Muslim holiday: Eid al-Adha

First of all there are two Eid holidays celebrated at different times of the year. The first Eid, or Eid ul-Fitr, is celebrated after Ramadan - a month for fasting, and falls on the first day of the following month, called Shawwal.

Eid al-Adha, or the Greater Eid, This holiday is celebrated on the 10th day of the 12th Islamic month Dhu al-Hijjah. The celebration itself starts after Hajj - the annual pilgrimage from Mount Arafat to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The holiday itself lasts for 3 days.

Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity". Eid Al-Adha means "Festival of Sacrifice", or "Feast of Sacrifice". The history of the holiday goes back to Ibrahim who was ordered to sacrifice his own son Ismail to Allah (God). Ismail believed in Allah so much that was incouraging his father to do so in obidience. When Allah saw how strong their believe was, he has sent a sheep to sacrifice instead.

Eid Al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from Sura 2 (Al-Baqara) Ayah 196 in the Qur'an, which says:

"And complete the Hajj and umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then offer what can be obtained with ease of sacrifice animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [makinh shaving necessary], must offer a ransom of fasting three days or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs umrah during the Hajj month followed by Hajj offers what can be obtained with ease of sacrificed animals. And whoever cannot find or afford such an animal - the a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned home. Those are ten complete days. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty."

Eid Al-Adha starts the day before when all the pillgrims from woldwide start their Hajj at Mountain Arrafat. People are spending the whole day on the Mountain, following the actions of Prophet Muhammed. When the time comes, they come down the mountain and walk 7 circles around Kaba, just as Prophet Muhammed did. The celebration of Eid starts morning the following day.

Prior to the day of celebration, people go to Mountain Arafat. Hajj (pilgrimage) starts at Mikat, where people change from normal clothes to Ihram - pilgrimage clothes. Mountain Afarat should be reached by the sunrise of 9th day of Dul-Hajj. While doing the Hajj, the pilgrims are allowed to reduce the amount of praying times from 5 to 3. Pilgrims listen to the sermon at the plane of Arafat and offer combined Zuhr and Asr prayers. One should stay at Arafat till sunset. Combined Maghrib and Isha' prayers are offered at Muzdalifah - the place where pilgrims go after suset of the 9th day of Dul-Hajj.

Fajr prayer is done as early in the morning the next day as possible before moving to Mina. At Mina pilgrims pick up seven stones that they should cast at Jumrah-tul-Aqba. Casting of the stones symbolises driving the Satan away - the way Ibrahim did when Satan was trying to dissuade his father from carrying out God's commandment.

After casting stones, pilgrims can sacrifice an animal, have their heads shaven and remove their Ihram. Then people move back to Mecca to perform another circuit of the Kaba (prayer). The performance of this circuit allows to return back to normal life.

After that additional circuit, however, it is necessary to return back to Mina and stay there for three days, casting stones each day to Jumrah-tul-Oola, Jamrah-tul-Wusta, and Juramh-tul-Aqba. It is permitted not to cast stones on the third day.

On the 12th or the 13th day of Dul-Hajj, the pilgrims return to the Ka'ba and perform a final circuit of prayers - a farewell circuit. After this last circuit, the pilgrim should drink water from Zumzum - a well built by Ibrahim by the command of Allah, kiss the threshold of the door of the Ka'ba - the gathering place build by Ibrahim and his son, and pray to Allah for forgiveness. He should leave the Ka'ba walking backwards, looking at it the last time, and saying farewell.

The prayer consists of two Raka'ah (units) with seven Takbirs in the first Raka'ah and five Takbirs in the second Raka'ah.

Takbir goes as the following:

All%u0101hu akbar, All%u0101hu akbar, All%u0101hu akbar
l%u0101 il%u0101ha ill%u0101 All%u0101h
All%u0101hu akbar, All%u0101hu akbar
wa li-ill%u0101hil-hamd

English translation:

Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,
There is no deity but Allah
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest
and to Allah goes all praise

At the conclusion of the prayers, the Muslims exchange greetings with one other (Eid Mubarak), give gifts (Eidi) to children, and visit their friends and family. Many Muslims also take this opportunity to invite their non-Muslims friends, neighbours, co-workers and classmates to their Eid festivities to better acquaint them about Islam and Muslim culture.

Muslims sacrifice sheep on the 10th day of Dul-Hajj. The animal should reach certain age and quality standard, otherwise it would not be acepted for secrifice. Muslims are allowed to leave only one third to themselves. The second third should be given to their families and the last part - to the poor. People are allowed to give the whole sacrifice to the poor, if they choose. That way everyone will have food for festivity and celebration.

This year Eid Al-Adha falls on 6th of November in Muslim countries. Such countries as Saudi Arabia, or Jordan would have a week's celebration of Eid Al-Adha, while other countries, such as Malasia, would celebrate it only for one day.

HAPPY EID EVERYONE!