Eid Mubarak to all our Muslim readers
Muslims around the world will be celebrating next week and Review would like to wish all Muslim readers Eid Mubarak.
POLOKWANE – Eid ul Adha, also known as the “Sacrifice Feast” or “Bakr-Eid”, is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. This Eid honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God’s command.
This Eid is highlighted by sacrificing of domestic animals (usually a cow, but can also be a camel, goat, sheep, or ram depending on the region) as a symbol of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son. The meat from the sacrificed animal is usually divided into three parts: The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends, and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. Though the division is purely optional wherein either all the meat may be kept with oneself or may be given away to poor or needy, the preferred method as per sunnah of Muhammad is dividing it in three parts.
Review spoke to a local Sheikh who explained that emphasis for the day should not be placed on just the slaughtering of animals, but rather about human beings and sacrifice. “We wish not to shift the focus to that alone, it is about the work and willingness of Ibrahim,” he said. the Sheikh went on to explain that the animal is treated with the utmost respect and is handled in a humane way.
