By Rehema Naggujja
Eid-ul-Adha is a major holiday for a period of three days where Majority of the Muslims world wide attend special prayers held at different mosques and Islamic centers.
The 2021 Eid celebrations will be held at home following Covid19 guidelines of observing standard operating procedures.
Eid-ul-Adha, the greater Eid, follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at the time of Qurbani (sacrifice).
Although Eid-ul-Adha has no direct relation to the Hajj Pilgrimage, it is but a day after the completion of Hajj and therefore has significance in time.
Muslims usually wear new clothes and some exchange gifts while children are entertain.
The day of Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelvefth) month on the Islamic Calendar; Dhu-al-Hijjah.
Holy Pilgrimage/Hajj is an obligation for all Muslim’s who fit specific criteria, one of the important Five Pillars of Islam.
The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah SWT and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. At the very point of sacrifice, Allah SWT replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son.
This command from Allah SWT was a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid-ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.
The festival has a clear message of piety , charity as well as equality . “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood , but what reaches Him is piety from you”. Quran (22:37)
The sacrificial animal must be a sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull or a camel; the sheep, lamb or goat consist of one sacrifice share, whereas a bull, cow or camel consist of seven shares per animal. The animal must be in good health and over a certain age in order to be slaughtered, in a “halal” friendly, Islamic way.
Quran 22:36 states that “The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful”.
The Sacrifice meat can be then divided into three equal portions per share; one-third is for you and your family, one-third is for friends, and the final third is to be donated to those in need.
According to Mawokota A, regional Khadhi Sheik Yusuf Lule, the age of the animal to be sacrificed should meet a minimum of;
One year in age for sheep and goats (equivalent to one person’s Sacrifice share)
Two years in age for cows and buffalo (equivalent to seven person’s sacrifice share)
Five years in age for camels (equivalent to seven person’s sacrifice share)
“Any animal chosen for sacrifice should be in good health and have no illness or disease including; Their horns cannot be broken
They must have at least half their teeth, not have lost a third or more from their ears or tail. They cannot be blind or have lost a third or more of their sigh. Animals must be able to walk without limp or lameness, must be well-fed and raised with care, not thin or lean. The animals for sacrifice can be either male or female”. Sheik Yusuf Noted
In order for a slaughter to be counted as Qurbani, it is essential that the animal is slaughtered in accordance with the following rules:
Slaughtered with a sharp knife – dull knives may inflict unnecessary pain and suffering. Knives are not to be sharpened in front of the sacrificial animal.
No animal is to be slaughtered in front of another animal When the sacrifice is being made, the words “Bismillahi Allahu Akbar” are to be said
The animal is not to be skinned until the body is entirely cold.
Traditionally, the day is spent celebrating with family, friends and loved ones, often wearing new or best attire and the giving of gifts.
Eid Mubarakah!
