Guyanese Muslims commemorate Eid-ul-Adha
MEMBERS of the Muslim community yesterday gathered at their respective masjids (places of worship) to begin festivities for Eid-ul-Adha, a three-day celebration considered a “festival of sacrifice” or a “festival of feast”. All Muslims across the world observe the holiday with the singular goal of remembering the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, Sheik Zakir Khan, representative of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), said the sacrifices that were made were a mere representation of the sacrifice made by Prophet Abraham, one which indicated his full obedience to God Almighty.
He said Muslims begin the day with prayer, followed by a ceremony which expounds upon the significance of sacrifices and urges people to work towards creating peaceful communities.
In the afternoon, Muslims join in distributing beef, among other charitable acts, as part of the festivities of the day.
He described this year’s turnout as excellent compared to previous years, and an indication that more persons are showing keen interest in getting closer to the Heavenly Father.
This year, the organisation sacrificed between 65 and 75 animals, to share to the wider community as part of the celebration of the Muslim holiday.
Khan urged the Muslim community to be continuously aware of its role during this festive time.
Imaam of the Kitty Masjid described Eid-ul-Adha as one of the largest festivals in the Islamic world.
He explained that it is traditional to make sacrifices of animals, and traditional to give away their carcasses as an act of charity. It is customary for Muslims to give one-third of the meat to the poor, and one-third to friends and family. They keep the remainder.
He said that soon after Eid-ul-Adha ends, the physical aspect or slaughtering the animals begins.
Animals used for this purpose are cattle, sheep and goats mainly. One bull is counted as seven shares, and seven persons benefit from the meat of one bull.
This publication spoke with the leaders of several other Muslim organisations, who shared the same explanation leading up to the significance and the history of Eid-ul-Adha.
The entire Muslim community started praying in the early morning, and followed this through with the sacrifices and then various charitable acts.
According to the Muslim holy book, Abraham was an old man longing for a child. He prayed to God for an obedient son who would be God-fearing and kind; and after years, his prayers were answered. He loved his son more than all his wealth and possessions.
One night in his sleep, some years after his son was born, God commanded him in a dream to sacrifice the one thing he loved the most.
After much thought, he discussed it with the boy; and being the obedient child he was, he agreed to be sacrificed. When (Abraham) Ibrahim was about to commit the act of sacrificing his son, he blindfolded himself and his son. Since God saw how much faith the father had, he placed a ram in the place of the son, and this was sacrificed instead. It is as a result of this sacrifice that Muslims today celebrate Eid-ul-Adha as a form of remembrance of that sacrifice.