Eid-Ul-Adha
Two months and ten days after the holy month of Ramadan we Muslims welcome the big four day holiday called Eid-Ul-Adha.
It is timed to take place after most Muslim pilgrimages have arrived to Mecca, which is known to be the first holy city in the Muslim world. And the pilgrimage to Mecca is something that all Muslims are expected to do at least once in their lifetime.
During the holiday sacrifices are made by killing animals in order to give food to poor people and to remember the story of Ibrahim Al-Halil, the father of all Muslims.
Once Upon A Time
The story goes that 5000 years ago, Ibrahim ( also known as Abraham) was given his first son even though he was way too old to have a son .Then Allah - God - sent Ibrahim a series of tests to prove that he was a believer.
One night Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his beloved son Ishmael, on the holy mountain around Mecca.
On the morning after the dream Ibrahim told his two wives what God had asked - Sarah his childless first wife and Hagar his second wife and the mother of his first born Ishmael.
Both wives were shocked - finally Ibrahim had a son and he was prepared to kill him in devotion to God! Hagar was so sad, the story says, that she could do nothing but cry out her pain in the desert.
Ibrahim went to his son and said: I heard in a dream that I must sacrifice you to God but I will not do this to you if you do not agree.
Obedient Ishmael said: father this dream is a command from God. I will not refuse any thing that comes from God. Father do what you have been asked to do.
Ibrahim walked with his son from the desert of Mecca, sad and yet sure that he must follow God's order. Once they came to the summit of the chosen mountain Ibrahim tied his son with tears on his face, took the sharp knife in hand, and was about to slaughter his beloved son.
The story goes that just before the knife touched Ishmael, a huge noise came from the sky and a voice talked to Ibrahim saying: Ibrahim you had proved you believe. Release your beloved son. I send you this sheep, to slaughter instead in the name of Allah.
And so the happy Ibrahim was able to show his loyalty to God and to keep his first born son alive.
These Days
The ceremony of presenting gifts to God is an ancient tradition that is still so predominant amongst Arab peoples.
Ibrahim's willingness to give his son to God is meant to be a reminder of how far we can go to show our love to God. And God's action of stopping the slaughter is supposed to show his mercy and that we don't have to give more than we can give.
In the time of the prophet Mohamed this ceremony of sacrifice became a pilgrim's duty on arrival at Mecca.
The animals to be sacrificed are fed and cared for before they are killed. The night before the holiday is also sacred - some people fast. Then the next day in the morning the animals - sheep and goats mainly - are killed. In the Mecca about 3 million animals are slaughtered and vegetarians or very poor people can give money or something else.
The moment before the killing a short prayer is said which asks the animal for permission to be presented as a gift to God.
The dead animal is divided into three parts: one goes to the family, one to those who you love and one to those who are in need.
As a child my father would suggest I look away whilst he killed the animal and with my eyes averted I would say aloud who would be receiving which part. The two parts we were giving away would be put into small plastic sacks and we children would run, directed by mother, to the other families to give them their portions.
After this we came home and ate our meal together, remembering to give prayers of thankfulness for being privileged to have what we need and to be able to give and share with others.