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Muslims Celebrate Eid ul-Adha

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The end of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah, marks the beginning of the Islamic holiday called Eid ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. It is the second of the two major Islamic holidays. Eid ul-Adha takes place on the tenth day of the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar and is a time of much celebration among the world's 1.2 billion Muslims.

The holiday commemorates Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for God Almighty, even the life of his eldest son Ismael. The story of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his own son for God is told in the Qur'an. One night Abraham saw a vision that he was sacrificing his son Ismael in the name of God. After he had awakened, Abraham told his son what he had seen in this vision and asked Ismael what he thought: " 'O my son! I see in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!' (The son) said: 'O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if God so wills one practicing Patience and Constancy!'" (37:102)

According to the Qur'an, Abraham and Ismael obeyed God's will and Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God: "So when they had both submitted their wills (to God), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him 'O Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!' - thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial- And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice: And We left (this blessing) for him among generations (to come) in later times: "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For he was one of our believing Servants."(37:103-111)

This was a test of faith for Abraham. God spared Ismael's life and a sheep was sacrificed in his place. Muslims commemorate this occasion by slaughtering an animal, usually a sheep or cow, and distributing meat to the needy as a special act of charity.

"It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches God: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you that ye may glorify God for His guidance to you: and proclaim the Good News to all who do right." (22:37)

The Eid ul-Adha holiday is a major Islamic holiday and is celebrated in a similar manner as Eid ul-Fitr; the holiday that marks the completion of the Muslim holy month of fasting called Ramadan. On the morning of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims wear their very best clothes and attend a special prayer, performed in congregation at the mosque. The prayer is then followed by a short sermon. Muslims greet and hug one another on this day with the traditional Eid greeting, "Eid Mubarak". After the sermon, and like pilgrims performing Hajj, Muslims sacrifice an animal to symbolize Abraham's sacrifice for God. Eid ul-Adha is usually celebrated for four days and is spent giving thanks and praise to God for His many blessings.