True purpose of celebrating Eid-Al-Adha

Question

For the past couple of days, I have been trying to understand Eid-Ul-Adha and its history in deep detail; this question is part of that understanding I am trying to have.

I am trying to understand the true purpose of Eid-Ul-Adha celebrations. Below are three of the purposes that I have come across:-

1. It is done to commemorate the happenings of Prophet Ibrahim. But nowhere in Quran it is specifically mentioned that do sacrifice animals to commemorate the happenings of Prophet Ibrahim. Also nowhere it is mentioned how this Sunnah of Ibraheem started. Also I can not find a satisfactory answer as to why Allah asked Prophet Ibraheem in the first place to sacrifice his son.

https://quran.com/2/196?translations=20
https://quran.com/5/2?translations=20
https://quran.com/22/28?translations=20
https://quran.com/22/34?translations=20
https://quran.com/22/36?translations=20
https://quran.com/6/162?translations=20
https://quran.com/108/2?translations=20
https://quran.com/37/107?translations=20
https://quran.com/37/107?translations=20
https://quran.com/16/123?translations=20

Above are some of the references in the Quran where it has been talked about the sacrificing of animals but nowhere it has been explicitly mentioned to do this to commemorate the happenings of Prophet Ibrahim.

2. Another purpose that I have been told is that by sacrificing an animal, Allah wants to check one's willingness and piety to sacrifice a loved one in the name of Allah but this is not applicable as nowhere a sacrifice of an animal can be compared with the sacrifice of a human being. It does not even come close to that as many people nowadays do not have even keep sacrificial animals as pets for a long time. They just buy it a week ago and sacrifice the animal. Also, there are permissions that you can have another person sacrifice the animal for you which again kills the purpose. You can still choose not to look at the sacrifice of animals again killing the purpose.

3. Somewhere I read that animals are sacrificed on this day to mark the end of the Hajj but again this applies to the people who have gone for the Hajj and not to those who are sitting afar. The below surah mentions the same if I am not wrong.

https://quran.com/2/196?translations=20

Please clarify!

Answer 1

Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha by first offering Eid prayer and then sacrificing an Udhiyah (animal of the an’aam class) because

1. To glorify Allah and show piety.

2. It is Sunnah mu’akkadah (a confirmed Sunnah) or fard (obligatory).

3. To commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son.

Allah's Glory in Sacrifice:

Their meat will not reach Allāh, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good. — Saheeh International

22:37

Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad:

The Prophet said:

“Whoever offers a sacrifice after the prayer has completed his rituals (of Eid) and has followed the way of the Muslims.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5545)

Ibrahim's Sacrifice:

99. He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me
100. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"
101. So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
102. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast!"
103. So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),
104. We called out to him "O Abraham! ...
105. "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.

37:99 to 37:109