Eid al-Adha

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said,
“You are supposed to fast with people, and celebrate the `Eid with them, and perform sacrifice with the people.”

“Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.” (Qur’an 16:120-121)

And “We made him (Abraham) pure in this world and in the hereafter; he is most surely among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I submit myself to the Lord of the Worlds.’” (Qur’an 2:130-131)

I can't help but be in wonderment and awe of the faith of Abraham - I mean how many of us can really truly honestly say that we could have gone through the same ordeal as he did and come away with a stronger faith?
Just as in the month of Ramadan, Eid al-Adha makes me think of all the less fortunate in the world, those who are suffering, those with no food or shelter - these times I am so grateful to God. I love the idea of distributing the food three ways; one portion to the poor, the second portion to your family and the last portion stays within your close family. What better way to celebrate the sacrifice made by Abraham and an excellent reminder of the plight of the poor.

“It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:37)

I hope and pray that all of us are always reminded of how lucky and blessed we are to be able to celebrate this festival and that we never lose sight of those who are in the greatest of need!