Saturday December 30, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

Every now and then I use this space to explain something not found in the news, but essential in understanding Islam and the Middle East.

Around the world for the next four days Islam will celebrate the festival of Eid al Adha, literally translated it means the Feast of the Sacrifice.
The holiday is also known as Eid al Khurban, the Festival of the Sacrifice.

The holiday takes place the 10th -13th of the Islamic month of Hajji.
Hajj means pilgrimage and this feast marks the end of the pilgrimage.

The essence of the holiday is the story of Abraham - known in the Koran as Ibrahim, and Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to Allah.
It is an exact mirror of Genesis 22 with Ishmael replacing Isaac.

During these 4 days Muslims are encouraged to sacrifice an animal and share the meat with fellow Muslims. Family members and friends are visited. No Muslim, especially the poor, is to go without sacrificial meat during this holiday.
While sacrificing the animal Allah's name and a supplication are recited.

Eid al Adha symbolizes the great faith Ibrahim had in Allah and the covenant that Allah made with Ibrahim and Ishmael.
The story resonates.