Do you know when to celebrate Eid ul-Adha of 2017 in Bangladesh?
Are you aware of the history and teachings of Eid ul-Adha?
Eid ul-Adha, also known as Qurbani Eid in Bangladesh, is one of the holiest celebrations for Bangladeshi Muslims. Eid ul-Adha refers to the “Sacrifice Feast”. It is one of the two major Muslim festivals, celebrated all across the world as well as in Bangladesh.
The history of Eid ul-Adha goes past thousands of years. But, the message it sends and the moral lesson of its history are really subject to deep understanding.
Each and every year Muslims all across the world sacrifice animals in the name of Allah not to satiate their appetite, but to express their submission to Allah and achieve absolution through sharing “the Sacrifice Feast” with the underprivileged.
Muslims believe that spiritual purity can only be achieved through sacrifice. Therefore, sacrificing animals alternatively is supposed to sacrifice one’s greed, lust, selfishness, indulgence and gluttony.
What is Eid ul-Adha?
The festival of the sacrifice is referred to as the phrase “Eid ul-Adha”. It is also sometimes called as the Greater Eid. Bangladeshi people sometimes refer to the festival as Qurbani Eid.
The festival marks a holy time of generosity and sacrifice. And, people celebrate the day by spending time with friends, family and the needy. The festival symbolizes Abraham’s devotion to God. And, it also marks the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage). The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca performed annually.
Mecca, on the eve of Eid ul-Adha, becomes the venue of thousands of Muslims. Muslims from all over the world embark on the Hajj to announce their presence in a location where the religion of Islam evolved.
Eid ul-Adha History
Eid ul-Adha marks Prophet Abraham’s (also known as Ibrahim) willingness to sacrifice everything in order to please God. Both the Judeo-Christian and Islamic scriptures attest that Prophet Abraham was tested by God to sacrifice one thing that was dear to his heart. Abraham had a vision wherein he was sacrificing his son in the name of God.
Abraham soon discovered that he held his son, Ishmael, most dear to his heart. So, he decided to kill his son as a sacrifice to God. Abraham couldn’t come to terms with him sacrificing his son. He was severely anxious. Noticing his ailment, Ishmael asked him about the reason. Abraham divulged the vision he had about sacrificing him in the name of God.
Ishmael understood the underlying intention, and so he asked his father to do whatever it takes to please God. The moment came before Abraham and his son. However, the knife Abraham using to cut his throat became so blunt that it wouldn’t cut.
Actually, God was impressed with Abraham’s sincerity that He didn’t let Abraham kill his son. God, instead, gave Abraham a ram to kill.
For this reason, Muslims across the world celebrate Eid ul-Adha to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s disposition to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. Muslims who can afford offer Qurbani in the name of Allah, hoping that He accept their sacrifice. And, through Eid ul-Adha, God also wants to test how much wealth people are willing to share with the poor.
Islamic scriptures dictate that Muslims who can afford to sacrifice an animal on any of the three days of Eid ul-Adha. They should divide the meat of the sacrificed animal in following ways:
- Keep a third of the meat to yourself
- Share a third among your family members
- Give away a third to the needy
When Should You Celebrate Eid ul-Adha?
Eid ul-Adha is a time of both sacrifice and feast for Muslims. It has to be celebrated the day after Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah as per the Islamic calendar). The first day of the three days begins on the 10th of the month and lasts for three days. Eid ul-Adha is one of the second main annual festivals in Islam. The other one is Eid ul-Fitr.
When Will You Celebrate Eid ul-Adha 2017 in Bangladesh?
Astronomers are already predicting that Bangladeshis can celebrate Eid ul-Adha on Friday, September 1. Therefore, the evening of 1st September will mark the first day of Eid ul-Adha. Lasting for the evening of the next day, the festival of sacrifice will end on 2nd September.
Eid ul-Adha in Bangladesh: How Bangladeshis Celebrate Eid ul-Adha
Although the festival will begin on September 1, the preparation for it already commenced at the beginning of August. Yes, Bangladeshi Muslims usually start preparing themselves for the festival with at least 15 days in hand.
Because it takes some time to allocate cash for the purchase of an animal. Plus, you have to tour Qurbani cattle markets for a couple of times to settle on your desired animal.
Once an animal, usually a goat or a cow, is chosen, and a deal is agreed upon by the buyer and the seller, the animal is brought home. The animal is then fed, tended, looked after and prepared for Eid ul-Adha.
Before sacrificing animals, Bangladeshis congregate in mosques to offer Eid prayers. Then, they return home or find a place convenient to sacrifice the animals. It is decreed by Islamic scholars that Bangladeshi Muslims slaughter animals as humanely as possible.
Summary
The festival of sacrifice teaches people a lot to reflect on and rethink about. The fleeting moment meant to spend in this world can only be glorified through sacrifice, devotion, and generosity. That’s the moral lesson of Eid ul-Adha.
