The Festival of Sacrifice
Dr. M.A Aleem M.D., D.M. (Neuro)
HOD & Professor of Neurology
Dept. of Neurology KAPV Govt. Medical Collage &
MGM Govt. Hospital
Trichy – 620017
What is Eid ul-Adha?
At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2012, Eid ul-Adha will begin on or around October 27 and will last for three days.
On the day of Eid- ul-Adha the morning starts with prayers and a sermon at the local mosque, and a sacrifice of a cow, ram, or lamb is made after the sermon and prayers. The meat from the sacrifice is distributed among the poor people of the area, and a feast is has among friends and family.
Eid ul-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honor the willingness of ʾIbrāhīm to sacrifice his son Ismā'īl as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. The days of Eid ul Adha are the 10th of Dhul Hijjah upto the 12th of Dhul Hijjah (3 days and 2 nights) sacrifice may take place until sunset on the 13th Day. This year this day is on 27.10.2102 in Tamil Hajji Peru Nāl. Tamil Bakr Eid Peru Nāl.
The days of Tashriq are from the Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijjah upto the Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah (5 days and 4 nights). This equals 23 prayers: 5 on the 9th-12th which equal 20 and 3 on the 13th. Eid ul-Adha begins with a Sunnah prayer of two Raka'ah (units) followed by a sermon (khuṭbah). Eid ul-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th, 11th and 12th day of the twelfth and last Islamic month of Dhu ul-Hijjah. In the Indian subcontinent, the festival is known as Bakr-Id because of the tradition of sacrificing the goats ("bakri" in Hindi-Urdu). Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid ul-Adha.
What does Eid ul-Adha commemorate?
During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows:
"Surely Ibraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121)
One of Ibraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superceded all others, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to Allah. |
.Who must attend Eid prayer
- Men compulsory - Women Optional
- Residents, which exclude travellers
- Those in good health, which excludes genuinely sick people
When is the Eid ul-Adha prayer performed
The Eid ul-Adha prayer is performed anytime after the sun completely rises up to just before the entering of Zuhr time, on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. If the event of an excuse (eg. natural disaster), the prayer maybe delayed to the 11th of Dhul Hijjah and then to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah.
The Sunnah of Eid ul-Adha
In keeping with the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims are encouraged to prepare themselves for the occasion of Eid. Below is a list of things Muslims are recommended to do in preparation for the Eid ul-Adha festival:
- Make wudu (ablution) and offer Salat al-Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer).
- Prepare for personal cleanliness – take care of details of clothing, etc.
- Dress up, putting on new or best clothes available.
Salat al-Eid (Eid prayer)
Eid prayer must be offered in congregation. It consists of two Raka'ah (units) with seven Takbirs in the first Raka'ah and five Takbirs in the second Raka'ah. For Sunni Muslims, Salat ul-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. However, Shi'ite Muslims may begin Salat ul-Eid with adhan (Call to Prayer) with a third repetition of the line "Hayya ala salah" ("Come to prayer") and iqama (call). The Salaat (prayer) is then followed by the Khutbah, or sermon, by the Imam.
At the conclusion of the prayers and sermon, the Muslims embrace and exchange greetings with one other (Eid Mubarak), give gifts (Eidi) to children, and visit one another. Many Muslims also take this opportunity to invite their non-Muslims friends, neighbours, co-workers and classmates to their Eid festivities to better acquaint them about Islam and Muslim culture.
The Takbir and other rituals
The Takbir is recited from the dawn of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah to the thirteenth, and consists of:
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar lā ilāha illā Allāh Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar wa li-illāhil-hamd
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,
There is no deity but Allah
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
and to Allah goes all praise
Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?
During the celebration of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.
Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.
The meat from the sacrifice of Eid ul-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.
It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations: "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)
The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah's commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.
What else do Muslims do to celebrate the holiday?
On the first morning of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter.
It is heartening to witness the spirit of sharing and giving on this Eid, as no Muslim goes hungry during the tiring but joyous days of Eid Ul-Adha!
The animal dies due to loss of blood. The blood should be allowed to drain completely from its body before it is skinned, disemboweled and chopped. This takes a good half-hour or so. The test to see whether the animal's blood has drained is to touch the animal's body; if it is still warm, it means the blood has not drained completely.
- It is absolutely forbidden to start skinning and cutting the animal when it is still alive or writhing. Some butchers, especially the amateur ones, who want to make the maximum amount of money on Eid Ul-Adha by slaughtering as many animals as possible, commit grave errors in the process of slaughter. They should not be allowed by the animal owners to thus abuse the animal. Moreover, it is impermissible for Muslims to consume blood in any form. If the blood has not drained from the animal's body completely before it is cut up, it will remain in the veins inside the meat, thus rendering the meat "haraam" for consumption.
- For larger animals such as cows and camels, only expert butchers should try to slaughter them on Eid Ul-Adha, and should be booked well in advance. It has been noted that when inexperienced people try to slaughter these large animals themselves (as expert butchers are very busy on this Eid), the latter get scared and become difficult to tie down and subdue, at times dashing off, causing injuries and harm.
- It is absolutely forbidden to start skinning and cutting the animal when it is still alive or writhing. Some butchers, especially the amateur ones, who want to make the maximum amount of money on Eid Ul-Adha by slaughtering as many animals as possible, commit grave errors in the process of slaughter. They should not be allowed by the animal owners to thus abuse the animal. Moreover, it is impermissible for Muslims to consume blood in any form. If the blood has not drained from the animal's body completely before it is cut up, it will remain in the veins inside the meat, thus rendering the meat "haraam" for consumption.
- For larger animals such as cows and camels, only expert butchers should try to slaughter them on Eid Ul-Adha, and should be booked well in advance. It has been noted that when inexperienced people try to slaughter these large animals themselves (as expert butchers are very busy on this Eid), the latter get scared and become difficult to tie down and subdue, at times dashing off, causing injuries and harm.
Traditions and practices
Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform in a large congregation is an open field called Eidgah or mosque. Those Muslims who can afford, i.e Malik-e-Nisaab; sacrifice their best halal domestic animals (usually a cow, but can also be a camel, goat, sheep or ram depending on the region) as a symbol of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son. The sacrificed animals, called Uḍhiyyah also known by its Persian term, "al-Qurbāni"), have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice.
The meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the other third is given to the poor and needy. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid ul-Adha by concerted efforts to see that no impoverished person is left without an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial meal during these days.
During Eid ul-Adha, distributing meat amongst the people, chanting the Takbir out loud before the Eid prayer on the first day and after prayers throughout the three days of Eid, are considered essential parts of this important Islamic festival. In some countries, families that do not own livestock can make a contribution to a charity that will provide meat to those who are in need.
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