Prayers being offered on Eid-Ul-Zuha

Eid-Ul-Zuha is an important festival of Muslims, falling in the last month of the Islamic calendar. It is also known as Bakrid or Eid-ul-Adhia, which coincides with the Haj pilgrimage at Mecca. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah which marks the close of the Hajj ceremony or Pilgrimage to the Ka'aba. The festival commemorates the ordeals of Prophet Ibrahim. On this day, the Hajj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats, sheep or camels. Muslims offer special prayers in the morning.

On this day, generally the slaughter of goats , sheep, rams, cows and camels are offered. As per the doctrine of Islam, such a sacrifice signifies the sacrifice of the follower himself and his readiness to lay down his life, his interests and desires in the cause of truth, and to obey Allah's command.

Eid-ul-Zuha commemorates the mental agony of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham of the Torah). According to Islamic beliefs, Prophet Ibrahim had been put to a test by God when he was asked to sacrifice whatever was dearest to him. After a lot of deliberation he realised that his first born son, Ismail (Ishmael of the Torah) was dearest to him and so decided to sacrifice him. On the altar at the mount of Mina near Mecca, he blindfolded himself before sacrifing his son with a knife, to avoid the sight of watching Ismail die. When Prophet Ibrahim opened his eyes, he was astonished to find a slain goat lying upon the altar and his son Ismail standing in front of him. It was then revealed to him that this was only a test to determine his measure of submission to Divine commandments and his love for his Creator. Ever since, followers of Islam all over the world offer sacrifice on this day.

It is in honour of this test of Prophet Ibrahim’s determination and his faith, that Muslims around the world offer Eid-Ul-Zuha prayers, sacrifice an animal on the occasion to show their faith, allegiance, submission and sincerity to Allah. In India, the animal used most often for sacrifice is goat - which is why the occasion is spoken of in Urdu as Bakrid or Bakra-Eid.

Barkid also coincides with the anniversary of the day when the Holy Quran was declared complete. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for those who are financially sound enough to afford it, alongside providing enough means for their families who are not accompanying them and are left behind; for others who can't afford, it is not binding.

For millions of Muslim pilgrims who gather at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, it is a big occassion. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, Bakrid also depends on the sighting of the moon. On this day, pilgrims reach the grounds of Mina where they sacrifice an animal each. The pilgrims then shave their heads. The purpose is to identify oneself in attire and appearance with … millions of devotees who converge to Mecca each year for the pilgrimage.

On this day, Muslims (who have not gone for the pilgrimage) sacrifice an animal - a goat or sheep, divide the meat amongst the poor and needy, friends and family. In case of sheep, goat or lamb, one animal suffices for one household, while a cow or a camel can be shared by upto seven families.

Sacrifice is compulsory on all Muslims who own wealth to the value of the Zakat Nisaab on these days of sacrifice (10th, 11th and 12th Dhul Hijjah). The Nisaab value of gold is 90 gms and silver is 624 gms approximately. Whoever possesses this amount of wealth during this period should make the sacrifice.

Eid-Ul-Zuha is celebrated with great solemnity and reverence everywhere. Like Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims make preparations several days before the festival. Prayer meetings and Eid Milans (get-togethers) are part of the festivities. People visit friends and relatives wearing new clothes and jewellery. Children are given Eidi (gifts and cash money). After the prayer, the Imam delivers a sermon in which he explains the significance of the festival, giving details of the sacrifices offered by Ibrahim, his wife and their son Ismail.

"Neither the flesh nor the blood of your sacrifices reaches God, but it is the righteous motive underlying them that reaches Him." (22:37)

In other words, the slaughtering of animals is a symbolic expression whereby a Muslim declares his readiness to lay down his own life and everything he owes for the sake of God Almighty. The animal that is sacrificed really stands for the animal in man himself.