"Eid ul-Adha" means the major festival. It is
also called the "Eid of Sacrifice" or the "Eid ul-Hajj". The "Eid ul-Adha" is a
commemoration and a reminder to Muslims of several things; for example:
a) The story of Prophet Ebrahim (AS)
(Abraham) and Prophet Ismail (AS) (Ishmael) and their willingness to make great
sacrifices for Allah.
b) To be ready to make sacrifices for
the religion of Islam.
c) For those who have not gone for
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca), it is showing support for their fellow Muslims who
are completing the Hajj on that day (i.e., 10th Dhu al Hejja).
In remembrance of the aspect of
sacrificing all for Allah as Prophets Ebrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) did, the
Muslims who perform the Hajj, sacrifice an animal at a place called Mina, near
Mecca. Muslims around the world join them in making a sacrifice, if possible, on
this auspicious day.
"Adha" literally means sheep, goats or cattle offered in
sacrifice. All Muslims should celebrate by sacrificing cattle and this day has
been determined by Allah to rejoice. This Eid is linked to the incident of the
sacrifice of Ismail by his father Prophet Ibrahim. About two thousand seven
hundred and 93 years before the migration (Hijrat) of Prophet Mohammed (p.b.u.h).
With Allah command, Prophet Ibrahim let Syria towards Mecca with his wife Hagar
and his infant son Ismail. Mecca at that time was a barren desert with no water
or food for miles. In seeing this, prophet Ibrahim prayed to Allah:
"O our Lord! Surely I have settled a part of my offspring in a valley
unproductive of fruit near Thy Sacred House. Our Lord! may they keep up
prayer: therefore make the hearts of some people yearn towards them and provide
them with fruits, happily they may be grateful." (Surat Ibrahim verse 37).
After this prayer he left them and went back to Syria. Hagar settled until all
the water she had was finished. She climbed the hills of Safa and Marwa seven
times without stopping hoping to find water for her thirsty baby. Without any
luck she returned to her son finding beneath his feet gushing water. With joy
she cried "This is Zamzam" and thanked Allah. A tribe known as Jurhum noticed
that birds were circling around area indicating that water was near. They
followed the birds finding Hagar and her baby around the fountain. With the
permission of Hagar they settled at a place called "Arafat". Prophet Ibrahim
came to visit and was delighted to see the tribe encamped and approved of their
stay. The tribe grew very fond of Prophet Ismail and presented him with gifts
of sheep; by the time he was mature he owned a large number of sheep. Imam
Jafar-e-Sadiq narrated that one day Prophet Ibrahim was in Mashar-al-Haram with
Hagar and Ismail. That night he had a dream that he was slaughtering his son
Ismail. As a command of Allah he prepared to fulfill this deed. He approached
his son and said, "O my son! O my son! surely I have seen in a dram that I am
sacrificing you; consider then what you see (what is your opinion)." Ismail
said, "O my father, do what you are commanded; if Allah pleases, you will find
me among the patient ones." (Surat Saffat: verse 102) After hearing this he
took a knife and his son to a place known as "Mana".
"So when they both submitted (prepared for sacrifice) he (father) threw him
(son) down upon his forehead." (Sura Saffat: verse 103)
Then Prophet Ibrahim moved the knife across Ismail's neck. At that moment Angel
Gabriel replaced Ismail with a sheep and Allah said:
"O Ibrahim! you have indeed materialized your dream; surely thus do we reward
the doers of good. Most surely this is a manifest trial. And we ransomed him
with a great sacrifice. And we perpetuated (praised) him among the later
generation." Sura Saffat: 104 -108)
Prophet Ibrahim took off the mask from his eyes and found Ismail standing and a
slaughtered sheep on the ground. He prostrated gratefully to Allah and took
Ismail to the Kaaba. This devotion of worship by Prophet Ibrahim was such a
great pleasure of Allah that he ordered all Muslims to commemorate this act till
dooms-day.
Like "Eid ul-Fitr" - there is a
special congregational prayer followed by visiting families and friends,
exchanging greetings and sharing a meal together.
