Monday declared public holiday to celebrate Idd-Ul-Adha

I usually look at the calendar for the expected timing of the two major Muslim holidays well in advance, so I can plan my work schedule around them.

Speaker in messages to his Muslim counterparts on the occasion of Eid al-Adha said strengthening friendly ties among Islamic countries is the only way to bypass the current hard situation.

The government has declared Monday, September 12, a public holiday to mark Idd-Ul-Adha fête.

Eid-ul-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son Ishmael. This holiday falls right in the middle of the Hajj, or the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should perform if physically and financially able. Jews believe it was Isaac, his son with his wife Sarah. Prayers and a sermon will begin at 10 a.m.

“At the same time I am pleased to note that Islam had also played an exceptional role in building an exemplary environment of coexistence, tranquillity and multiculturalism in a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional Azerbaijani society based on mutual respect and confidence”, said the president.

“Let this celebration stand as a reminder that real change requires the sacrifice of our personal interests in favor of the common good of our citizens”.

The reason for this is the toxic anti-Muslim atmosphere of 2016, especially in light of this year’s Presidential election.

Trump claimed that he saw Muslim-Americans celebrating the attacks in New Jersey 15 years ago.

It is different from Eid al-Fitr – which is the festival that comes immediately after Ramadan.

The Embassy of the United States in Manila, meanwhile, announced that its consular offices involved in processing of “previously scheduled visa appointments” will remain open tomorrow but “all other office affiliates” of the embassy will be closed for one day in observance of the Eid’l Adha celebration. It is sad, but true nonetheless.