Muslims around the world to celebrate Eid Al-Adha
Eid al-Adha is known through several names across the world and this festival of sacrifice is celebrated for several days in some areas of the country. In Kazakhstan it is called Qurban Ayt. It is seen that Muslims celebrate this festival with great excitement no matter where they are.
On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter, About.com reads.
In keeping with the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad , Muslims are encouraged to prepare themselves for the occasion of Eid. Below is a list of things Muslims are recommended to do in preparation for the Eid al-Adha festival:
- Make wudu (ablution) and offer Salat al-Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer).
- Prepare for personal cleanliness - take care of details of clothing, etc.
- Dress up, putting on new or best clothes available.
Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer (ṣalātu l-'Īdi) mosques. Those Muslims who can afford, i.e Malik-e-Nisaab; sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually a cow, but can also be a camel, goat, sheep or ram depending on the region) as a symbol of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son. The sacrificed animals, called Uḍhiyyah (Arabic: أضحية, also known by its Persian term, "al-Qurbāni"), have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. This tradition accounts for more than 100 million slaughtering of animals in only 2 days of Eid, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, reads.
The sacrificed animals must be healthy. The meat is divided into three parts to be distributed to others. The family retains one third of the share, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the other third is given to the poor and needy.
The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by concerted efforts to see that no impoverished person is left without an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial meal during these days.
During Eid al-Adha, distributing meat amongst the people, chanting the Takbir out loud before the Eid prayer on the first day and after prayers throughout the three days of Eid, are considered essential parts of this important Islamic festival. In some countries, families that do not own livestock can make a contribution to a charity that will provide meat to those who are in need.
This year Astana authorities built special places where people could purchase and sacrifice an animal in the territory of Altyn Taga market on Astana-Kosshy highway, Shaushen collective farm - the 9th km of Sofiyevskoye highway, Temesh collective farm - the 7th km of Pavlodar highway, Green Market on Alash highway. The meat will be distributed at Nur Astana Mosque and Saduakas Hajji Gylmani Mosque.
Qurban Ayt is one of the greatest holidays of the Islamic world. The holiday embodies care of relatives and compassion to the people in need. It is a tradition to wake up early, put on the best clothes, be friendly and visit parents, elders and sick relatives and remember the dead with prayers on these days. It is celebrated around the world, and some traditions are slightly different, but the devotion and honour of God remains the same during Eid al-Adha around the world.
Celebrating Qurban Ayt Kazakhstan emphasizes its spiritual unity with the Muslims around the world, its striving for moral self-improvement and the life in peace with all men and women on Earth. Kazakhstan's Muslims follow faithfully the principles of interethnic concord and religious tolerance for the sake of peace and stability in the country.
(Agencies)
