One day, he was sitting at home with his parents, reciting the Holy Quran to them. During the recitation, the story of Sayyiduna Ismail عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام came. He read from the Holy Quran how Sayyiduna Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام  became ready to sacrifice his son. How did Sayyiduna Ismail عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام present himself for slaughter with joy of the heart? When his mother heard this story, her heart was moved, and she said, "Ahmad! You are my only son. I dedicate you to the name of my Lord. Go! Perform the worship of Allah!"

Shaykh Ahmad رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه says: "I left home, reached Makkah, and stayed near the Holy Ka’bah performing worship. I remained busy in pious deeds. After a long time, I remembered my mother. I went home and knocked on the door. A voice came from inside: 'Who is it?' I said: 'I am your son Ahmad.' My mother did not even open the door and said from inside: 'I had only one son whom I have dedicated to the name of Allah. Son! Go! Perform the worship of Allah! Serve the religion! Now we will only meet on the Day of Judgment.'^[1]

Do ‘alam se karti hai dil ko be gana

‘Ajab cheez hai lazzat-e-Ashnae[2]

Explanation: Love is such a strange thing! It makes the heart forget both worlds.

Anyway! Dear Islamic brothers! When we perform the sacrifice, we should feel joy in our hearts. There should be a passion for sacrifice and devotion. It is this very passion that, إن شاء الله, will be accepted in the court of Allah.

2. The Second Quality: Sincerity

Dear Islamic brothers! The second quality that should be in our hearts while sacrificing is sincerity. The Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: مَنْ ضَحّٰی طِیْبَۃً نَفْسَہٗ مُحْتَسِبًا لِاُضْحِیَتِہٖ کَانَت لَہٗ حِجَابًا مِّنَ النَّارِ “Whoever performs the sacrifice with a happy heart and with the intention of gaining reward, the sacrifice will become a shield for him against the fire of Hell.”^[3]

سبحان الله! Look here! Our attention is being drawn towards this very quality.

Sincerity means that the only goal should be to please Allah. Apart from this, we should not want anything else. There should be no desire for fame in the world, no desire for people to praise us, and no self-admiration. There should be only one goal: "I am performing the sacrifice; if only I could gain the pleasure of my Lord through its blessing."