Spring Break
Muslims on campus celebrate Eid-al-Adha
Saba Naseem
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: Lifestyles
Today, Muslims across campus celebrate the holiday Eid-al-Adha, literally translated as the "Feast of Sacrifice." Eid-al-Adha is celebrated in memory of the Prophet Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
"When celebrating Eid al-Adha, it is important to remember the life of Abraham because he is a big part of the Islamic religion," said Hameed Naseem, UA professor of electrical engineering. "Many verses in the Holy Quran refer to his good deeds, his unwavering belief and his submission to God. He was given many tests during his life and passed all of them with flying colors, for which God promised him great success and true followers. Abraham prayed for a great prophet to be born in his progeny and his prayers were fulfilled through the Prophet Muhammad."
According to Islam religion, Abraham was having a recurring dream that he was sacrificing his son Ishmael. When Ishmael was older, Abraham told him about the dream and Ishmael responded by saying, "Do what Allah has commanded you, and you shall find me absolutely submissive to Allah."
"This was a test for himself, his son, and his wife," Naseem said. "However, at the moment Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, Allah intervened. Allah had not allowed human sacrifice before and at this point he prohibited it for good. Allah spoke to Abraham and said, 'You had, in fact, fulfilled the command in the dream already.'"
Muslims around the world sacrifice an animal on this day, such as a sheep, goat, or camel. Where it is not possible to do this, some families request their brothers and sisters of the East, where Eid is celebrated by most, to make a sacrifice for them.
"We sacrifice an animal in memory of the sacrifice Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael had made of their life," Naseem said. 'This expresses our willingness to sacrifice everything we have in order to please God and serve humanity."
The meat from the sacrifice is distributed among others. One-third is for the family, one-third is for friends and one-third is given to the poor.
"When celebrating Eid al-Adha, it is important to remember the life of Abraham because he is a big part of the Islamic religion," said Hameed Naseem, UA professor of electrical engineering. "Many verses in the Holy Quran refer to his good deeds, his unwavering belief and his submission to God. He was given many tests during his life and passed all of them with flying colors, for which God promised him great success and true followers. Abraham prayed for a great prophet to be born in his progeny and his prayers were fulfilled through the Prophet Muhammad."
According to Islam religion, Abraham was having a recurring dream that he was sacrificing his son Ishmael. When Ishmael was older, Abraham told him about the dream and Ishmael responded by saying, "Do what Allah has commanded you, and you shall find me absolutely submissive to Allah."
"This was a test for himself, his son, and his wife," Naseem said. "However, at the moment Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, Allah intervened. Allah had not allowed human sacrifice before and at this point he prohibited it for good. Allah spoke to Abraham and said, 'You had, in fact, fulfilled the command in the dream already.'"
Muslims around the world sacrifice an animal on this day, such as a sheep, goat, or camel. Where it is not possible to do this, some families request their brothers and sisters of the East, where Eid is celebrated by most, to make a sacrifice for them.
"We sacrifice an animal in memory of the sacrifice Prophet Abraham and Prophet Ishmael had made of their life," Naseem said. 'This expresses our willingness to sacrifice everything we have in order to please God and serve humanity."
The meat from the sacrifice is distributed among others. One-third is for the family, one-third is for friends and one-third is given to the poor.
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