Eid al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice, is one of the most important holidays for Muslims. During this three-day celebration, they remember Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice his son to God.

The story of Abraham’s sacrifice is found in Genesis 22:1-18. The Qur’an also records a version of the story in Surah As-Saffat 37:100-112.

Both the Bible and the Qur’an recognize that God was testing Abraham in this story. Each account affirms Abraham’s submission and obedience to God. The righteousness of Abraham’s life is also evident in both books.

God the Provider

The qur’anic version focuses on Abraham’s obedient actions.

“O Abraham, you have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. (Surah As-Saffat 37:105)

The Bible, however, focuses on God’s activity as the Provider. God provides a plan and clear instructions for the sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-3). God provides the ram for the burnt offering (Genesis 22:13). Abraham responds in worship and names the place “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14). Finally, God says He will provide the fulfillment of His promise by blessing Abraham and all nations through him (Genesis 22:15-18).

Abraham’s Righteousness

The two books also emphasize different aspects of Abraham’s righteousness. The Qur’an says Abraham was rewarded for doing good (Surah As-Saffat 37:105). However, the Bible credits Abraham’s righteousness to his belief in God (Genesis 15:6).

Understanding the Sacrifice

The Muslim view of sacrifice is also different from the Christian understanding. The Qur’an requires continual sacrifice for the atonement of sins. This sacrifice is performed annually during Eid al-Adha. But there is no assurance that these animal sacrifices cover every sin. Simply put, the results are uncertain.

In God’s Word, we see a divine parallel between the sacrifice of Abraham and the perfect atonement of God’s beloved Son. The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ, the High Priest and Son of God, came as the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all. His blood cleanses us of every sin and makes us righteous and brings us to God.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:11-14)

Those who “have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13) trust in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross. His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

• Praise Jesus for His sacrifice!
• Pray that Muslims would embrace to Jesus, the perfect sacrificial lamb, and his wonderful work of redemption.
• Ask God to help Frontiers workers to point Muslims from Abraham’s sacrifice to the atonement of Jesus Christ.
• Pray that Muslims’ hearts would be prepared to accept the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

**This study comes from a long-term worker.**

Original article: https://www.frontiersusa.org/blog/article/abrahams-sacrifice-a-bible-study