Eid al Adha
Eid al Adha is a major festival in Islam and it is celebrated by Muslims all over the world on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah at the end of Hajj. This year Eid al Adha which is also called Grand Eid will be celebrated on 23rd and 24th of September depending on geographical locations, and this Eid will last for three days.
What does Eid al-Adha commemorate
Every year Muslims from different places of the world gather in the holy city of Mecca to perform Hajj in which they remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim A.S which is mentioned in Quran as follow
“Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him on the right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next, he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Qur’an 16:120-121)
Allah SWT tested the faith of Hazrat Ibrahim by ordering him to sacrifice his beloved son. He submitted to Allah’s will and agreed to sacrifice his son and the son was also willing to cooperate with his father in this regard.
The moment when Hazrat Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son with a knife the Allah SWT saved his son by placing a lamb under his knife. Allah revealed to Hazrat Ibrahim A.S his sacrifice is accepted.
Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?
As discussed in the previous paragraph that Eid-al-Adha is celebrated to commemorate and remember the trails of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. Hazrat Ibrahim A.S was agreed upon to sacrifice his beloved son so this event of Eid is about Sacrifice and Allah SWT wants his believers to sacrifice for Him.
Allah SWT has ordered Muslims to slaughter an animal such as sheep, camel, cow, or goat in his name. The meat of the animal sacrificed is divided into three equal parts and one is distributed among poor and needy people, one part is for relatives and one part can be eaten at home.
This shows that the Eid Sacrifice serves many purposes such as it provides meat to people who can not afford to eat meat. It also helps to flourish the livestock industry in which most of the people are from a lower social class.
It symbolizes we are willing to give up our won bounties to strengthen our relationship with Allah SWT. It also helps us recognize that we get all blessings from Allah SWT and we should share these blessings with others open heatedly.
As a Muslim, we should understand the purpose of sacrificing an animal on this eid. Unlike the previous generation, it is not atoning for our sins, or blood is used to wash our sins. Allah SWT says in the Quran
[su_quote]It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him[/su_quote] (Qur’an 22:37).
The verse shows that it is the attitude and our willingness to make sacrifices in our lives to be obedient servants of Allah SWT. According to the definition, a Muslim is one who submits his or herself completely to Allah SWT and prefers Allah’s will over his or her will. The sacrifice of this eid is also part of this submission. It strengthens our relationship with Allah and purifies our faith.
How Muslims celebrate Eid Al Adha
There is a special prayer in the morning for Eid on this event. Muslims gather in grand mosques or open spaces to offer Eid prayer and they listen to sermon after prayer. After eid prayer, they greet each other open heatedly. After Eid prayer, they sacrifice their animal and cut meat into small pieces.
Meat is distributed to needy people and relatives. Special dishes are also made with the meat of sacrificed animals and friends and family visit each other. This feast continues for three days spreading love and happiness.
