Eid al-Adha during the pandemic

Language: 
English
Sent On: 
Thu, 2020-07-30
Year: 
2020
Newsletter Number: 
27

Arab-West Report congratulates its Muslim readers for the Eid al-Adha, the feast that commemorates the willingness of Abraham to follow God's command to sacrifice his son. Muslims congratulate each other with beautiful wishes such as “May God almighty accept all your sacrifices and rewards you with a life that is full of cheers and successes. A heartiest Eid ul Adha Mubarak to you!”

 

                              Source: https://www.wishesmsg.com/eid-ul-adha-wishes-messages/

 

 

The feast reminds us that we are all obliged to make sacrifices to those who are most in need.

 

The feast starts on July 31 and lasts five days. Days before the feast the Hajj starts, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, where according to Muslim belief, Abraham wanted to sacrifice his son. His son was spared because God had sent a sheep instead. The pilgrimage includes a series of rituals and prayers that take 5 to 6 days to complete. In the past years, the Hajj attracted annually some two million pilgrims. Today the Saudi Government decided not to admit any pilgrim from outside Saudi Arabia and allow only 1000 people living inside Saudi Arabia to join. Those places were given on the basis of a lottery system so that the pilgrims would not only include the rich and wealthy. Not earlier this pilgrimage has been so restricted. Since this pilgrimage is a religious obligation to fulfill at least once in a lifetime for every Muslim the government created an application for a virtual pilgrimage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCv6y1kktMI

In normal circumstances, the first day of the Eid al-Adha starts by gathering at a mosque in the morning to take part in prayers. Animals are slaughtered and the meat is then donated to the poor as well as neighbors and family. Every Muslim who has the financial means should give his share to the poor.

This year the pandemic has had enormous economic repercussions on Egypt which in turn has lowered the demand for meat. The animals are usually bought in crowded markets but the fear of infection has increased online sales to those with access to the internet. People have also been turning to buy sacrifice vouchers that authorize charities to buy, slaughter, and distribute sacrificed cattle to thousands of needy people.

 

With wishes for a blessed Eid,

 

July 30, 2020

 

Cornelis Hulsman,

Editor-in-Chief Arab-West Report