When is Your `Eid Al-Adha?

Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the story shared amongst the monotheistic religions when, in a dream, God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. This year, the Indonesian government has declared that the Eid al-Adha will fall on the 24 of September, after conducting the customary hisbat meeting. We pray to Allah to bless us on this auspicious occasion and bestow upon all Muslims and Arabs stability, peace, and prosperity.

Even as the local authorities are keeping a strict vigil so that the listed animals are not brought for slaughter during Eid al Adha, they have failed to impose a curb on the passion and fervor normally associated with one of the two biggest festivals of the Muslims.

Lesser Eid – is determined by the confirmed sighting of the new moon.

The date for Eid al-Adha comes earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar because Islam uses a shorter lunar calendar.

European Union ambassador to Khartoum, Thomas Ulicny has sent a congratulatory message to the Sudanese people on the occasion of Hajj (pilgrimage) and Eid al-Adha, saying “I extend my greetings and congratulations to all those who are performing Hajj and celebrating Eid al-Adha”.

The festival coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca which memorializes the event. Pilgrims are expected to wear special white clothes (also called ihram) and carry out certain rituals. The risk is said to be “low”, but elderly people, those with chronic diseases and immunodeficiency, pregnant women and children are advised to postpone their trip as a precautionary measure.

Father-of-two Shokhat Hussain said it was wonderful to see Eid being celebrated over just the one day this year.

“According to an announcement from the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, there are now 1,230,000 cattle available for purchase for sacrificial purposes, and an additional 3,830,000 sheep and goats”. But sellers attributed the higher prices of the sacrificial animals to the less imports from neighboring India. They can not be ill, blind, visibly lame and emaciated and minimum age restrictions apply. “Eid is the busiest time of the year for me”.

The sacrifice takes place in slaughter houses.