do we really know our purpose? Finding our life's purpose is finding out how we can serve our creator, the secret of which can be unravelled from the Quran. He made each of us unique and by finding and deploying our strength, each of us would be able to serve Him best.
To justify the ultimate purpose of our existence, finding one's purpose in life goes beyond setting personal goals or about material gain. However, if one is raised with good moral values and consistently hold these values, our parents and teachers have fulfilled their purposes.
The Malay saying "didik anak menjadi insan yang berguna" literally means to raise your child to be a useful human being. Being useful is indeed serving humanity and finding a greater purpose. It is about giving and sharing and helping others; it is about preserving the earth we are entrusted with; it is about leaving behind a legacy for future generations. It is about making a difference in the world.
Finding one's purpose in life may come easily to some but may be a struggle for others but faith can surely be a guiding factor. Once you find how you can serve humanity, you are likely on your way to a journey of bliss and happiness.
Sacrifices must be made along the way and this journey would not be free from difficulties and challenges, as evident from Ibrahim's journey. Wishing all Muslims a blessed Eid-ul-Adha.
May each and every one of us find our own purpose in life and contribute to the greater good and may this celebration be a constant reminder for us to strengthen our faith in fulfilling the ultimate purpose of our existence.
PROF DATIN DR ROHAYA AHMAD
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times