The Eil al-Adha or "Feast of Sacrifice" is one of the most highly-regarded holidays in Muslim culture; the event, which typically lasts for three days, honours man's obedience to Allah. In this article, Tatler delves deeper into this special occasion.
In Christian and Muslim religions, the story of Ibrahim's (Abraham) sacrifice is one of the most powerful events that picture man's loyalty and obedience to God. It was said that on his time, Ibrahim married a barren named Sarai (Sarah). Despite being childless, the couple found hope when God promised them a son who they later named Isaac.
When Isaac was born, Ibrahim and Sarai felt genuine happiness for the first time in decades. The couple was delighted to watch their child grow. For Ibrahim, the birth of the boy was a miracle. Sarai, on the other hand, was thrilled by the thought of nursing a child for the first time in 90 years; as she declared, "God hath made me to laugh, so that all who hear will laugh with me."
To test Ibrahim's loyalty, God asked Ibrahim to bring Isaac in the land of Moriah. There, he must find a mountain where he could tie and kill his own son as a sacrifice. When they reached the place that God had told him about, Ibrahim built an altar and placed the wood on it. He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son. But before this event transpire, an angel shouted "Do not hurt the boy or harm him in any way! Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son.”
Ibrahim looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.
Today, the event is still being looked up to and celebrated as the Eil ad-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Rituals
By taking part in this celebration, Muslims show that they too are prepared to sacrifice their lives for God. During the three-day celebration, Muslim families around the world come together to honour Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah with gifts and feasting. The occasion also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. In the Muslim culture, all the able-bodied must undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
As sacrifice, Muslims traditionally kill a goat, camel, cow, or sheep in their respective homes or other designated sacrifice spots. For the sacrifice to count, every person must contribute a portion each. Since one goat only equates to one portion, a huge family would opt for a huge cow or camel as both animals equal seven people respectively. Families would then slice and divide the meat and serve it on their dining tables.
Families who have not conducted a sacrifice will often purchase halal (rear and slaughtered) meat.
Read also: Eid al-Fitr 2021: What To Know About The End of Ramadan In The Philippines
