Imtiaz Moul Jan,
Eid-ul-Azha, an annual Islamic festival, is not just about purchasing animals for mere enjoyment, neither it is all about storing the meat and cooking delicious for days. There is a lot more to Eid-ul-Azha that means to bring out the best virtues for us as Muslims.Furthermore, On Eid-ul-Azha, we remember the trial Allah put on Prophet Ibrahim and his family four thousand years ago.Prophet Ibrahim and his family had unwavering faith that Allah knows the best and they did not question his orders even, once Allah told Prophet Ibrahim to leave his wife and young son in the far flung desert of Mecca and not even when Allah ordered Prophet Ibrahim to slay his beloved son in His path Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, or Festival of the Sacrifice at the end of Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. Eidul Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. This Eid commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice what was dearest to him as a test of faith when he was commanded by Allah to sacrifice his son, Hazrat Ismail. Pleased by his obedience, Allah replaced the boy with a ram that got sacrificed instead.In other words, in Pakistan and other Muslim countries, this Eid is marked with congregational Eid prayers and the sacrifice of animals, such as camels, sheep, goats or cows. The meat is then distributed among neighbours, family members and the poor. People dress up in new clothes, visit relatives and friends, and hold feasts. But have you ever wondered how Muslims in non-Muslim countries celebrate this very important festival? What hardships they face and how their Eid day is different from our Eid celebrations? Whether you live in Pakistan or in any foreign country, the lessons to learn from Eid-ul-Azha celebrations are your complete faith, trust and submission to Allah. Hence, it is about spreading joy and including those who are less fortunate in our homes and hearts.
