Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar and the second and final holiday of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Of the two main Muslim holidays, Eid al-Adha is the most significant, which is why it’s also sometimes called “The Greater Festival.”
While the first of the two holidays, Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, Eid al-Adha marks the end of Hajj.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated to mark the end of Hajj, the final of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj is a pilgrimage that takes place only once every year from the 5th of Dhul-Hijjah to the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah in Makka (Mecca) and its nearby sacred lands. Every practicing Muslim who is able to perform Hajj is required to perform pilgrimage once in their lifetime. Those who are not performing Hajj in a given year may choose to honor the sacred days with voluntary fasting. The Hajj pilgrimage is a symbolic journey tracing the footsteps of Prophet Abraham, Hagar, and their son Ismail, peace be upon all of them.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated to commemorate God rescuing Prophet Abraham from a difficult test. Eid al-Adha lasts for three days and commemorates Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son.
Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to make something else as a ‘great sacrifice’. In the Old Testament, it is a ram that is sacrificed instead of the son, according to the holy Quran.
The holiday serves as a hopeful symbol for Muslims going through their own difficult tests.
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.
Eid is a day of happiness, after performing religious rituals, happiness should be done within the framework of religious principles and rules.
During Eid days, Muslims are wearing new clothes and using perfumes, in these days displeasures among Muslims should be avoided, and any anonymity and distrust that Islam does not accept should be avoided.
The advice of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) on this day is that pessimism, hatred and enmity should be avoided and brotherhood, intimacy, friendship and cooperation should be renewed.
Our compatriot taken preparations for Eid al-Adha according to their economic capabilities. Because economic possibilities of each family is different and their ability depends on these possibilities, as can be seen, the majority of our society is still threatened by poverty and unemployment, and how can they afford their necessity? If most of our compatriots in the cities and villages are living in poverty, then how can they prepare necessary things for the Eid days?
A country that still war and its neighbor interferences are ongoing in its social, economic and cultural affairs, does it not deserve humanitarian and moral support?
Certainly, it needs to be helped by others and the people cannot overcome these challenges lonely.
It is the government’s duty to create infrastructures, and employment opportunities so that people can find a leave of bread.
On the other hand, along with the government’s serious attention, unity, solidarity and national union are also major condition for the development and progress of a country.
Wishing a day when every street and market of our country will be free of the needy and poor people, and the lamp of happiness will be lit in every house of our compatriots, and an Eid will be added to the holidays of our people, and their faces will be bright with happiness and prosperity, and our Eid days will be celebrated as best as possible.
Masouda Qarizada
Assist poor families during Eid days!
