Eid Al-Adha
The Feast of Sacrifice commemorates the ordeal of Abraham who was asked to sacrifice his only son to prove his faith to Allah (God).
What is Eid-ul-Adha?
Being the second most important festival in the Muslim calendar, the day remembers prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isma’il when Allah (God) ordered him to in a dream.
How is it Different from Eid-ul-Fitr?
Both are very special days for Muslims, but the major difference is what is being celebrated. Eid-ul-Fitr is to celebrate the revelation of the Holy Quran, while Eid-ul-Adha remembers Ibrahim for his absolute faith in Allah.
So What’s The Story, Really?
Even though the devil tempted Ibrahim to disobey Allah’s orders and save his own son, Ibrahim persisted. Just as Ibrahim was about to kill son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.
But This Sounds So Familiar…
The tale is also told in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament (Genesis 22), but names differ slightly – Ibrahim to Abraham, Isma’il to Ishmael, and the mother of Isma’il being either Hagar or Sarah.
So How Does The Actual Day Go?
In Muslim countries, Eid-ul-Adha is a public holiday. The Muslims will dress in their best clothes and go to the mosque for prayers, thanking Allah for all their blessings.
It is also obligatory for Muslims to give a set amount of money to charity for helping the poor buy new clothes and food so they can join in the celebrations. For those who can afford it, Muslims all over the world would also sacrifice a sheep or goat as a reminder of Ibrahim’s act. (In the UK, the sacrifice must be done in a slaughterhouse.)
The meat would be then divided into three equal portions, to be shared with family, friends and the poor. Eid-ul-Adha is also a time when Muslims visit and offer gifts to family and friends.
How Do I Wish My Friends For This Special Occasion?
With this, we would also like to wish our Muslim friends “Eid Mubarak”. So, what will you be doing today?
