Islam has two religious holidays, Eid-Al-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Eid-Al-Fitr falls on the first day of the Islamic month Shawwal, while Eid-ul-Adha comes in the month of Dhul Hijjah.
Eid-Al-Adha is celebrated in the month of Dhul Hijjah. It is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah after performing Hajj. Eid-Al-Adha is a very important event in Islam, and it is really dear to Muslims because of its attachment to the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his Qurbani (sacrifice).
Muslims all around the world celebrate this day and remember the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS). Eid-Al-Adha is also important for Muslims because of Hajj, which also signifies the importance of Eid-Al-Adha.
The sacrifice is performed after performing the Hajj (pilgrimage). Hajj is the 5th pillar of Islam, and it is also performed in the month of Dul Hijjah. Hajj starts on the 8th day of Dul Hijjah and ends on the 10th day with the Qurbani.
Date Of Eid-Al-Adha
Eid al-Adha 2022 in the United States will begin on the evening of Saturday, July 9.
Why is Eid-ul-Adha celebrated?
Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated in the remembrance of the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS), and this tells us the importance of Eid-Al-Adha.
What is Eid al-Adha, and how is it celebrated?
Eid-Al-Adha is an event of sacrifice in which Muslims sacrifice camels, cows, goats, and sheep. It is a ritual exercise performed by Muslims around the globe. The Qurbani is performed on the 10th of Dhul hijjah after the Eid prayers.
The Sacrifice Of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS)
One day Prophet Ibrahim (AS) saw a dream that he was sacrificing his own son Ismail, so he ignored it thinking it to be the trickery of the devil. The same night when he was sleeping, he saw the same dream again, and then he understood that it was not trickery by the devil but a command from the Almighty God.
He then told his son all of this, and he replied, as mentioned in the Holy Quran, “O my father, do as you are commanded. If Allāh wills, you will find me, of the steadfast” (37:102). When they both had submitted and were ready to fulfill the command of the Almighty God, Gabriel came with the message of God; He said, “You have fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, we thus reward the doers of good” (37:105).
This great sacrifice of both the father and the son is why Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated, to remember the sacrifice and remind us of the importance of Qurbani.
Qurbani
Qurbani is a ritual sacrifice of an animal that is compulsory for every Muslim.
To sacrifice:
- You have to be financially capable
- Should have reached puberty
There are many animals that you can slaughter on Eid-Al-Adha, including:
- Sheep
- Goat
- Cow
- Camel
Rules Of Qurbani
There are many rules of Qurbani. The sacrificial animal should meet the minimum requirements, including:
- In the case of Goat and Sheep, they should be over one year in age.
- In the case of Cow and buffalo, they should be over two years in age.
- In the case of camels, they should be over 5 years of age.
In addition to that; all animals should be;
- Healthy
- Free of any disease
- Should not be blind or one-eyed
- Horns should not be broken from their roots
Other than this, the animals should not have broken legs, and they must be able to walk themselves to the site of the slaughter. The slaughter should be done after praying the Eid prayers.
Rules Of Sacrificing:
Those who are slaughtering the animals should take care of the animals and must follow these rules:
- They should use a really sharp knife, so the animal bears minimum pain during the slaughter
- The knife should be sharpened away from the animals so they do not see it
- The animals should be slaughtered separately and not in front of one another
- The direction of their head should be towards the Qibla (Kabah)
- They should read Bismillah and the duas before sacrificing them
Distribution Of Meat:
The rules of Qurbani also include the rules of distribution; which are as follows;
- There should be 3 equal parts (by weight) of the animal you sacrificed
- One part should be kept for yourself and your family
- One part should be for your relatives and friends
- The last part should be distributed among the needy
Apart from that, that small animals can be divided among three people (i.e., Goat/Sheep), and the bigger animals (i.e., Cow/Buffalo/Camel) can be divided among up to 7 people. You can also give the meat and the skin to the mosque management.
Things To Do On Eid:
We all should acknowledge the blessings of the Almighty God on this Eid-Al-Adha and follow all the rules defined by God. Should teach our kids about the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail. We should also distribute the meat equally and accordingly.
Apart from this, we can also donate to the mosque. We can also fundraising for the mosque on this blessed day of Eid. Always remember your loved ones on this Eid, either those who are with you or those who aren’t. Remember everyone in your prayers and try to help those who need it.
