New Delhi: Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Islamic month Zul Hijjah. This year Bakrid is going to be celebrated on July 10, it will begin on the evening of July 9 and will end on the evening of July 10th. The festival is also known as Eid-ul-Zuha, Bakra-Eid, or Bakrid, it commemorates the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim.
History
The term Eid-ul-Zuha is derived from the Arabic word Eid, which means festival, and Zuha which comes from Uzhaiyya meaning sacrifice. As per beliefs, Prophet Ibrahim who is considered to be the ancestor of Prophet Mohammed, had nightmares that he was slaughtering his son, Prophet Ismail to Allah. Ibrahim was ready to slaughter his son, and Ismail was ready to do as his father was ordered to do. However, Allah sent the angel Jibra’il, who said that God was pleased by the devotion and a lamb from heaven was offered by the Jibra’il to prophet Ibrahim to slaughter instead of Ismail.
Significance of Eid-ul-Adha
One of the holiest festivals of Islam, Bakrid commemorates the readiness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail at the behest of God. Muslim communities across the world offer namaz at mosques for peace and prosperity. After the namaz people go back and sacrifice a goat or a sheep as a part of the ritual, known as Qurbani. The sacrificed animal meat is distributed into three equal parts – for family, for relatives and friends, and to distribute among the poor, so that every Muslim gets to eat meat.
People donate to charities, share a delicious meal and spread joy among family and friends on the day of the festival.