The second of the two major holidays, Eid Al-Adha, is celebrated by muslims all around the world. This holiday is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which falls on the 12th day of the Islamic Calendar. Being a muslim woman, I myself have looked forward to the two Eid holidays for as long as I can remember. However, according to the international calendar, the dates vary and this holiday occurs 11 days earlier each year. The history behind this holiday follows the story of Abraham; he was ordered by God to build the basic construction of the holy Kaaba and he, along with his wife and son, immediately set off towards Mecca. Eid Al-Adha commemorates the story of when God appeared to Abraham, in a dream, and ordered him to sacrifice his son. The son’s name is not mentioned in the Quran however muslims believe the son to be Ishmael. Out of obedience to God, he proceeded to do so, and out of astonishment he saw that his son was replaced by a sheep. There are different versions of the story where the animal that replaced Ishmael was a male goat. There are different versions of this story in the Torah and in the Bible’s Old Testament, where God ordered Isaac to do the same. Abraham showed the extent of his love for God – he was willing to sacrifice his own life or his son’s to obey God’s command. This story portrays the mythological aspect of Smart’s dimensions. Muslim’s are basing their actions on a historical story – God shows us the importance of blind faith. Muslim beliefs are solidified during this holiday. By replacing Ishmael with a sheep, God reiterates that human sacrifice is not permitted in Islam. The mythological aspect is shown by the importance given to this holiday: Eid Al-Adha is considered the holier one out of the two Eid’s, with it also being referred to the “Sacrificial Feast.”
Eid Al-Adha begins with Eid Prayers, known as Salat Al-Eid. In Pakistan, where I am from, it is known as Eid Namaaz. The importance of these prayers is viewed differently by scholars. According to Hanafi scholars it is Wajib (mandatory), a Sunnah (recommended) according to Maliki scholars and Fard (compulsory) according to Hanbali scholars. The prayers are performed on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, any time after the sun fully rises up, but before the time for Zuhr prayers. According to the Sunnah, muslims must perfom wudu (ablution) and offer their Fajr prayers. They must groom themselves, bathe and wear their best set of clothes. Men must attend a mosque for these prayers, or an Eidgah (a field where the prayers take place). Women are encouraged to attend mosques however it is not compulsory. Menstruating women are not permitted to take part in the prayers however they should still attend to witness the goodness present during. For the Shia muslims, however, these prayers are recommended but they will only be wajib after the return of Jesus and Mahdi. As previousely stated, the muslims sacrifice animals on this holiday to commemorate the story of Ishmael. The sacrificed animal is known as adhiya. The animals must meet certain age and quality standards or else they are not acceptable as a form of sacrifice. Eid Al-Adha marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage that takes place to mecca. Although it is said that only those who perform Hajj can fully celebrate this holiday, other muslims around the world do so as well. Furthermore, written this year: “Muslims around the world are celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday on Friday as some 2 million Muslim pilgrims carry out the final rites of the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia.” (Akour, Omar. "Muslims Around the World Celebrate Eid al-Adha as Hajj Enters Final Days." (2017):41-41. Web.) During Hajj, the muslim ummah participates in animal slaughter and they give a major portion of the meat to the poor. One of the most important aspects of this holiday is that the takbir is chanted before and after the Eid prayers throughout the four days. This holiday is celebrated differently by families. The usual animal sacrificed is a sheep, however goats, cows and camels can be sacrificed too. In some cases, some families can make a contribution to a charity that carries out the sacrifice and provides meat to the poor on your behalf, such as the ‘Eidhi Foundation’ back at home. The practices mentioned here and throughout the essay, all illuminate Smart’s ritual dimension of religion. It is a ritual to perform these duties every year during Eid Al-Adha. Eid Al-Adha is a commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, and to do that, we sacrifice an animal.
Much to my disbelief, however, the animals sacrificed have become a status symbol. I can only speak about what I have witnessed, myself, in my own country. There are families that sacrifice many large animals, publicly, as a symbol of their wealth and importance in society. Such people usually sacrifice animals such as cows or camels due to their size. These animals are kept in tents outside their houses and it is the word-of-the-town that “Tiger Memon” will carry out his sacrifice on this day at so and so time. This defeats the purpose of ‘not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing.’
Merchants from different parts of the city gather together to form markets where they can sell their livestock. In places like Pakistan and Yemen, muslims will head outdoors to these bustling markets. This highlights Smart’s social dimension. Families go together and gather to choose animals. Secondly, the meat from the sacrificed animal is divided into three parts; the family keeps one third, one third if given to relatives and friends and the other third is given to the needy. This holiday promotes the mingling of different classes of people and it unites the muslim ummah – further highlighting the social aspect here. Also, the muslims stand, together, in large groups in mosques; they stand next to each other irrespective of their social standing or family background. This holiday also gives busy parents the opportunity to spend time with their family. Families meet relatives they otherwise wouldn’t have met. Eid Al-Adha, along with other religious holidays, namely Eid Al-Fitr or Ramadan, promote the unity of the ummah. During this festival we are reminded of one of the teachings of Islam, “love for your brother what you love for yourself." We see how important it is to provide for those who are less fortunate than us.
The technology of today plays a major role in how this holiday is commemorated. In places in the Middle East, some get their animals airlifted from other places where they are more readily available. This could be due to better quality animals, if they aren’t available in their own city or if the family is simply not willing to go through the hassle. Also, in places such as Dubai, there are ways you can get your animal choice for ‘pick-up,’ already slaughtered in accordance with the islamic law. For example, ‘al-Mawashi’ is an app created by a Kuwaiti company. Age, too, does have an effect on a family’s sacrifice. A family should sacrifice an animal based on its family members. Once a child reaches their coming of age, an animal must be sacrificed on their behalf.
Eid Al-Adha is celebrated all around the world. No matter where, muslims perform the traditions – they perform Eid prayers, followed by the sermon, and have feasts with their friends and family. Even in non-muslim countries, the sacrificial ritual still takes place. This year, Aaron Mcdonald wrote, “demand for sheep meat in the UK is set to see a significant increase in sales during the end of September when the Islamic festival of Eid-al-Adha falls.” (McDonald, Aaron. "Sheep meat to see boost during Eid-al-Adha." Meat trades journal (2017):8-8. Web.) However in America and Europe, following the feast, some followers continue their daily work routine. Because these places are largely non-muslim regions, some may even go straight to work or school and celebrate the holiday over the weekend. However, there are many ways the holiday is celebrated. It is celebrated like a festival. “Thousands of Muslims descended on the DC Convention Center on January 10th, 2006, to celebrate Eid Al-Adha. Hundreds of young volunteers from local Islamic schools directed families to the prayer hall, and helped donors contribute to the canned food drive drop-off organized by local mosques. After prayers families enjoyed halal foods, carnival rides, games, moon bounce and the opportunity to shop from local vendors selling merchandise from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco and other countries.” (Rahman, Mai A. "Washington Report on Middle East Affairs." The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (1982-1989) 25.2 (2006):65-65. Web.) Eid Al-Adha is not considered a religious holiday in such areas like it is in countries like Pakistan; where it is a four day holiday, during which all shops and restaurants are closed and the people spend most of their day in prayer. Families visit their relatives, children receive gifts and sometimes spending money, but usually this is done during Eid Al-Fitr.
Eid Al-Adha, an important muslim holiday, has its benefits. Prior to this holiday, animal trades take place. Families that own livestock can generate income. There is a great circulation of income; the needy receive donations, charity, and meat. According to the Pakistan Tanners’ Association, 10 million animals are slaughtered in Pakistan, worth approximately $3 billion. In addition, due to the financially able muslims performing Hajj, there is a great inflow of foreign currency entering the Saudi Economy. Travel Agencies all over the world can benefit from the purchasing of Hajj tickes, small farm owners can sell their cattle in bulk and people can generate income by performing ‘qurbani’s’ (sacrifices).
This holiday solidifies our ties with our religion.