Eid-ul-adha: The festival of sacrifice
Lone Shagufta
Eid-al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is celebrated during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, known as Dhul Hijjah. It is a very sacred month in the Islamic calendar because during this month the pilgrims from all around the world travel to Mecca in order to visit the Kaaba and perform the Hajj.
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and every Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during their lifetime if their physical and financial conditions allow.
Hajj is performed on the eighth, ninth and tenth days of the lunar month. The blessed of 10 days of Dhul-Hijjah are better than the last 10 days of Ramadan. They are the greatest days of the year, because of the fact that Muslims perform all acts of worship that they can do on this earth which Allah SWT tells us in the Quran that, “He created us solely that we all worship him and when there are days in the year when we can fulfill every avenue of worship, then those 10 days become more magnificent”.
In the Quran ALLAH (SWT) swears by the Fajr, the early hours, the day break and he swears by the 10 nights .
—-These blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah are days when you can fast,
—–These blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah are days when you give charity,
—–These blessed days of Dhul-Hijjah are days when you seek forgiveness of your sins both past, present and future.
The prophet Muhammad PBUH, commanded us to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (“SUBHAAN ALLAH”), Tahmeed (“Al-Hamdu lillah”) and Takbeer (“ALLAHU Akbar”) during this time. In Mecca, the Tasbeeh will be on every Pilgrims tongue throughout the day and night.
Reciting SUBHAN-ALLAHI WA BiHAMDIHI (Glory be to ALLAH SWT and praise Him).
The day of Arafat
The day of Arafah falls on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. It is one of the greatest day of the Islamic year. On this day everyone will be resurrected and gathered on Mount Arafat to hold accountable for their action.
Many people on the day of Arafah, will submit themselves in worship and fast to receive the ultimate reward of entering Jannah. Fasting is one of the most important acts of the worship for ALLAH SWT. Fasting in the day of Arafah is a chance to seek forgiveness, to gain closeness to ALLAH SWT and protection from the Hellfire.
—The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: “There is no day in which Allah SWT sets free more souls from the fire to hell than on the day of Arafah.”(Muslim)
After the day of Arafah is Eid-al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice where animal are sacrificed. Sacrifice means “Qurbani”. Qurbani originates from the word “Qurban” which comes from the word “Qurb” which means “closeness”.
Prophet Ibrahim (AS), as experienced a dream in which he was ordered to sacrifice his most beloved son Ismail A. S. It was a command from Allah (SWT) without any hesitation he prepared his son for the sacrifice. Ibrahim (AS) loved his son deeply yet this was no construction to honouring his duty that was instructed to him by ALLAH (SWT).
Ibrahim (AS) took his beloved son to the top of Mount Arafat and in his hands a knife and a rope. He mentioned the dream to his beloved son Ismail (AS) and made him aware that ALLAH (SWT) has decreed for him to be a sacrifice.
Both father and son were prepared to sacrifice because Ibrahim (AS) proved he would sacrifice his son as act of piety, then Ibrahim (AS) prepared to sacrifice his beloved son and when the knife was at Ismail’s neck he heard a voice calling to him to stop.
ALLAH (SWT) intervened and sent a white horned ram instead of his beloved son. It represents the devotion of Ibrahim (AS) who was ready to sacrifice his beloved son for ALLAH’S sake, the reward and the blessings they received from ALLAH (SWT) as a result of their submission.
The rules of Qurbani
—-Qurbani must be given on 10th, 11th and 12th days of Dhul-Hijjah.
—-Qurbani must be given in three shares one for you, one for the family and one for an impoverished family.
—-Qurbani can only be made after Eid prayer.
—–The skin can be kept for personal use, but if it is sold the amount must be given to the poor.
—No animal should be slaughtered in the presence of another.
—It is also necessary to say “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” when slaughtering the animal.
Donate your Qurbani today, do it like Ibrahim (AS)
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