* Eid
al-Adha is the four-day Muslim Feast of Sacrifice. It commemorates
God, according to the Quran, allowing Ibrahim [Abraham] to sacrifice a sheep
instead of his son Ismail (rather than Isaac as in the Bible).
This is what angels said, according to Quran
37:83 to 37:113:
“Ibrahim was of the self-same faith
(as Noah) and came to his Lord with a pure heart. He said to his father
and to his people, 'What are these that you worship? Would you serve false
gods instead of Allah? What do you think of the Lord of the Creation?'
He lifted up his eyes to the stars and said,
'I am sick!' Then, his people turned their backs and went off.
He stole away to their idols and said to
them, 'Will you not eat your offerings? Why do you not speak?' With that,
he fell upon them, striking them down with his right hand.
The people came running to the scene. 'Would
you worship that which you have made with your own hands,' he said, 'when
it was Allah who created you and all that you have made?'
They replied, 'Build up a pyre and cast him
into the blazing flames.' Thus they schemed against him, but we balked their
schemes.
He said, 'I will take refuge with my Lord;
he will guide me. Grant me a son, Lord, and let him be a righteous man.'
We gave him news of a gentle son. And when
he reached the age when he could work with him his father said to him: "My
son, I dreamt that I was sacrificing you. Tell me what you think.'
He replied: 'Father, do as you are bidden.
Allah willing, you shall find me faithful.' And when they had both surrendered
themselves to Allah's will, and Ibrahim had laid down his son prostrate
upon his face, We called out to him saying: 'Ibrahim, you have fulfilled
your vision.' Thus did we reward the righteous. That was indeed a bitter
test. We ransomed his son with a noble sacrifice and bestowed on him the
praise of later generations. 'Peace be on Ibrahim!'
Thus are the righteous rewarded. He was one
of Our believing servants.
We gave him Ishak, whom We made a saintly
prophet, and blessed them both. Among their offspring were some who did
good words and others who clearly sinned against their souls.”
Eid-ul Adha is celebrated on the 10th of the
month of Zul-Hijja after pilgrims complete their Hajj to Kabbah and follow
the footsteps of Bibi Hajar [Hagar] when she was left in the valley of Mecca
with Ismail by Hazrat Ibrahim. Families and Jamat get together to recite
the morning prayers and then there is feasting, exchange of gifts and rejoicing.