Eid ul Adha – Erakina

Introduction

Muslims are preparing for Eid Al-Adha, one of the most significant feasts in the Islamic calendar, which is just around the horizon. Eid Al-Adha is not just a time to celebrate; it is a holiday rich in cultural and historical significance for Muslims worldwide. It is a time of year for religion, penance, and loads of meat for everyone.

To begin the festivities, we have therefore chosen to prepare a list of some of the less well-known features of the historical celebration:

• The History Of The Origins Of Eid Al-Adha Is As Follows:

All followers of the Abrahamic faiths, including Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, hold a special place in their hearts for the tale of Eid Al-Adha. All three religions agree with this account and each celebrates it in its unique manner. The story of how Eid Al-Adha came to be such a significant holiday for Muslims around the world is rife with wisdom and symbolism. Prophet Ibrahim began to have recurrent dreams of himself killing his son, who was 13 at the time. He took this as a sign from God asking him to demonstrate his faith by being willing to give up even the most precious thing to him, namely his son’s life. After making numerous petitions to God, Ibrahim’s kid was born, and he shared his dreams with him (who had been unable to have children until he was quite old). The 13-year-old indicated his readiness to be killed to demonstrate his devotion to Allah, considering it an honour of the highest calibre. To submit to Allah’s will, Ibrahim brings his son to the summit of Mount Arafat in Mecca. However, the Archangel Gabriel informs Ibrahim that he has passed Allah’s test and instead offers him a ram or sheep from heaven to sacrifice in place of his son.

• The Hajj season comes to a close on Eid Al-Adha.

Eid Al-Adha is an intriguing holiday that marks the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage) season, which lasts throughout the month of Zul Hijjah (the last month of the Lunar Islamic calendar.) Hajj is one of Islam’s five pillars, and it often involves Muslims from all over the world travelling to Mecca to pay their respects to Allah and atone for previous misdeeds. Eid Al-Adha is observed after the conclusion of the Hajj season.

• The Ritual Sacrifice of Eid Al-Adha Has Symbolic Meaning Instead of Literal Meaning:

The sacrifice of an innocent animal has drawn condemnation from many outside watchers of the feast, who claim that it is a harsh custom and goes against the Quran’s teaching that God loves all living things equally. But many people are unaware that the ceremony is more symbolic than actual and intended to show how willing believers are to sacrifice even their most precious items for Allah’s sake. The deeper meaning goes beyond the obvious and refers to giving up a connection to material wants belongings, and other things to show greater devotion to Allah. Finally, the meat is distributed to everyone to assist the less fortunate.

• Animals In Their Prime Health Condition Should Be Sacrificed:

A special prayer is chanted to bless the sacrifice before the slaughter of sheep during Eid. Additionally, it is traditional to sacrifice animals in excellent health to guarantee that the flesh being distributed is of the finest possible quality. The rites must also be performed in a halal manner, which requires cutting the animal’s jugular vein and carotid artery.

• The Rule of Thirds Is Used For Meat Distribution:

In addition to being usual for Muslims to eat the flesh of the slain animal on Eid Al-Adha, distributing the meat is an important component of the ritual that makes sure even the least fortunate can enjoy the feast. The meat is divided into thirds, with one third going to the household where the sacrifice is made, another third going to their families and neighbours, and the final third going to the needy to make sure that no one is left out of the celebration, which is also meant to encourage a spirit of charity among Muslim communities.

• Following Eid prayers, it is traditional to take a different route home:

Taking a different path home from the Eid prayer than the one you travelled to get there is customary, which is a little strange.

• The food served to celebrate Eid El-Adha varies by nation:

Mutton or meat, the main component of most Eid El-Adha dishes (although cows or goats may occasionally be slaughtered), differs substantially from place to country in terms of preparation. This is not surprising given that Islam is extensively practised worldwide and that cultures differ from region to region. Examples include the traditional lamb biryani from India, the Turkish oruk, and the Moroccan tagine.