Our Muslim Holiday today (12/08) - Eid Al Adha- Our traditions

[Sabriyah Fatimah]

I just wanted to share this because I know most people are not aware of what Muslims do on our holidays and there are a lot of misconceptions. So for the sake of peace, understanding and freindship...

Our holiday is called Eid Al-Adha which means Feast of the Sacrifice. It marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca- which we try to make once in our life if we can afford it. It also commemorates the willingness of Prophet Abraham (Peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son.

We get up early in the morning (at dawn), say our dawn prayers and get ready to go to the Eid prayer which is one exit away and in an area about the size of a football field. There are too many people to fit into a mosque, so for the purpose of solidarity and gathering we come together in a larger area instead of being broken into small neighborhood areas. At a little after 7am we say a short prayer and hear a short sermon. Part of it is given in whatever the language of the country is, and part of it is in Arabic (which is what we all use for our daily prayers). On the way to and from the prayer and off and on for a 3 days afterwards, we repeat these words in a hymm-like rhythm :

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
(meaning- Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Allah is Great)

La illaha il Allah
(There is no God, but Allah)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
(Allah is Great, Allah is Great)

walilahil Hamd
(To Him belongs all Praise)

Allahu Akbaru Kabeera
(Allah is the Greatest)

wal-Hamdulilahi katheera
(And all Praise is due to Him)

wa Subhan allahi
(And Glory to Allah)

Bukratan wa aseila
(evening and morning)

In some countries they add a little more to it, usually asking for blessings and peace on our Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

At the Eid gathering we often see our neighbors and friends, after going home some people invite friends or go visiting. For many people it is a quiet day with family. Some families have their own traditions. We like to go get donuts for breakfast because in the states we always had donuts at the mosque after prayers (In most cities we were not allowed to pray in public OR sometimes there was just no place available- one nice exception- in Boston one year people prayed on the Boston Common). There is usually a neighborhood party here in a day or so. Eid is a time of peace, thanksgiving, forgiveness of enemies, friendship, family and, of course, good food. On this Eid, many of us also make a sacrifice of an animal and distribute the meat to family, neighbors and friends. My son, now 16, helps the neighbors with this task. We try as much as possible to make sure it is as quick and painless for the animal as possible. People at Mecca are doing the same and this marks the end of their pilgrimage, though many go on to the Prophet's Mosque at Medina and pay their respects to him as he is burried there (the mosque expanded around his gravesite).

This is one of our two holidays in the year so we try to make the most of it. I hope that everyone who is celebrating a holiday this month, especially other than Christmas (which most of us are aware of), starts a discussion and tells us about it. I would like to know more about Channukah and Kwanza myself. I have celebrated Kwansa with a family that was part Muslim and part Christian - the celebration brought everyone together in a beautful, peaceful way. Unfortunately, I don't know that much about it. I hope we hear from you!

[Effie Truver]

It is good to be informed as we all drink from the same well. Some are more thirsty than others. I am glad to know we worship the same God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. My faith extends to the knowledge of Jesus, born of a virgin, who comsumated with the Holy Spirit (God), who became man to become the ultimate sacrifice, rather than the animal slain on the altar milleniums before, to die once and for all, for the sin of all mankind from its inception in the Garden of Eden until the end of time. This is the truest meaning of Christmas, the birth of the anointed one, Christ Jesus, who came to set the captive soul free.

I welcome all faiths of all religions as it is a sign of being of one mind and one heart to accept and receive and embrace our differences, not our same beliefs. It is the same as being of different ethnic backgrounds, speaking different languages and living in different countries (or the same country) and all on the same planet. I, too, would like to learn more about what people celebrate to commemorate their faith in whomever or whatever they choose to live for and to serve. Thank you for sharing your interesting tradition.
May you have a blessed holy day. Effie

[Cheryl Bernardo]

Thank you for sharing this story. It is so beautiful. My wish this holiday season is for peace, but peace with knowledge. I hope that those who have a hatred in their heart of those different than themselves, due to being uneducated about different people, hear stories such as as this one, and learn to open their hearts to others.

Happy Holidays to you!

[Peter]

Thank you Sabriyah for sharing this lovely story.
I think it highlights just how much, even though we are different, we are really all the same.
namaste

[lu]

Thank you Sabriyah for sharing your holiday with us. I agree that we are more the same than different.
Recently I went to a celebration of diversity at a synagogue. Giving the talk was a Roman Catholic priest, a Buddhist monk, two Muslims who chanted from the Koran, an Episcopalian priest, the rabbi and a group of Seiks who played music for us. If this little microcosm of love and fellowship could spread around the world, we would truly have peace on Earth. Happy and Holy Holidays everyone. lu

[Stacey S.]

Than you so much for posting this. I too would love to hear more about other types of holidays that are celebrated. sounds like your Holiday is a Happy Celebration of love Peace and family.

[Barbara Oeffner]

Thanks, Sabriyah for sharing your tradition. I've traveled in Muslim countries, but not understood what they were doing. Christians also know the story of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son, so we really have some connections.
It's important to share our beliefs because that will promote understanding.
Barbara

[Ruth]

I've enjoyed learning that about Eid. I've never heard of Kwansa.

[Julia Kovach]

Thank you for sharing this information with us. It's a beautiful tradition and it is always interesting to learn how others celebrate God.