For those of you that are interested in finding out more about Eid Al Adha the following is a very brief description of the meaning and history of Eid Al Adha.
Eid Al Adha is the The feast of Sacrifice. This feast commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s obedience to Allah by being prepared to sacrifice his only son Ishmael but instead was able to sacrifice a ram (by God’s command).
In traditional or agrarian settings, each family would sacrifice a domestic animal, such as a cow, sheep, goat, or camel, by slaughter. The meat would then be divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family retains one third of the share, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, and the other third is given to the poor & needy.
Eid al-Adha begins with a Wajib prayer of two Raka’ah followed by a sermon (khuṭbah).
The word “Eid” appears in Sura al-Mai’da (“The Table Spread,” Chapter 5) of the Qur’an, meaning ‘solemn festival’
Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the 12th and the last Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. The date is approximately 70 days (2 Months & 10 days) after the end of the month of Ramadan, i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr. Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
A four-day festival that completes the rites of pilgrimage and takes place during Dhul Hijjah (the last Islamic month)
Merry Christmas!
