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Id-Ul-Azha
The Id-ul-Azha commemorates the ordeal of Hazrat Ibrahim. He was put to a terrible test by God. This happened when he was asked to sacrifice whatever was dearest to him. At this point, he decided to sacrifice the life of his son. As he raised his sword to kill his son, he realized that it was just a test of faith for him. This occasion is celebrated at Id-Ul-Azha as the Eid-e-Qurban. This festival is celebrated on the tenth day of Zilhijja. This is the day when the Haj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats or camels. In India also goats and sheep are sacrificed and prayers are said.
Id-ul-Azha is the second most important festival of Muslims. This celebration comes about two months after Eid-ul-Fitr. This is the day of the end of holy month of Ramadan. Eid-ul-Azha is also called Eid-e-Qurban. This is a time when Muslims learn the value of self-denial. This is done by making a sacrifice of something living to God.
Zil-hajah is the last month of lunar calendar. It has a greater significance unlike other months it has three Ids. Id-ul-Azha is the memory of the eminently noble example of faith in Divine. This event goes back to about 2793 years before Hijrath. The evil resorted to violence and this went to the extent of throwing Abraham into a blazing furnace. This was to restrain him from preaching and after that Abraham migrated to Syria in search of peace.
It is being said that Abraham saw in a dream a source of spiritual communication between God and apostles. He saw that they were slaughtering his son Ismail during his visit to his family on the 9th night of Zilhaj. Abraham followed his dream and set to pursue it. When he sets out to kill his son, he is shocked to see that a sheep is slaughtered instead of his son. There was silence for seconds and there was painful expelling of breath by Abraham. This was over the doubt about the rejection of his sacrifice.
Id-ul-Azha celebrations conveys a message for today’s generation. The younger generation is taught how to fulfill the wishes of their parents. They are also taught to respect the sentiments and feelings of their parents. They must also trust God and that it what it teaches.
On this day, the children get up early in the morning and attend special prayers which are held in the mosque. The prayer is generally short. The prayer is followed by khutba. After visiting the mosque, the festivities begin by visiting the relatives, neighbors and friend’s home.