Muslim community celebrates Eid al-Adha
According to Mr Zunaid Jassat, a local maulana, the religious holiday honours the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his promised son, Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to God's command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead.
ERMELO – The Muslim community celebrated Eid al-Adha, one of two religious holidays celebrated annually, on July 21.
In the lunar-based Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the last month of the Islamic calendar, and lasts for three days.
According to Mr Zunaid Jassat, a local maulana, the religious holiday honours the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his promised son, Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead.
He said Muslims who can afford it, usually sacrifice their best halal domestic animal, generally a cow but it could also be a camel, goat, sheep or ram, depending on the region.
This sacrifice symbolises Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his only son.
“The sacrificed animals, called udhiyah, also known by its Persian term, Qurbani, have to meet a certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice,” he said.
He added that the meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts.
The family retains one third of the share, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, while the last share is given to residents who are less fortunate in the community.
Highvelder wishes the Muslim community Eid Mubarak.
The essential parts of this important Islamic festival can be read in the next edition of the Highvelder.
