Eid Al Adha

A few days ago Muslim pilgrims from all over the world descended on Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Three days into the Hajj, pilgrims journey to Mt. Arafat in hopes to receive revelation from God and to reflect upon their lives. On the fourth day of the Hajj, Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid Al Adha, "Festival of the Sacrifice." Even though the celebration begins, the pilgrims still have a few more days left until they return to their countries to celebrate with their families.

Seven days before the Hajj began, some of my friends here started to fast. For Muslims, fasting includes abstaining from all food, drinks (including water), and anything that enters their bodies during daylight hours. They will commonly rise early before their morning prayers to eat and eat again just shortly after the dusk call to prayer; therefore, practically only fasting lunch but going the whole day without water.

For my friends, the fast continued for ten days until the beginning of Eid Al Adha. This festival celebrates the sacrifice that God provided instead of Abraham's son. Usually, a family will sacrifice a goat or lamb in remembrance of God's provision to Abraham. Some rich families may sacrifice a bull. A third of whatever a family sacrifices will be given to the poor. The sacrifice is then eaten during the three days of the Eid celebration. Here, though, people travel en masse back to their villages to spend the holiday with their extended family. An individual may be in their village for three or four days or up to a month! It can be very difficult to get things done this time of the year because you never know if the person has come back from their village!

It is also a time for weddings. Two people I know are getting married during this time and there are a few more in our area! These aren't small weddings either, both of them are in the brides' homes and last for at least two days. Not only does it mean a party next door, it means that the music is loud enough that the whole neighborhood can hear it!