Wafadaynahu bithibhin AAatheem (surah Assaaffat: 107)

Tafseer Tafheem-ul-Quran by Syed Abu-al-A'la Maududi

(37:107) And We ransomed him with a mighty sacrifice, *66

Wa fadainaahu bizibhin `azeem

*66) "A great sacrifice" : A ram, as mentioned in the Bible and the Islamic traditions, that Allah's angel presented at the time before the Prophet Abraham, so that he should sacrifice it instead of his son. This has been called "a great sacrifice" because it was to serve as a ransom from a faithful servant like Abraham for a patient and obedient son like Ishmael, and Allah made it a means of fulfilling the intention of an unprecedented sacrifice. Another reason for calling it "a great" sacrifice is that AIlah made it a tradition till the Day of Resurrection that all the believers should offer animal sacrifice on the same date in the entire world so as to keep fresh the memory of the great and unique event signifying faithfulness and devotion."