Time for festivities is back again, commemorating Eid al Adha and celebrating great moments with family, friends, neighbours and loved ones. Happy Eid to all; a much-awaited occasion to enjoy a good time and refresh minds and spirits alike. It is time to reunite and strengthen relations with others around us. Getting together with loved ones in the joyous gatherings during allows people to be more relaxed, satisfied and motivated. Though, people come across different happy occasions in life, Eid celebrations bring undoubtedly special feelings of course.
Eid al Adha marks one of the annually-awaited occasions in the calendar. It is a key celebration falling on the 12th month, Dhul Hijjah, of the Islamic calendar. It is the second of two Islamic religious occasions observed by Muslim nations worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two. The so-called Festival of Sacrifice or Feast of Sacrifice Eid is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah. In fact, it is linked with performing pilgrimage, Haj, the 5th pillar of Islam.
The original story behind celebrating this Eid al Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is to honour the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to the command of the Almighty Allah. Before the Prophet sacrificed his son, Allah provided a male goat to sacrifice instead. In commemoration of this, an animal is being sacrificed during days of Eid and divided into three parts: one third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is distributed to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family. This represents the animal that Ibrahim sacrificed in the place of his son.
As a matter of fact, observing the three-day Eid comes as a compliance to a religious order and ritual performed by all Muslims. Commemorating the occasion is represented in different activities including the animal sacrifice, collective prayers, chanting different calls and appeals to Allah, in addition to performing pilgrimage rituals for pilgrims. This sacred religious occasion mirrors Muslims’ obedience and receiving a reward of blessings, forgiveness and joy at the same time.
At Eid al Adha, the festive moments of enjoyment and happiness are always well-received by people of all ages. Despite the reason behind the festivity, people strive not to miss it, so they all enjoy and share the good times of fun and entertainment with one another. Men, women, and children get dressed in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayers in a large congregation usually in an open area or masjid. Then, Muslims, who can afford it, sacrifice their best animals; could be a cow, but can also be a camel, goat or sheep as a symbol of the Prophet Ibrahim's (PBUH) willingness to sacrifice his only son. The sacrificed animals, called Oḍḥiya, have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice.
Eid al Adha is an annual religious ritual being celebrated by all Muslims around the globe. Actually, it is becoming a cheerful festivity for all children, adults and elderly, both men and women alike. On this day, people get together and become more united, pathetic and welcoming as well as forgiving and sociable. To tell the truth, Eid al Adha stands as a day of integrity and getting closer regardless all the social and personal differences between people within the same society or nation.
Neighbours and relatives all come together, starting a new chapter of life as they wrap up the year at the month of Dhul Hijjah and welcome a new Hijri year. Actually, the day is regarded a sacred gift from the Almighty Allah to reunite people and allow them recall the historical story behind their celebration of Eid. Wish you all a happy and prosperous Eid with family and loved ones!
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