The Feast of sacrifice, known as Eid-Al-Adha is celebrated by the entire Muslim community across the world. It is the second of two most important festival of community, first one being Eid-Al-Fitr. The Eid-Al-Adha is a celebration which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage or Hajj in Mecca. This year Eid-Al-Adha will be celebrated on 25th September across India.
On 10th Day of Dhu-Al-Hijah, a month of Islamic or Hijri calendar, celebration of Eid-Al-Adha takes place, as on 9th day of Islamic calendar pilgrims completes their pilgrim at Holy place Mecca. The festival honors the willingness of Ibrahim (A.S) to sacrifice his son Ismile, as an act of submission to God.
According to Holy Quran, as Ibrahim (A.S) was about sacrifice his only son, it was replaced by the lamb which eventually sacrificed. To commemorate this historically important incident that happened thousands of years ago, Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-Al-Adha with great respect and utmost dignity.
The meat of sacrificed animal (Goat, Sheep or Camel), meat is divided into three parts, one part is given within the family itself, while the other two parts are distributed among friends and the poor. In many parts of India a communal get-together is organized, which follows a mass dining.
A strong myth about this day is that by slaughtering an animal on Eid-Al-Adha, Muslims can wash away their sins with the blood of animal. However it is clearly mentioned in Holy Quran that:
“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him.” (Qur’an 22:37)
Irrespective of facts in this article, the festival is widely misunderstood by the other communities in India, our brother communities’ misinterpret the concept behind the celebration, commonly thought as a meaningless slaughtering of animals which is obviously not true.
Eid-Al-Adha is closely followed after the completion Hajj ritual. Moreover, it is an obligation of every pilgrim to perform the custom of sacrificing an animal. This sacrifice is scheduled after offering a special prayer in morning of Eid-Al Adha, known as Khutba which is a must for every adult Muslim, so as to carry out the sacrificial custom.
