08/07/2022
Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Adha is another important festival in the Muslim calendar. Some Muslims may regard this as the most important festival as it remembers the prophet Ibrahim's (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son when ordered to by Allah.
Allah appeared to Ibrahim (AS) in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma'il as an act of obedience. The Devil tempted Ibrahim (AS) by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son.
As Ibrahim (AS) was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice in his place. This shows Ibrahim's (AS) obedience to God. It is important for Muslims to remember that God does not want the animal or its meat; God wants Muslims to show that they are devoted to HIM.
Eid ul-Adha is a public holiday in Muslim countries, but Muslims in countries like Liberia, the US, UK, etc, where you have the dominance of othe groups of faith, Muslims in these countries may take the day off work or school to celebrate this festival.
By taking part in this festival, Muslims show that they too are prepared to sacrifice their lives for God. The festival is celebrated in the following ways:
A sheep or goat may be sacrificed as a reminder of Ibrahim's (AS) obedience to Allah. Unlike LIBERIA, or Africa where animals are slaughtered in our various homes, in the developed world, countries such as the US, UK, etc, the animal must be killed at a slaughterhouse. The meat is shared out among family, friends and the poor, each getting a third share.
Muslims go to the mosque for prayers, dressed in their best clothes and thank Allah for the blessings they have received.
It is obligatory to give money to charity (if available) to be used to help the poor so they too can celebrate.
Eid ul-Adha is significant to Muslims today as it reminds them of Ibrahim's obedience, prompting them in turn to consider their own obedience to God. Muslims may ask for forgiveness for times when they have not been fully devoted to God and pray for strength to be devoted in the future.
It is also a time when they visit family and friends as well as offering presents.
May Allah grant us the WILL, MEANS and POWER to celebrate this noble and holy day in peace and good remembrance of our existence as Muslims.
Let's also be acknowledged of our limitations in knowledge as to when are we leaving this world, to where are we going and how prepared are we to get there. Because it could be any moment from now and you may not be afforded another opportunity to see this day again.
On this day, let's pray for:
1. Our families
2. Our deads
3. Our nations and
4. The whole world.
May Allah reward us all for celebrating this GREAT DAY. 🙌.
NOTE:
* Allah =God Almighty = HIM
* *Eid ul-Adha = Abraham Day
*** (AS) = Alaihi Salam
**** Alaihi Salam = Allah's Peace be unto him
***** Salam = Peace
****** Islam = Submission to the WILL of God
******* Muslim = Follower of Islam ☪️