Eid-al-Adha Greetings
The University of Lincoln would like to wish all our colleagues and students celebrating Eid-al-Adha a blessed Eid Mubarak!
We have created a special e-Card that you are welcome to use and send to your Muslim colleagues who are celebrating Eid-al-Adha. Please write to Sabah Holmes – Race & Equalities Officer for Staff and Students (sholmes@lincoln.ac.uk) if you would like other versions of this e-Card which are available.
If you would like to learn more about the festival and Hajj – the spiritual pilgrimage taken by millions of Muslims from around the world, read on.
About Eid-al-Adha and Hajj:
“The second significant religious festival of Islam, Eid al-Adha, begins on Sunday.
The first of the two observances is Eid al-Fitr, which was observed in June to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
“Eid al-Adha is one of two Eids, or days of celebration for Muslims worldwide, in a year,” a spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain tells The Independent.
“It coincides with the completion of the Hajj, which millions of people partake in every year.”
Known as the “festival of sacrifice”, the observance commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son in order to demonstrate his dedication to God. “
Here is everything you need to know about Eid al-Adha:
“What is its significance?:
During the festival of Eid al-Adha, Muslims acknowledge the devotion of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail, under the order of Allah SWT (God).
Ibrahim, also known as Abraham, is a prominent figure in Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
“This story in different versions is in the Quran, the Bible, and the Old Testament, which shows the common heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,” states the United Religions Initiative.
According to the Quran – the sacred religious book of Islam – just as Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God replaced Ismail with a lamb, which was sacrificed instead.
“This command from Allah SWT was a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid al-Adha means the festival of sacrifice,” states UK-based charity Muslim Aid.”
“What is the difference between Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr?:
Eid al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr are the two major religious festivals observed in the religion of Islam.
Eid al-Fitr, which was celebrated from Monday 3 June until Tuesday 4 June in countries including Saudi Arabia, and from Tuesday 4 June until Wednesday 5 June in countries including Pakistan, translates in Arabic to mean “the feast of the breaking of the fast”.
The festival marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month which involves Muslims fasting during daylight hours for 29 to 30 days.
Eid al-Adha coincides with Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.”
“In the village of Mina, near the Muslim holy city of Mecca, it marks the day on which millions of pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil.
They will then circle the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca, Islam’s most sacred site, before departing.
The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. Observant Muslims around the world face towards the Kaaba during their five daily prayers.
Millions of Muslims celebrate Eid-al-Adha as a religious holiday beginning on Sunday, August 11th to August 15th in the UK. For many, including those living in the Philippines, India and Pakistan, Eid al-Adha will not begin until Monday.
The day is marked with the sacrifice of an animal, usually a goat, sheep, or cow, and the distribution of the meat among neighbours, family members, and the poor.
The holiday also marks the end of Hajj, the five-day-long pilgrimage Muslims undertake to cleanse the soul of sins and instil a sense of equality and brotherhood among Muslims.”
(Source: Al Jazeera Online – Hyperlink: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/muslims-celebrate-eid-al-adha-religious-holiday-190811073635616.html)
Source: The Independent.co.uk (Hyperlink: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/eid-al-adha-2019-when-date-holiday-uae-saudi-arabia-islam-festival-a9027196.html)
About Hajj 2019: An in-depth look at the sacred journey:
Any Muslim, who has the financial means to undertake the pilgrimage, is expected to take part in it at least once in their lifetime and constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam.
During the last three days of Hajj, male pilgrims shave their heads and remove the white terrycloth garments worn during the pilgrimage. Women cut off a small lock of hair in a sign of spiritual rebirth and renewal.
According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, almost 2.5 million Muslims took part in this year’s Hajj, with more than 600,000 coming from outside Saudi Arabia.
Have a look at the Infographic by Al Jazeera for more awareness.
