Today is the day of Eid-ul-Adha.
One of the two festivals in a year in Islam. Muslims all around the world celebrate them with great devotion, immense respect and deep affection.
Eid-ul-Adha is all about sacrifice. It is in the honor of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail for Allah.
Many people buy cows, camels and goats from specially arranged animal markets for the sacrifice, while some people sacrifice the animals they have raised themselves.
People feed these animals themselves, pat them on their backs and heads, and get attached to them. The sacrifice needs people to have affection and love for these animals similar to they have for their own children if not exactly the same then at least a portion of that affection of love so that when they sacrifice these animals they feel the loss, feel pain in their hearts of loosing a loved one.
Right before this day, markets and bazars remain open up until the Fajr, the first pray of the day. Special bazars are arranged in open ground associated with different communities in the form of stalls. They offer discounted prices, though these discounted prices are higher than the prices during the normal days.
This month, Dhul-Hijjah (the last month of the Islamic calendar), is also the month of Hajj pilgrimage.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which aligns with the Earth's orbit around the sun, the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles.
In fact, Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the third day of Hajj. Hajj is not the biggest gathering of any faith in the world. Hindu's Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering on Earth. It is celebrated in a 12 years cycle, though. This makes Hajj the largest religious gathering in a year.
What I like about these festivals the most, people develop a sense of tolerance and understanding toward one another. Especially during the month of Ramadan, they neither speak harshly nor insult one another.
It has always been my deepest desire for people to keep this attitude in every month through out the year.
Congratulations to all those who are performing Hajj and Happy Eid-ul-Adha to all Muslims of the world.
I am sad for the men, women and children, especially for the children. of Gaza, though. I wish they would have a chance and courage in theiir hearts to celebrate this festival even for a couple of seconds.
