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Monday, Muslims around the world marked the holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice. It is the second of two major festivals Muslims celebrate annually. The other is Eid al-Fitr, which indicates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
In the US, Muslims gathered at local mosques in the morning to observe Eid al-Adha worship services and later met with family and friends at private homes and community centers to share food and entertainment.
The Festival of Sacrifice marks the end of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, and reflects back on the great spiritual trial Muslims say Abraham faced when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his own son. Muslims believe once Abraham relented and agreed to the sacrifice, putting his full trust in God and exemplifying his great spiritual resolve, God sent down a sacrificial animal to take the place of Abraham’s son. Muslims commemorate Eid by slaughtering a lamb or sheep to honor Abraham’s devotion to God and donate the meat to those in need.
This story of Abraham’s spiritual test is not unique to Islam and is part of the Jewish and Christian traditions.
(Photo courtesy of steffiekeith via flickr under a Creative Commons license).
Posted on December 8, 2008
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