“The greatest day in the sight of Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, the Day of Sacrifice . . .” (Reported by Abu Dawud; see also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 1064). Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice or Greater Eid as it is often known, is an important Islamic holiday which commemorates the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim)(as) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) , and his reprieve at Allah’s command when he (Ibrahim) (as) was instead allowed to sacrifice a ram. By Allah’s design, the sacrifice comes at the end of pilgrimage (hajj) every year. Not only for those who did not make the trip to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, even those on pilgrimage will have to observe the sacrifice. The symbolic act finds expression in the benevolence of Allah and showing gratitude for His guidance and mercies for living. It is the duty of every capable Muslim. Once the animal is sacrificed then the meat of the animal is distributed among friends, relatives, neighbours and poor people. Muslims communities on this day take care that no poor and needy Muslim is missed out in the sharing. “It is neither their meat nor their BLOOD that reaches Allâh, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allâh for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad SAW) to the Muhsinûn (doers of good).” (Al-Hajj 22:37) The solemn pronouncement of Allah’s name over the sacrifice is an essential part of it, in fact the major act that without it, it renders the whole exercise useless. By the pronouncement, we’re reminded that life is sacred, by that singular solemn invocation, we are numbed to the divine message that wanton cruelty is not our character but only for the need for food. Almighty Allah does not need the blood nor the flesh of the meat. Lan Yanal’Laha luhumuha, wala dimahuha, Walakin yanaluhu takwa minkum, It is not their meat, nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him . What He desires is your piety. The meat is skinned, and shared into three. One part for the family, another part for the neighbours, friends, and those who could not afford to make the sacrifice while the last part should be distributed to the need and the poor.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 06:41:50 +0000
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