From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īdu l-’Aḍḥā) or "Eid-u'z-Zuha" "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid" is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma'il) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead.[1] The meat is divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family retains one third of the share, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the other third is given to the poor & needy.
Eid al-Adha is the latter of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from Sura 2 (Al-Baqara) ayah 196 in the Qur'an.[2] Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a Wajib prayer of two Raka'ah followed by a sermon (khuṭbah).
The word "Eid" appears in Sura al-Mai'da ("The Table Spread," Chapter 5) of the Qur'an, meaning 'solemn festival'.[3]
Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the 12th and the last Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar.[4] Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. The date is approximately 70 days (2 Months & 10 days) after the end of the month of Ramadan, i.e. Eid-ul-Fitr. Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.[5]
The Arabic term "Festival of Sacrifice", ‘Eid ul-’Aḍḥā, was borrowed as a unit from Semitic roots that evolved into Indic languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Bengali and Austronesian languages such as Malay and Indonesian.
Another Semitic word for "sacrifice" is the Arabic Qurbān (Arabic: قربان), which is used in Dari Persian - Afghanistan and Iranian dialect of Persian as Eyde Ghorbân عید قربان, and in Tajik Persian as Иди Қурбон (Idi Qurbon), into Kazakh as Құрбан айт (Qurban ayt), into Uyghur as Qurban Heyit, and also into various Indic languages. Other languages combined the Arabic word qurbān with local terms for "festival", as in Kurdish (Cejna Qurbanê[6]), Pashto (Kurbaneyy Akhtar), Chinese (古尔邦节 Gúěrbāng Jié), Malay and Indonesian (Hari Raya Korban, Qurbani), and Turkish (Kurban Bayramı). The Turkish term was later used in other languages such as Azeri (Qurban Bayramı), Tatar (Qorban Bäyräme), Bosnian and Croatian (Kurban-bajram), Serbian (Курбан бајрам), Russian (Курбан байрам).
Another Arabic name, ‘Īd ul-Kabīr (عيد الكبير `Īd al-Kabīr), meaning "Greater Eid/Festival" (the "Lesser Eid" being Eid ul-Fitr[7]), is used in Yemen, Syria, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt). The term was borrowed directly into French as Aïd el-Kebir. Translations of "Big Eid" or "Greater Eid" are used in Pashto لوی اختر Loy Akhtar, Kashmiri Baed Eid, Hindi and Urdu Baṛā Īd, Malayalam Bali Perunnal, and Tamil Peru Nāl.
Another name refers to the fact that the holiday occurs after the culmination of the Hajj (حج), or pilgrimage to Mecca (Makka). Such names are used in Malay and Indonesian (Hari Raya Haji "Hajj celebration day", Lebaran Haji), and in Tamil Hajji Peru Nāl.
In Urdu-speaking areas, the festival is also called بقرعید Baqra Īd or Baqrī Īd, stemming either from the Arabic baqarah "heifer" or the Urdu word baqrī for "goat", as cows and goats are among the traditionally sacrificed animals. That term was also borrowed into other languages, such as Tamil Bakr Eid Peru Nāl.
Other local names include 宰牲节 Zǎishēng Jié ("Slaughter-livestock Festival") in Chinese, Tfaska Tamoqqart in the Berber language of Djerba, Tabaski or Tobaski in West African languages,[8]Babbar Sallah in Nigerian languages, and ciida gawraca in Somali.
Eid-al-Adha has other popular names across the Muslim world. The name is often simply translated into the local language, such as English Festival of Sacrifice, German Opferfest, Dutch Offerfeest, Romanian Sărbătoarea Sacrificiului and Hungarian Áldozati ünnep.
[edit] Background
According to Muslims, approximately four thousand years ago, the valley of Mecca (in what is now Saudi Arabia) was a dry, rocky and uninhabited place. According to Islam, the Prophet Abraham ('Ibraheem in Arabic) was instructed to bring his Egyptian wife Hagar (Hāǧar) and Ishmael, his only child at the time (Ismā'īl), to Arabia from the land of Canaan (currently Palestine and also parts of Lebanon,Jordan,Syria and Sinai) by God's command.
As Abraham was ready to return to Canaan, Hagar asked him, "Did "Allah" (God) order you to leave us here"? When Abraham replied: "Yes, I was directed by Allah" (God), Hagar said, "then Allah will not forget us; you can go". Although Abraham had left a large quantity of food and water with Hagar and Ishmael, the supplies quickly ran out, and within a few days the two began to feel the pangs of hunger and dehydration.
According to Islamic tradition, Hagar ran up and down between two hills called Al-Safa and Al-Marwah seven times, in her desperate quest for water. Finally, she collapsed beside her baby Ishmael and prayed to God for deliverance. Miraculously, a spring of water gushed forth from the earth at the feet of baby Ishmael. Other accounts have the angel Gabriel (Jibril) striking the earth and causing the spring to flow in abundance. With this secure water supply, known as the Zamzam Well, they were not only able to provide for their own needs, but were also able to trade water with passing nomads for food and supplies.
Years later, Abraham was instructed by God to return from Palestine to build a place of worship dedicated to Him adjacent to Hagar's well (the Zamzam Well). Abraham and Ishmael constructed a stone and mortar structure —known as the Kaaba— which was to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their faith in God. As the years passed, Ishmael was blessed with Prophethood (Nubuwwah) and gave the nomads of the desert his message of submission to God. After many centuries, Mecca became a thriving desert city and a major center for trade, thanks to its reliable water source, the well of Zamzam.
One of the main trials of Abraham's life was to face the command of God to devote his dearest possession, his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God's will. During this preparation, Satan (Shaitan) tempted Abraham and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out God's commandment, and Ibrahim and Ishmael drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him. In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown during Hajj.
When Ishmael was about 13 (Ibrahim being 99), Allah (God) decided to test their faith in and submission to Allah in public. Both father and son were put through the most difficult test of their love for Allah. Abraham had a recurring dream, in which God was commanding him to offer his son as a sacrifice – an unimaginable act – sacrificing his son, which God had granted him after many years of deep prayer, the one who had been the centre of his affection and love for all these years. Abraham knew that the dreams of the prophets were inspired by Allah, and one of the ways in which God communicated with his prophets. This must be what Allah had wanted him to do. When the intent of the dreams became clear to him, Abraham decided to fulfil God's command and offer his beloved son in sacrifice.
Although Abraham was ready to sacrifice his dearest for Allah’s sake, he could not just go and drag his son to the place of sacrifice without his consent. Isma'el had to be consulted as to whether he was willing to give up his life as fulfillment to God's command. This consultation would be a major test of Isma'el’s maturity in faith, love and commitment for Allah, willingness to obey his father and sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah.
Abraham presented the matter to his son and asked for his opinion about the dreams of slaughtering him. Ishmael’s reaction was absolutely astounding. He did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said, “Father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, Insha'Allah (God willing), to be very patient.” His mature response, his deep insight into the nature of dad’s dreams, his commitment to Allah, and ultimately his willingness to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Allah were all unprecedented.
When both father and son had shown their perfect obedience to Allah and they had practically demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice their most precious possessions for His sake—Abraham by laying down his son for sacrifice and Ishmael by lying patiently under the knife – Allah called out to them stating that his sincere intentions had been accepted, and that he need not carry out the killing of Ishmael. Instead, Abraham was told to replace his son with a ram to sacrifice instead. Allah also told them that they had passed the test imposed upon them by his willingness to carry out God's command.[9]
This is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as follows:
"O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!" So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing forbearance. And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham) said: O my dear son, I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one practising patience and steadfastness!" So when they both submitted and he threw him down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants.[10]
As a reward for this sacrifice, Allah then granted Abraham the good news of the birth of his second son, Is-haaq (Isaac):
And We gave him the good news of Is-haaq, a prophet from among the righteous. [11]
Abraham had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others: that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dearest to him in submission to God's command. Muslims commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice every year during Eid al-Adha.
In keeping with the tradition of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Muslims are encouraged to prepare themselves for the occasion of Eid. Below is a list of things Muslims are recommended to do in preparation for the Eid al-Adha festival:
1. Wake up early (before sunrise). 2. Make wudu (ablution) and offer Salat al-Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer). 3. Prepare for personal cleanliness - take care of details of clothing, etc. 4. Take a Ghusl (bath) after Fajr prayer. 5. Brush teeth (preferably with a miswak, or tooth-stick). 6. Dress up, putting on new or best clothes available (White, when available, is optimal[12]). 7. Apply (alcohol free) perfume (attar) (men only). 8. It is customary to eat dates preferably or something before going to Eid prayers but you can't eat sacrificed meat as Sacrifice must be done after Eid prayers to be accepted as Sacrifice otherwise it becomes just normal meat and no reward for sacrifice. [13] 9. Go to the prayer grounds (known as an 'Eidgah') early. 10. Offer Salat al-Eid (the congregational Eid prayer) in an open place, weather permitting, or in mosque. 11. Use two separate routes when travelling to and from the Eid prayer location. 12. Recite the following Takbir which starts at Maghrib (sunset) on the 9th of Dhu al-hijah and last until the Asr on the 12th Dhu al-ilhijah: Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. La ilaha illa-lah wallahu-Akbar. Allahu-Akbar wa-lillahil-hamd, which translates to: "Allah (God) is the Greatest (3 times); there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and to Him are due all praises."
[edit] Salat al-Eid
Salat al-Eid is Wajib (strongly recommended, but just short of obligatory). It consists of two Raka'ah (units) with six additional Takbirs. No adhan (Call to Prayer) or iqama (call) is to be pronounced for this Eid prayer.[14] It must be offered in congregation. The Salaat (prayer) is followed by the Khutbah, or sermon, by the Imam. The Khutbah is part of the worship and listening to it is Wajib. During the Khutbah, the Imam reminds the Muslim community about its responsibilities and obligations towards Allah, and good works, kindness, mercy and generosity towards their fellow Muslims and humanity as a whole.
At the conclusion of the prayers and sermon, the Muslims embrace and exchange greetings with one other (Eid Mubarak), give gifts (Eidi) to children, and visit one another. Many Muslims also take this opportunity to invite their non-Muslims friends, neighbours, co-workers and classmates to their Eid festivities to better acquaint them about Islam and Muslim culture.[15]
[edit] Rules Regarding the Animal to be Sacrificed
1. The animal has to be one of the cattle approved by the Sharia (Cow, Camel, Goat, Sheep etc.) 2. The animal has reached the required age. The adult age is: (a) One year for a goat, sheep, lamb (b) Two years for a cow (c) Five years for a camel. 3. The animal is free from an obvious defect like a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones 4. The animal is in full possession of the one who is offering the sacrifice; i.e. it is not stolen or taken by force, not of joint possession or held in pledge 5. The animal can not be sold or given away once selected or bought for sacrifice, unless exchanging for something better.[16]
[edit] Rules Related to the Person offering the Sacrifice
1. Being a Muslim 2. It is necessary for the one who intends to offer the sacrifice that he does not remove any hair or nail from the sunset on last day of Zhul-Qa’dah until the sacrifice is done on the Eid day 3. Doing the slaughter with one’s own hands. If one is not able to do so then he can appoint some one else to do the slaughter on his behalf. In such case one should witness his slaughter if at all possible. 4. It is a necessary condition of the sacrifice that the animal be slaughtered with the intention of offering a sacrifice (udhiyah). The intention must be in the heart, and should not be spoken out loud. 5. Taking the Name of Allah at the time of slaughter.
Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer (ṣalātu l-`Īdi) in a large congregation is an open waqf field called Eidgah or mosque. Those Muslims who can afford, i.e Malik-e-Nisaab; sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually a cow, but can also be a camel, goat, sheep or ram depending on the region) as a symbol of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son. The sacrificed animals, called Uḍhiyyah (Arabic: أضحية, also known by its Persian term, "al-Qurbāni"), have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice.
The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by concerted efforts to see that no impoverished person is left without an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial meal during these days.
During Eid al-Adha, distributing meat amongst the people, chanting the Takbir out loud before the Eid prayer on the first day and after prayers throughout the three days of Eid, are considered essential parts of this important Islamic festival. In some countries, families that do not own livestock can make a contribution to a charity that will provide meat to those who are in need.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Eid Al Adha and The Kurbani Goat
No Reprieve ... Sentenced To Death In The Name Of God
No Reprieve ... Sentenced To Death In The Name Of God, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
153,167 items / 1,191,875 views
these are the true jehadds of islam
giving their lives for the sake of humanity
cool and calm a poetic thought embalmed
they are more focused than those
who are carriers of suicide bombs
kurbani goats offered as sacrifice
in humility without aplomb
a paradise
without nubile virgins their only inam
miles away from their loved ones
their homes away on the farms
they dont bomb mosques kill
innocent people mankind
they dont grievously harm
remembered as mutton biryani
mouth watering moment
tasty delicious warm
kurbani goats immortalized
as lifes lucky charm
Kids Collecting Food For The Kurbani Goats
Once the goats are bought home they are fed with sumptuous delicacies , these kids asked the watchman to break pomegranate leaves for their goats.
The goats are given chapattis , ready made goat meal sold all around Bandra during Bakra Idd.
The goats are given water and in front of most of the hoses in the nearby slums you will find one or two goats tied close-by.
Kurbani goes on for three days Of Bakra Idd and most of the time you will hardly get a butcher for slaughtering te goats as most of them are booked in advance by large Muslim housing societies
At JJ Colony where butcher knives and the slaughter logs are sold , even a person without knowledge of goat slaughter becomes a butcher to make a fat buck.
The slaughter charges vary from person to person area to area and based on the size of the goat.
Nothing less than Rs 350 to begin with , going up to Rs 800.
The bulls are slaughtered too by a group of people who cant afford individual goats..this is a tough item on the slaughter agenda to shoot as the butchers take offense and dont like pictures being taken.
Very wealth traders businessmen slaughter camels to in Mumbai.
Most of the cattle and goats come from Rajasthan and neighboring areas , at the moment the rates are very high both in Bandra and in Deonar I am told...
The skins of the slaughtered animals are given to the mosque or religious institutions as donations.
The poor throng the sites where the animals are slaughtered begging for left overs of the meat etc.
Even the beggar eunuch community comes out in large numbers to beg for meat..
Haroons Dumba Goat Chinckpokli Road Bandra
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Haroon is late Ghani butchers son, and sells bakras or goats on Chinchpokli Lane Bandra near Gonsalves Wadi, Haroon leaves his auto driving job to help his mother in the goat selling business during Bakra Idd.
This is his white dumba goat that has been offered Rs 50000 but Haroon is waiting for a better offer and whater the hype generated by the latest imported Chinese goats at Deonar the Dumba is the best choice for Kurbani if you have the money and the inclination.
Years back I would go and shoot the Goat mela at the Deonar Slaughter house with Haroon but I lost interest completely I prefer shooting close to home and my disclocated wrist because of the lep has erupted with diabetic ulcers , so I avoid crowds I shot these pictures in morning while going to my work space.
The Hijab Marches Ahead
153,145 items / 1,190,931 views
an issue of wearing a garment
or not wearing a garment
so much has been written and said
by those that consider it a garment
of oppression even though it is
not part of their religiosity or ideology
hate towards this garment they
have bred through their deafening
soul gone dead a freedom of expression
of a muslim womans choice they have bled
they have no solution for unemployment
in their country as these modern satrap tread
good governance human touch
out of their hardened hearts has fled
racist in outlook xenophobic islam hating
outlook instead playing to the gallery
for cheap applause to stay in power
absolute power corrupting their head
hope humanity gives way to narrow mindedness
bigotry as their nations masthead
empty words equality liberty justice
they bellow thanks to their empty heads
terrorizing the soul of the muslim women
the agony the pain the pathos the dread
i sometimes wonder was it because
of all this balzac maupassant diderot
zola sartre as a young man i had read
learnt the french language passionately
from which the soul has fled
Places To Buy Bakras In Bandra West
At Bandra as you enter Chinchpokli Road you could buy healthy ones from Haroon and his mother at Gonsalves Wadi.
Further a large number of them at Noorani Road and in the JJ Colony lane... and in the bylanes to.
Otherwise head to Deonar for a larger selection and time pass.
Muslim Kids Goats and Bakra Idd in Bandra
153,138 items / 1,190,377 views
Because religion forbids them to keep dogs , the Muslim kids look forward to Bakra Idd , so you will see kids moving around with goats , and showering them with love and affection.
Muslim kids love to show off their new goats and boat the price i was bought at from Deonar.. ask a kid how much is the goat he has with him he will in Sallu style shirt collar up tell you Bawa 15000 ki Jodi padi.. Bazar bahut Garam hai Bhai..
The poor Muslim kids of Bandra move about with baby lambs and if you go towards ucky Hotel tiny lane you might spot a few pet Dumbas too.
Every house has bought the goats for the annual sacrifice on Idd Ul Udha.
There are four in my building too and soon the numbers will increase , as a new Muslim family has moved in too.
Tehsin Mukadam my friend too will have his goats cut in the compound with the rest.
As I live in a semi Miya land there will be a lot of opportunities to shoot the slaughter provided I have time .
We buy our goat at Noorani Masjid lane have it slaughtered there with me doing the Salla , the first mortal cut on the jugular.
The meat and the skin is bought home , the skin goes to the local Bandra Shia mosque as donation for the poor kids.
I love to shoot blood and dont blame me as soon as Idd gets over Moharam begins where we Shias will be as bloodied as the goats the Muslims cut..so I look forward to Bakra Idd simply because Moharam is on the threshold and Karbala a tragedy we relive in memory of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain grandson of the Holy Messenger of Islam.
I will shoot the slaughter of bulls which happens around a few areas in and around Bandra.
I might go to Bandra East too for a change.. after shooting the Idd Namaz.
Bakra Idd Mubarak Ho Paisewala Musalman Jai Ho
Bakra Idd Mubarak Ho Paisewala Musalman Jai Ho, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
153,129 items / 1,190,352 views
They know
in a few days
they will go
a little water
the salla
swish of the knife
death without a blow
their destiny to
appease the soul
of sacrifice
they humbly
take a bow
death where
is thy sting
as it comes
serenely slow
the unstoppable
blood flow
like a poem spreading
its wings all aglow
children excited
running fearlessly
to and fro
the rich muslim man
will buy a dozen
maybe more
his neighbors
his envious relatives
he will show
begging outside
his palatial house
the burka clad women
her hungry children
although his generosity
is such a few coins
he will throw
rich muslims live
for today its the poor
muslim that has no
tomorrow
paisewalon ki idd hoti hai
paisewale musalman jai ho
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
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Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ali Mira Datar Unava Gujrat , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. HAZRAT SYED ALI MIRA DATAR'S G...
