Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Eid-a Sterling Festival!

India is a land of diverse religions, cultures and traditions. Many festival are celebrated in India like Holi, Diwali, Christmas, Lohri, Pongal etc And eid is one of them.

Eid is the festival of Muslims. The word “EID” appears in Qur’an, meaning “Solemn festival”. Muslims celebrate two eid. One is “Eid-ul-fitr” and another is “Eid-Al-Adha”

Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad was visited many times by Jibril who taught him the holy knowledge of verses. This sacred knowledge consist of the code of conduct that Allah want his people to maintain of earth. It is inscribed in verses which are completed in the holy Qur’an, the most sacred book in Islam.
 
It is said that the sacred knowledge was revealed to Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. As a mark of respect to Allah and show gratitude to him for the true knowledge that he gifted to his sons and daughters, the Prophet ask his followers to pass the month of Ramadan in fasting, prayers and other austerities and end the month long non indulgence with festive celebrations. This is how Eid-Ul-Fitr was started.

Eid-Ul-Fitr is the biggest festival of Muslims. On this occasion people buy new clothes, decorate their houses and prepare variety of Sewai. Sewai is the special dish which is prepared by everyone. It is forbidden to fast on the day of Eid. They go to mosque to offer Eid namaz. It is sunnah that the Sadaqat-Ul-Fitr, an obligatory charity is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the Eid prayers by all those adult muslims who are required to pay Zakat. People visit each other house and great each other by formal embrace. Eidis are frequently given to children and immediate relatives.


The festival gives the message of peace, equality, brotherhood and brings oneself back to the normal course of life after a long month of fast.


Eid-Al-Adha is the latter of the two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims. Eid-al-Adha celebrations start after the Hajj. The date is approximately 70 days after the end of month of Ramadan.

Greater Eid is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead and from that particular day it has become customary to sacrifice cattle’s.


Animal to be sacrificed should be approved by Sharia that it has to be one of the cattle. The animal to be sacrificed should have reached required age and is free from any obvious defect.


The sacrificed meat is divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family retains one third of the share, another one third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors. And the remaining one third gave to the poor and needy.


Mariyam Sohail
Student
 University of Allahabad   

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