Eid Mubarak My Friends!
Sorry I haven't written in a WHILE... but no worries, I'm still here! lol Well, I wanted to write about my first experience with Eid and a friend did a nice job of summing up my thoughts... so I'm "borrowing" some of hers! I am learning so much about the culture and religion here. We had this week off to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha ('festival of sacrifice'). The festival honors the prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son, Isma'il, when God ordered him to as an act of obedience. God stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead. Eid celebrates Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. The Bible also tells the story in Genesis:22, and instead the son that was to be sacrificed was Issac. Muslims all over the world sacrifice a sheep or goat, and share the meat among family, friends, and the poor. As you drive around town, you will often see pins full of sheep ready to be sacrificed. This sacrifice is done by the men in the family (but most countries require this slaughter to be done in a slaughterhouse). A significant part of Eid is based on giving to the less fortunate by providing them with clothes and food, so that they can celebrate as well.
During Eid, around 2 million Muslims from all over the world participate in Hajj. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), which, according to the Muslim tradition, is the first place that was created on Earth. Here is where heavenly power touches Earth directly. All physically capable Muslims who can afford it, should make the pilgrimage to Makkah, in Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lives. Together they stand before the Ka'ba, a shrine built by Ibrahim praising Allah and they walk around the Ka'ba seven times. It represents submission to God, renewing of faith, and evaluation of one's purpose in life. It also represents new beginnings for the new year, which is in November.
On the Thursday leading up to Eid, our school had a Hajj celebration. There was also a Ka'ba that our school had made for our Eid and Hajj program. The Arabic teachers did a great with this simulation. All of the students participated and recited the chant. It was a very wonderful experience to watch PreK-5th grade students from various religions and nationalities participate in this act of worship.
Eid Mubarak!!
"Have a Blessed Eid"
