“The true essence of sacrifice is the annihilation of the self (fanā-e-nafs). That is why Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was commanded to sacrifice his son, not himself. Because slaughtering one’s child with one’s own hand is far more painful and difficult for the self than slaughtering one’s own neck with one’s own hand. No father in his full senses would ever willingly accept such an act…In fact, offering one’s own life would seem much easier and simpler. And this is precisely the meaning of the annihilation of the self: to go against the desires of one’s own ego. This is why the command to sacrifice one’s child holds much more meaning than sacrificing oneself.” — Hakim al-Ummah, Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi رح