21/07/2021
Eid is a special time of year. Not just for Muslims, but many people around the world are receiving the benefits of Eid.
Why? Because during Eid, there is an emphasis on charitable giving for the needy and the vulnerable. It promotes empathy, care, and concern through the act of sacrifice (Udhiya/Qurbani).
In 2021, “the UN World Food Programme’s live Hunger Map aggregates 957 million people across 93 countries who do not have enough to eat”.Eid is an opportunity to provide relief to many of these hungry communities globally.
How? Well, let’s run through a scenario.
Imagine a family living under the poverty line. It’s a pandemic, and food and water become increasingly harder to put on the table every night. Now imagine the faces of this family when they hear they will receive the donation of Qurbani from Eid. Finally, the blessed opportunity to have enough food to cook several delicious meat dishes is coming their way to satisfy their hunger—a chance to feel satiated and nourished.
During Eid ul-Adha, Muslims worldwide have the opportunity, and many are obliged to donate such a delicacy!
Story Of Eid Al- Adha
Eid al-Adha commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah SWT and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. At the very point of sacrifice, Allah SWT replaced Ismail with a ram, which was to be slaughtered in place of his son. This command from Allah SWT was a test of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid-ul-Adha means the festival of sacrifice.
Every year, Muslims sacrifice an animal, just like Prophet Ibrahim, and distribute a portion of the meat to others in the community. This act of giving sacrificed meat is called Qurbani. In Arabic, another term used is Udhiya.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said:
“A person is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour goes hungry.” (Bukhari).