Celebrating Eid-ul-Adha

Religious festivals strengthen bonds in diverse societies. They provide an opportunity for everyone to learn about each other’s beliefs. Eid-ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is traditionally celebrated by sacrificing an animal. It commemorates the act of a father, Prophet Abraham, obeying the dictat of God, who tests his devotion by asking him to sacrifice that which is dearest to him. Abraham prepares to offer his dear son; angel Gabriel intervenes at God’s behest, and a goat is sacrificed, instead.

The animal sacrifice is not a propitiatory ritual; the focus is not on animal sacrifice but on the message behind it. The festival is a celebration of the test of faith. It is a celebration of a kind and merciful God who acknowledges man’s devotion and obedience.

This Eid also marks the culmination of the rites of Haj, one of the pillars of Islam, which involves a visit to Mecca and re-enacting the events carried out by Prophet Abraham. It marks the end of the Islamic calendar and the beginning of a new year. As they say, every ritual, if performed with imagination and care, enables people to enter a different, timeless dimension. As we celebrate the sacred rituals of our faiths, we must never forget the stories behind them. We should endeavour to abide by all that is good in our faiths. Real sacrifice in these frenetic times when the pursuit of happiness keeps us busy would mean giving a little bit of our time and money for the greater good of society.