The Big Feast

leprechaun1188 · 2010-11-13T14:12:59+01:00

Explore the significance of Eid al-Adha in Cairo, its history, traditions, and how locals celebrate this sacred festival with family and generosity.

leprechaun1188 Contributor

Member since 11 July 2010

leprechaun1188Contributor13 November 2010 12:12:59

105

November marks the month in 2010 when Muslims around the world will celebrate the feast of the Eid al-Adha. Also known as the 聯Greater Eid,聰 the Eid al-Adha is a festival unlike any other.

Set to fall around November 16 in 2010, the history of the Eid al-Adha, or the 聯Festival of Sacrifice,聰 is one riddled with religious practices, time spent with your family, and gratitude for the life and blessings around you.

However, many foreigners that are living in Egypt are unaware of what exactly makes this feast so special, and why it is earmarked as such an important religious festival for Muslims around the world.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar. The Dhu al-Hijjah in itself is a sacred month in Islam; it is the 12th month in the Islamic lunar calendar, and coincides with the time during which Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. As this pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, the importance of this practice should not be underestimated. The pilgrimage relates closely to the Eid al-Adha, as both are expressions of an individual聮s devotion and faith in Allah, or God.

The story of the Prophet Abraham forms the backbone of the Eid al-Adha festival. Charged by God to kill his only son Ishmael as a testament of his faith in God, the Prophet Abraham set about to carry out the task set before him. During preparations to carry out God聮s will, Satan appeared to the Prophet Abraham and his wife, Hagar, and son Ishmael. To drive away Satan, Ishmael and Hagar threw stones. To this day, Muslims will throw stones during the Hajj to represent the rejection of Satan.

When the Prophet Abraham was about to kill his only son to prove his faith in his Lord, Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice a ram instead. Abraham had proven that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God, and it is this sacrifice that Muslim聮s commemorate during the Eid al-Adha.

To this day, Muslims around the world will sacrifice animals during the Great Feast to commemorate Abraham聮s trials and faith. However, the animals are not sacrificed in a haphazard way. Muslims are required to speak the name of God before slaughtering any animal, to remind them of the sanctity of life.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow God聮s commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. It is a recognition of the fact that all blessings come from God, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

Along with sacrificing meat, Muslims will attend prayers on the first day of the Great Feast. In addition, and in Egypt in particular, Muslims will dip their hands in the blood from the slaughtered animals and put their hand prints on cars, buildings, homes, front doors, and a number of other places. This is a form of protection against any evil spirits and the evil eye; many new buildings throughout Egypt will bear these handprints.

So during this special and holy time of the year, remember what the real history of the Eid al-Adha is.

Remember the sanctity of life, and the importance of humbleness and generosity. It will give you an additional insight into the Islamic faith, and the practices of every day people throughout Egypt!

Stumble_On Active member

Member since 27 October 2010

Stumble_OnActive member13 November 2010 13:21:01

Wow. Thanks for posting this!

suzana Active member

Member since 12 September 2010

suzanaActive member13 November 2010 16:47:45

hello leprechaun1188;

thank you so much for your caring to know and show some of our culture & relegion , have a nice eid adhha

suzana

Boby moon Active member

Member since 30 September 2010

Boby moonActive member14 November 2010 11:17:13

leprechaun1188;

Great Effort, thank you,really beneficial for anyone

leprechaun1188 Contributor

Member since 11 July 2010

leprechaun1188Contributor14 November 2010 11:18:26

105

Thanks for the comments guys I think it's important for people to understand the importance behind the holiday!

valibilic ViP

Member since 17 January 2010

valibilicViP14 November 2010 14:52:22

522

Impressive story!
I haven t known all these details.
In Christianity, sacrifice of animals is a custom, too!But one of the 10 Holy Orders of God is " not to kill!", human beings, I mean, so even not an enemy, you should forgive him, but your own son! Really, do you think that God asks someone to kill?

suzana Active member

Member since 12 September 2010

suzanaActive member14 November 2010 16:16:13

hello valibilic;

no god didn"t ask abraham to kill his son , abraham had it in a dream and for profits they take dreams as a sign from god so he told ismail what he seen and ismaiel said do whtever you want father you will find me " with god well' patient and will accept your well so god told abraham to scrifice with a "kabsh" lamp instead and ever since all muslims do the same

suzana

Shorouk Contributor

Member since 16 August 2010

ShoroukContributor14 November 2010 17:47:40

187

As i recall its a similar story in some of the other holy books also.He Abraham was willing and obedient to the lord God.

Y30 Guest

Y30Guest14 November 2010 19:07:50

Leprechaun thanks that was beautiful

suzana Active member

Member since 12 September 2010

suzanaActive member14 November 2010 19:08:26

#10

hello again shrouk;

of course you are more likely right , as if you go throuh the history & the main 3 religion " of course there"s lots of defferent religions we don"t know much about",starting from the ten commandments in judaism , guidlines of jesus christ in the holy bible and the holy quran, you will find the main objects ,targets and phelosephy are the same , people who think that there"s a big defferences are just lasy to read

valibilic ViP

Member since 17 January 2010

valibilicViP14 November 2010 19:21:39

#11

522

Thank you for the information! Now, I understand the idea, God turned Abraham from doing something wrong showing him signs!
Finally, the celebration is a pleasant moment for all people living here, we enjoy this period and we come along all Muslims wishing them, A Happy Eid!

suzana wrote:
hello valibilic;

no god didn"t ask abraham to kill his son , abraham had it in a dream and for profits they take dreams as a sign from god so he told ismail what he seen and ismaiel said do whtever you want father you will find me " with god well' patient and will accept your well so god told abraham to scrifice with a "kabsh" lamp instead and ever since all muslims do the same

suzana

Who Active member

Member since 17 April 2010

WhoActive member14 November 2010 20:12:50

#12

Hello Suzana, all

Rightly said

people who think that there"s a big defferences are just lasy to read

And that brings us to the similarities - which, in my mind, arouse interest.

Having spent some amateur time on this subject and also armed with material like Joseph Campbell's study of mythology through the ages and .. the similarities take on a life of their own.

Y30 Guest

Y30Guest14 November 2010 20:33:49

#13

Thanks for the background info to the feast.

Happy Eid to everyone!

leprechaun1188 Contributor

Member since 11 July 2010

leprechaun1188Contributor14 November 2010 21:11:55

#14

105

Who wrote:
Hello Suzana, all

Rightly said
people who think that there"s a big defferences are just lasy to read

And that brings us to the similarities - which, in my mind, arouse interest.

Having spent some amateur time on this subject and also armed with material like Joseph Campbell's study of mythology through the ages and .. the similarities take on a life of their own.

Take what is said in Zeitgeist with a grain of salt. They are typical documentary film-makers in that they will tell you three true things, to cover up the fourth false one. I encourage background research! Particularly on the part in Zeitgeist that relates to the Egyptian Sun God Ra.

El.Daly Serial member

Member since 21 May 2010

El.DalySerial member14 November 2010 23:39:40

#15

278

thanks for sharing!!

Who Active member

Member since 17 April 2010

WhoActive member15 November 2010 09:37:59

#16

leprechaun1188 wrote:
Who wrote:
Hello Suzana, all

Rightly said
people who think that there"s a big defferences are just lasy to read

And that brings us to the similarities - which, in my mind, arouse interest.

Having spent some amateur time on this subject and also armed with material like Joseph Campbell's study of mythology through the ages and .. the similarities take on a life of their own.

Take what is said in Zeitgeist with a grain of salt. They are typical documentary film-makers in that they will tell you three true things, to cover up the fourth false one. I encourage background research! Particularly on the part in Zeitgeist that relates to the Egyptian Sun God Ra.

Grain of salt? Absolutely!

Cheers to the spirit of inquiry .. hic!!

Like a smart guy use to say "Where do you get your Truth from?"

... and if you bring in stories from Hinduism and the Aztec .. the similarities abound. (just 1 reference: Krishna and Moses - both were river rafting as infants)

And re: RA .. THEY are suggesting the pyramids are 28,000 years old!! ... when then you rope in .. an alternate history (and possibly, Future??)is available for contemplation.

Have an awesome Eid!

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