However, strong of faith and respecting God’s command, Prophet Abraham proceeds to do as bidden. Father’s love forbids him from seeing, so he blindfolds himself to do the act. Or so he thinks. For, when he opens his eyes, he finds his son unharmed, and a lamb sacrificed instead. Eid-ul-Adha commemorates this act of faith and obedience; the animal sacrifice is a metaphor for a much larger message of willingness to give up something valuable. It celebrates God’s mercy, and his acknowledging of man’s devotion.
Eid-ul-Adha is significant also because the day marks the culmination of Haj, pilgrimage made to Kaaba in Mecca. The rites of Haj are performed over 5-6 days, re-enacting the events carried out by Prophet Abraham. Haj marks the end of the Islamic calendar and is the fifth pillar of Islam. Everybody who can afford and is fit to make the journey is mandated to do so.
The more important message of love for God and fellow beings, of sacrifice, of helping the poor and needy, should never be forgotten as we celebrate this Festival of Sacrifice.
