Eid-ul-Adha is also called Bakr Eid, Eid-ul-Adha, is a festival of great rejoice. Special prayers and exchange of greetings gifts marked the Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in the world. Eid-ul-Adha is a remainder of Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son for Allah’s sake.
It also marks the completion of the Hajj(pilgrimage to Mecca). On this day, special ‘Duas’ is recited by thousands of muslims for peace and prosperity.
Test of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S)
It is a commemoration of Hazrat Ibrahim’s (A.S) great test of obedience to Allah, who ordered him to sacrifice the person dearest to him. Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) decided to sacrifice his son Hazrat Ismaeel (A.S), at Mina, near Mecca.
As the great religious leader was on the purpose of applying the knife to the throat of his dear son, it was revealed to him that the exercise was merely a check of his faith in Allah, and that he could sacrifice a ram instead.
Eid ul Adha Day
On Eid-ul-Adha, the Muslims go to the mosques in the morning to offer prayers to Allah. And then sacrifice the animal at home. Bakr means ‘sheep’, and on Bakr-Eid, the affluent sacrifice one animal per member of the family, and distribute two-thirds of the meat among the poor.
A full grown animal includes camel, cow, goat or sheep, free from any disease, is sacrificed. Bakr-Eid is also a day for feasting and visiting friends to say Eid Mubarak.
When and why Muslim celebrate Eid ul Adha
It is one of the grandest Muslim festivals, and is also known as Bakr-Eid. It fails on the 10th day of the Muslim month Zil-Hijja.
There is an interesting story about the celebrations. Once Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) was ordered by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his dearest thing.
To Ibrahim (A.S) his son was the dearest, So, he decided to sacrifice his son on the altar of Allah. He sought the permission of the members of the family and blindfolded himself so that at the time of sacrifice his love for the son may not deter him from the act.
He struck with his sword, but when he removed the fold from his eyes, to his great pleasure and surprise, he found that he had sacrificed a ram instead of his son.
Since then, a ram, or goat or a camel is sacrificed and distributed among the neighbours and relatives.
The sacrifice of a ram or goat also symbolizes that man’s position in the creation is far higher than any beast, and any sacrifice, however great, is a small thing for the sake of religion and Allah.
The sacrificial lamb or goat is reared with great care and is kept quite healthy and fat. And the man who does the sacrifice must. Be a man of character and deeply religious.
Who is capable to sacrifice?
Every true Muslim who possesses wealth equal to or more than 400 grams of gold or is capable of affording two square meals in a day, is expected to sacrifice an animal.
A goat, sheep, cow or camel is slaughtered during one of the three days of the festival, and the meat is distributed.
The sacrificial offerings is divided into three parts- one for the self , another for relatives and friends, and the third, most importantly, for the needy. The sacrifice can be offered at any time before the afternoon of the third day of Eid.
Celebrations on Eid-ul-Adha
Festivities mark the first day, when people wear new clothes, offer prayers at the mosque and greet friends and relatives. Special prayers are offered on all three days.
It is said that the celebrations are carried on over three days to ensure that the entire Muslim community partakes in the noble of act of giving and sharing. Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated all over Islamic world with much fervour.
Eid is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world, and one can see Muslims of all age groups and from all stratas of society attired in new clothes, visiting mosques to offer Namaz.
After offering Namaz Muslims do sacrifice their animals including sheep, goats or Camel.
Summarization
The Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the ordeal of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S), who had been put to a terrible test by Allah when he was asked to Sacrifice. Whatever was dearest to him and he decided to sacrifice his son.
As he was on the purpose of applying the knife to his son’s throat, it was revealed to him that this was meant only to check his faith, and it was enough, if instead he sacrifices a ram in the name of Allah.
This is celebrated on the tenth day of zulhijjah, when the Haj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats or camels.