Sunday January 23, 2005

I've Been Thinking:

There has been a lull in Palestinian violence against Israelis during the past few days.

Some attribute it to the actions of the new prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas.

This may indeed be true but there is another important factor to consider.

Today ends the four-day Muslim holiday Id al Adha that translates into English as the festival of the sacrifice. It is sometimes called the festival and sometimes called the festival of the sheep.

There are only two ids or festivals on this religious level in Islam, the other is id al fitr and it marks the end of the month long Ramadan fast.

Id al Adha takes place on the 10th day of the last and 12th Muslim month, dhu'l hijja. It commemorates the binding of Ishmael, who, according to the Koran was brought by Abraham as a sacrifice to God or Allah and was spared at the last minute when a sheep appeared and was offered instead. It also marks the time of the pilgrimage, the haj.

To commemorate Id al Adha Muslims make pilgrimage to Mecca and world over, they offer sacrifices and eat sheep, divided between family, friends and the needy.

If the lull in violence continues, we will know that credit belongs to the strong arm of justice rather than the far reach of religion.