I would like to take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to all families for the Eid-ul-Adha .. a.k.a Bakreid. The Eid-ul-adha has been celebrated today in Mauritius island on the 17th November 2010..
The ceremony consisted of doing the early morning prayer and hearing the sermon of the imam, then, most people would wish to each other at the mosque and go back home to celebrate with family. Those who have the means, sacrifice a camel, cow/buffalo/.. , sheep/goat, .. and distribute the meat. It is recommended to distribute the meat in 3 shares, 1 for the family, 1 for the friends/ neighbours, 1 for needy.
The meat distribution however does not need to be distributed equally every year, it depends on the person and the situation. The prophet Muhammad s.a.w had ordered his followers in one year to distribute/finish the meat in 3 days and he knew it would be impossible for anyone to eat his share in such a short time. That particular year their were a need for food in the town. The next year, the followers asked the prophet p.b.u.h if they needed to give away the meat same like last year. The prophet p.b.u.h said to them that they can distribute it amongst their families, friends and poor. So, it is allowed for example that if you have a wedding in your family, you can distribute a small share and keep the rest for the wedding.
Where does it come from ?
The qurbani ( slaughtering ) ceremony is a commemoration of the event that took place in the days of Ibrahim (a.s). Ibrahim a.s was old and didn't have a son. After long time, he finally got a son and he loved the son a lot since he waited a lot to get his son who was named Ismail a.s. He obtained the revelation from god in his dreams about sacrificing his son. He told his son about the order he got and the son told him "Oh dear father, do what you have been commanded and you will find me god willing to be very patient". Ismail a.s used the word "ya abadi".. which is one of the most sweetest word in the arabic language to talk to a father.
The father and son walked away from their place and at 3 times the shaitaan came to distract them from what they were going to do and each time they threw stones at the shaitaan [This is for the rite of throwing stones on jamaraat in the Hajj Pilgrimage] -
Finally, they arrived at a place where Ibrahim a.s laid the head of his son down on a rock and what about to cut his throat when God exchanged the child for a sheep.
O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the vision; surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him among the later generations. "Peace and salutation to Abraham!" Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants.
This ultimate act of sacrificing a son, has been recorded in the Quran and will be passed from generation to generation till the end of times. We are not commemorating the act of sacrificing animal to be proud of ourselves of being able to kill an animal which is tied down but the courage and patience of a father who would have sacrificed his own son. He was rewarded with the news that he would get another son named ishaaq a.s. .
In Mauritius
Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated with the cultural bryani eating in Mauritius. But, the real motives being this commemoration if were told and remembered would be the most rewarding achievement humankind would have made. We should treat our parents well because they sacrifice everything for us.
