Letter: Eid al Adha and Hajj

On May 28 Muslims around the globe will celebrate Eid al Adha, the second Eid. This Eid comes at the end of Hajj or the pilgrimage to Mecca which is the largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world. Despite regional conflicts and high oil prices, about four million Muslims are expected to gather for Hajj this year.

So what do Muslims do during Hajj and this Eid? For those who are fortunate to be in Mecca performing Hajj, there are specific rituals over a period of several days. These re-enact steps and acts of Prophet Abraham and his wife Hajar. They involve walking around Kaba in Mecca, praying in the field of Arafat where Adam himself is believed to have had his sins forgiven, to throwing pebbles at the Devil (Satan), and finally sacrificing an animal to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command. Observant Muslims with the ability to go for Hajj will do so at least once in their lifetime. It is a memorable event for most, a life change one for some. Here in the US, Muslims observe Eid al Adha by gathering for morning prayers followed by visiting one another in the homes – similar to the earlier Eid al Fitr at the end of Ramadan. Food is again a central part of this celebration and families prepare their favorite dishes to share with family and friends. Many also perform the ritual sacrifice with the meat distributed among the poor. In many parts of the world where some can rarely afford to buy meat, Eid al Adha is one day of the day they are able to. The Saudi government packages the sacrificial meat and distributes it to the poor in over 25 countries.

Habib Rahman, Westland Road