During the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), Egypt was still shadowed by an inherited fear from a pre-Islamic age. Each year, when the Nile delayed its rise, people believed the river demanded a sacrifice. A young woman would be chosen, adorned, and offered to the waters so that crops would grow and life could continue.

The belief was simple and devastating:
life depended on appeasing fear.

Islam arrived to dismantle this belief — not through force, but through tauhid: the clarity that all power, benefit, and harm belong to Allah alone.

When Egypt came under Muslim governance, its governor was Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him), a man known for intelligence, strategic judgement, and political instinct. Long before Islam, he was recognised among Quraysh as a skilled negotiator, an accomplished horseman, and a capable warrior. As a merchant, he had travelled widely across Sham, Egypt, Abyssinia, and Yemen, gaining deep familiarity with lands and peoples he would later encounter as a Muslim.

When Amr learned of the annual ritual, he prohibited it immediately. No river, no tradition, and no fear could justify the taking of a human life.

Soon after, the Nile’s waters receded. Crops failed. Anxiety spread. Voices rose across Egypt demanding the return of the old ritual.

Appease the river, they said — or Egypt will perish.

Amr recognised that this was not a logistical problem or an administrative failure. It was a crisis of belief.

This was not a situation that could be resolved with force, policy, or precedent. It required clarity — and restraint — at the highest level of leadership.

So what did Amr ibn al-‘As do next?

I explore his response, and the remarkable solution that followed, in the full reflection on Substack:
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👉 Read the complete essay here:
https://ilmkhal.substack.com/p/a-firm-message-to-the-river-nile

By Ilmi Khalid

​Every year during Eidul Adha, we revisit a timeless story: the trials of Prophet Ibrahim peace be upon him, the unwavering faith of his wife Siti Hajar, and the noble submission of their son, Prophet Ismail peace be upon him. We reflect on the pilgrimage, the sacrifice, the qurban (sacrifice) meat distributed to the needy, and the spiritual lessons behind it all.

But rarely do we pause to reflect on the knife --
the silent witness to that moment of obedience,
the tool chosen by Allah to play a role in a divine test.

The Knife in Prophet Ibrahim’s Hand

​In that moment, Prophet Ibrahim peace be upon him held a knife to show devotion, to obey. It was a test from Allah — a command that cuts deeper than any blade.

The knife in his hand became a symbol of obedience, trust, and surrender to Allah.

And yet — Allah intervened. And in place of his son, a ram was sent — and that ram was sacrificed.

“And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”
— Surah As-Saffat (Quran 37:107)

The story ends with mercy and the knife played its role, as a tool of submission and spiritual strength.

Is Eidul Adha Related to Hajj?

​Yes — Eidul Adha is directly tied to the Hajj pilgrimage, both in timing and meaning.

While Muslims around the world gather for the Eid prayer and offer qurban, millions of pilgrims in Makkah are completing the rites of Hajj — a sacred journey that retraces the footsteps of Prophet Ibrahim, Siti Hajar, and Ismail 
Eidul Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, right after the most critical day of Hajj: Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah).

During this period, both pilgrims and non-pilgrims perform qurban (animal sacrifice), commemorating the moment Allah replaced Prophet Ismail with a ram.
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Eidul Adha is the spiritual echo of Hajj — a global reminder of submission, sacrifice, and divine mercy.

The Ethical Blade

Here in Malaysia, this spiritual ethic lives on.
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In the days before Eidul Adha, local bladesmiths become busy sharpening knives — for the sacred duty of qurban. A well-sharpened blade ensures a swift, merciful slaughter with the least amount of pain for the animal.

This is ihsan in action — excellence in worship, compassion in ritual, and discipline in practice.
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The knife, when held by hands guided by taqwa (God-consciousness), becomes a symbol of mercy, discipline, obedience, and service to Allah.

Why I Wrote Basic Silat Knife Drills

As a martial artist, I’ve always believed that the Silat blade training teaches us more than movement.

It teaches us responsibility. It sharpens not just our reflexes — but our intention.

The pisau belati — the traditional Malay knife — seems like a harmless daily utility tool used by the ladies of the past. However, in the hands of a trained practitioner, it can be a deadly instrument of combat.

In my ebook Basic Silat Knife Drills, I share:
• Foundational solo drills with the knife
• Ethical and practical principles of self-control and awareness
• Warrior stories that echo the values of discipline and service
• A structured training guide that is easy to use
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This isn’t a manual for violence. It’s a journey toward mastery, restraint, and readiness.

Eidul Adha Offer: 20% OFF

In celebration of Eidul Adha, I’m offering a 20% discount on the Basic Silat Knife Drills ebook until June 12, 2025.

• Use code: EIDQURBAN20 at checkout
• Buy here https://payhip.com/b/XLkQ1

A Final Reflection

​This Eid, let’s not forget the knife.
It was present in that sacred moment — still, ready, obedient.
It reminds us that tools are only as meaningful as the hands that wield them… and the intention behind the action.
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This Eidul Adha, may our sacrifices be sincere,
our tools be guided by mercy,
and our hearts be tethered to Allah.

Eid Mubarak.
— Ilmi Khalid
​Seni Bilah Melayu Silat Academy