Eid al-Adha, which has a special position in Islamic countries, is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar and marked auspiciously for three straight days in Afghanistan. Afghans are on the threshold of celebrating Eid al-Adha in the country. Eid preparations are started with dispatching pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform hajj.
This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice everything for Almighty Allah. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha concludes the Pilgrimage to Makkah. Eid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son.
During the feast of Eid al-Adha, Muslims re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. The family will eat about a third of the meal a third goes to friends and relatives, and the remaining third is donated to the poor and needy. The giving of charity in the form of money, food or clothes to the homeless or poor is another key tradition of Eid al-Adha.
In Afghanistan, a week before Eid al-Adha, people get preparation as they clean their homes to welcome and host guests on Eid days. They go to markets to buy new clothes, dry and fresh fruits. Those who are rich and would like to sacrifice cow or ram to re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience go to markets to buy cows and rams to sacrifice during Eid days. Then the “Qurbani meat” is distributed among family, friends and the poor people.
The morning of the first day follows with special prayer, the Eid prayer, when Muslims pray for Almighty Allah’s blessing. People visit family members, relatives and treat their guests with different kinds of food, fruits and organize family picnics. On this day, families, relatives and friends who broke up, reunite, forget and forgive past differences as a virtue of Eid commanded by Almighty Allah. And, for every Afghan, it is a very special period.
Lal Agha, an Afghan tailor, is happy about his tailoring work in Kabul as he has received lots of orders to sew clothes for Afghans. He said most of his customers has ordered Afghani clothes this year comparing to previous years.
Samir Rahimi, another Afghan citizen, says although poverty has increased in recent months across Afghanistan, security has improved countrywide. He said he has finished with preparations for Eid al-Adha, adding that he was happy that his family would celebrate it in a peaceful environment this year.
Although it is very hot, most markets remained crowded, as Afghans continue to vibrantly celebrate this period over the next three days – perhaps the normality is the best sign of hope the people can offer to the world.
Saida Ahmadi
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