The "Major Festival", the
"Greater Eid" or Baqra Eid is the second of three
to four religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. The majority of Muslims
attend special prayers held in the masques.
When asked about the beginning of Eid al-Adha, The Prophet of
Islam, Muhammad (PBUH) said, “It is a tradition that has come down to us from
Abraham (as).”
It honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his promised
son. Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to ALLAH's order,
before ALLAH then interfered to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead of Ismael (AS). But while he was in the act of sacrificing his son, God sent the
Angel Gabriel with a huge ram. Gabriel informed Abraham that his dream vision
was fulfilled and instructed him to sacrifice the ram as a ransom for his son. The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided
into three parts. The family keeps one third of the share; another third is
given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to
the poor persons.
In the Islamic calendar, Eidal-Adha falls on the 10th day
of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four days.
Eid al-Adha enjoys special significance because the Day of Sacrifice
marks the climax of Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. This annual pilgrimage to
Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia is an obligation only for those men and
women who are physically and financially able to perform it once in their life time.
