“Eid – Al – Adha” is the holiest and greatest feast day for Muslims. The feast is also known as “Feast of the Sacrifice”. Eid al-Adha’s origin dates back to Prophet Abraham’s story, as it is told in the Quran. Abraham and his wife were given a son in their old age after years of waiting for a child. But Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son as a testament of his love of Allah. The couple went to Mecca to accomplish the task. But before the sacrifice, Allah replaced his son (traditionally identified with Ismail) with a lamb. So, the day celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to the command of Allah. In celebration of the love of Abraham for Allah and this ultimate act of devotion, Muslims honour this by annually sacrificing an animal on Eid al-Adha. This animal can be a lamb, a goat, or a cow. The animal is divided into three parts. One part goes to the poor; one goes to a relative, and the last part remains with the family for cooking. During the morning of the “Eid – Al – Adha” and before the sacrifice, Muslims attend a special prayer which goes by the name “Salat al-Eid”. The purpose of this celebration is to make a Muslim more virtuous in his/her actions. It should not only be intended to offer sacrifices but also to learn hidden lessons of freedom from personal desires and to protect a Muslim from everything that hinders his/her ability to perform his duties as a Muslim.
