Eid Al Adha

Eid al-Adha (lit. ’Feast of the Sacrifice’ | Bakri Eid) is the second and biggest of the two official holidays which are celebrated within Islam (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. Before Ibrahim could sacrifice his son, however, God provided him with a lamb that he was supposed to kill in his son’s place. In commemoration of this intervention, animals are ritually slaughtered. One-third of their meat is consumed by the family which offers the animal, while the rest of the meat is distributed to the poor and the needy. Sweets and gifts are given, and extended family members are typically visited and welcomed. The day is also sometimes called Big Eid or the Greater Eid.

In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Zilhajj til Haram (the 12th month of the Islamic calender) and lasts for four days. In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year, shifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

ORIGIN | Eid Al Adha

One of the main trials of Ibrahim’s life was to face the command of Allah by killing his beloved son. According to the new narrative, Ibrahim kept having nightmares that he was sacrificing his son Ismail son of Hajira. Ibrahim knew that this was a command from Allah and he told his son, as stated in the Quran “Oh son, I keep dreaming that I am slaughtering you”, Ismail replied, “Father, do what you are ordered to do.” Ibrahim prepared to submit to the will of Allah and prepare to slaughter his son as an act of faith and obedience to Allah. During the preparation, Shaita’an tempted Ibrahim and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out Allah’s commandment, and Ibrahim drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars of Stoning of the Devil during Hajj rites.

Acknowledging that Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice what is dear to him, Allah the Almighty honored both Ibrahim and Ismail. Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) called Ibrahim

“O’ Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the revelations.”

and a lamb from heaven was offered by Angel Gabriel to Prophet Ibrahim to slaughter instead of Ismail. Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al Adha to commemorate both the devotion of Ibrahim and the survival of Ismail.

This story is known as the Akedah in Judaism (Binding of Isaac) and originates in the Torah the first book of Moses (Genesis, Ch. 22).

EID PRAYERS | Bakri Eid

Devotees offer the Eid al-Adha prayers at the mosque. The Eid al-Adha prayer is performed any time after the sun completely rises up to just before the entering of Zuhr time, on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. In the event of a force majeure (e.g. natural disaster), the prayer may be delayed to the 11th of Dhu al-Hijjah and then to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Eid prayers must be offered in the congregation. Participation of women in the prayer congregation varies from community to community. It consists of two raka’ah (units) with seven takbirs in the first Raka’ah and five Takbirs in the second raka’ah.

For Shia Muslims, Salat al-Eid differs from the five daily canonical prayers in that no adhan (call to prayer) or iqama (call) is pronounced for the two Eid prayers. The salat (prayer) is then followed by the khutbah, or sermon, by the Imam.

At the conclusion of the prayers and sermon, Muslims embrace and exchange greetings with one another (Eid Mubarak), give gifts, and visit one another. Many Muslims also take this opportunity to invite their friends, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates to their Eid festivities to better acquaint them with Islam and Muslim culture.

Read our other BLOG:

Muslim bin Aqeel

EID E GHADEER / EVENT OF GADHEER

Follow us on INSTAGRAM @Bohracornerindia