Religion

Back To   Index Page

Muslims offer Eid-ul-Adha prayers

      Kalyan (Mumbai)/New Delhi/Srinagar: Muslims all over India celebrated Eid-ul-Adha on Tuesday that marks the end of pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Popularly known as Baqr-e-Eid, the festival is celebrated on the tenth day of Zil-Haji, the last month of the year according to the Islamic calendar. Muslims in Kalyan city of Maharashtra gathered at mosques early in the morning and offered prayers. "We have celebrated it peacefully. Though every year, it is done the same way just that the sacrifice made is part of the celebration of the festival," said Javed Ahmed, a devotee. Meanwhile, Muslims in New Delhi thronged Jama Masjid to offer prayers. The festival was celebrated at low key at Batla house in the capital where the Muslim youths said the incident in Mumbai had a big impact on them. "This time, we are not celebrating. What has happened in Mumbai has affected entire county as a whole. We are no different from people living in India," said Emamul Rehman, a resident. The devotees said they prayed for the victims of the Mumbai attack. "We are observing the day with pain as this incident was a big incident. We are distressed and so cannot celebrate this occasion with a happy heart," said Zehar Rehman, another resident. Muslims in Srinagar gathered at various mosques in the city and prayed for better relations between India and Pakistan besides peace in the valley. "We have prayed for better relations between the two countries, and also that peace and unity prevails in Kashmir," said Waseem, a devotee. Aijaz Ahmed, another devotee added, "Today people have braved bad weather to offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha." According to the Holy Quran, God appeared in Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham's dream and asked him to sacrifice something that was most dear to him. Prophet Ibrahim decided to sacrifice his own son, Ismail. However, when he put a knife on Ismail's throat, God replaced his son with a goat through a miracle. For Muslims, this is a time to offer the perfect goat, as much as their pocket can afford to buy, to the Prophet. The festival seeks to convey that sacrifice is supreme.
-Dec 9, 2008