Eid al-Adha is a holy Muslim day dedicated to the sacrifice Ibrahim was ready to make, obeying the command of the Almighty. This is about the life of his beloved son Ismail. But when Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah replaced him with a sacrificial ram. Since that day, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha every year on the 10th day of Zu al-Hijjah. On this day, the animal which is supposed to be sacrificed is divided into three parts. One part is kept by the very family; the second one is given to relatives or friends, while the third part is intended for distribution to people in need.
When is Eid al-Adha celebrated?
Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Zu al-Hijjah. This year it falls on 19 July at sunset.
The history of Eid al-Adha
Prophet Ibrahim went through many trials during his life. One of them was the situation when the Almighty decided to test Ibrahim’s faith and love for Him. And one day Allah showed him a dream of his son being sacrificed by him in the name of the Almighty. Ibrahim had those recurring dreams and realized what Allah wanted him to do. He shared that information with his son. Despite his age (Ismail was only 13) he willingly agreed to become part of the sacrifice because he believed in Allah.
The moment Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son Allah called out to them and prevented the sacrifice from taking place, since he selflessly agreed to sacrifice his most precious in the name of Allah. Instead, the Almighty asked that a ram or a sheep be sacrificed in order to preserve the sanctity of the word.
This event is of great significance because it manifested the extent to which Ibrahim was willing to obey Allah’s command without showing even a modicum of doubt about His wisdom. After repeated trials, Ibrahim’s faith remained unshaken.
The end of the rite of pilgrimage
It is remarkable that Ibrahim went with his family to the holy city of Mecca to sacrifice Ismail to Allah. Apparently, he took his son to Mount Arafat for sacrifice, where Allah did not allow him to do it. Hajj is performed in the last month of the Islamic calendar.
Eid al-Adha also marks the end of the Hajj, the obligatory sacred pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy city of Mecca. The main ritual of this day is the slaughter of a goat, a sheep or a camel, followed by their distribution. One third of the meat is given to poor people, one third is given to friends and neighbors, and one third is left to a family. The idea behind this process is that nobody should be left out of the festivities on this day, so that every family, every Muslim should feel a sense of belonging to this great day.
The true reason for the sacrifice
Many non-Muslims hold the erroneous view that sacrifice is a violent act and contradicts the idea that Allah loves all living beings equally.
However, according to Islam, this act of sacrifice does not mean that the Almighty Creator wishes harm to humans or animals. The sacrifice means that you should be ready to part with even your most precious possession in the name of serving the Almighty Creator of the universe. The deeper meaning of the process is to sacrifice attachment to material desires, possessions and other things for greater devotion to the Creator.
Traditions of the holiday
Preparations for celebration begin one month before the holiday: houses are thoroughly cleaned and decorated; women buy food and make a list of festive dishes. The most important thing in this pre-holiday rush is the purchase of an animal for sacrifice. Bazaars are open, with local vendors selling goats, cows, rams, camels and sheep.
Eid al-Adha begins with Muslims waking up early in the morning, washing and dressing in their best clothes to perform festive prayers in mosques. Everybody wishes each other health, prosperity and strong iman. The words of Eid Mubarak are heard everywhere. In addition to it, on the first day of festivities the sacrifice is made and distribution of the meat of the sacrificial animal takes place. The whole day is filled with festive celebrations and fun with friends and family members.
In the evening, family and friends gather together around a table, read the Quran, recite dua and salawats, and eat the meat of the sacrificial animal.
National cuisine
One of the important traditions of Eid al-Adha is to gather family and friends around a table. In Southeast Asia, for instance, biryani is one of the main dishes, while in Turkey kebab is the highlight of the feast. In Arab countries, lamb cooked over low heat with plenty of garlic, cumin and onions is preferred.
Eid al-Adha in numbers
4 – The number of days Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
3 – The division of the meat of the sacrificed animal
1/3 – The portion of meat kept for the family
1/3 – The portion of meat given to relatives, friends and neighbors
1/3 – The portion of meat given to people in need
10 – The number of the month of Zu al-Hijjah according to the Islamic calendar, on which Eid al-Adha falls
12 – The number of the month when Eid al-Adha is celebrated
Ilmira Gafiyatullina
Photos: Creative Commons