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Aidil Adha

Peaceful AIDIL ADHA

Words: Mior Azhar Mior MdIsa
Photographs: Zainal Abidin Othman

Apart from Aidil Fitri, the festival most grandly celebrated by Muslims
the world over is Aidil Adha. In Malaysia, it is more commonly known as Hari Raya
Korban or Hari Raya Haji and a public holiday is observed.

Though in Malaysia the celebration of Aidil Adha is relatively solemn

compared to Aidil Fitri, by no means it is less important, for it is a day when Muslims
reaffirm their faith in God, giving thanks for the many blessings that He has
bequeathed to them.

Celebrated about two months after Aidil Fitri, on the 10th day of
Zulhijah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, Aidil Adha marks the end of the
haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks);hence the name Hari Raya Haji (festival of
the pilgrimage).

Aidil Adha is also the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’, which symbolically marks
the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail, in obedience
to Allah.

Today, this festival is celebrated in conjunction with the pilgrimages

performed by Muslims, called the Haj and to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s spirit
of Korban or sacrifice.

As in other parts of the world, the Feast of Sacrifice is celebrated for four
days in Malaysia. Interestingly, the Aidil Adha celebration is said to be more “
happening” in the East Coast states of the Peninsular Malaysia like Kelantan and
Terengganu where the population is pre-dominantly Malay-Muslims.

Like Aidil Fitri, Aidil Adha celebration in Malaysia is a joyful occasion

marking the achievement of enhanced piety. Similarly, it is also a day of
forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and
unity.

In Malaysia, the day is spent offering thanksgiving prayers and prayers

for forgiveness at the mosques early in the morning. Then, it is customary for
Muslims to visit their parents and relatives where a wide selection of traditional
Malay food is served.

The one thing that separates Aidil Adha from Aidil Fitri celebration is the
sacrificial ritual (Korban) performed only during this period.
 After Aidil Adha prayers, Muslims conduct the Korban – where livestock
of goats, sheep, cows, bulls, buffaloes or camels are slaughtered and distributed.

A Muslim can offer either a goat or sheep, or one seventh of a cow,

buffalo or camel as Korban, where seven people can agree to offer a cow, buffalo or
camel at a time. Impaired animals cannot be slaughtered for Korban religious rite,
including animals that are blind or crippled.

This ritual is often held at the mosque’s compound where festive mood
prevails. Tourist may walk into any of these mosques compound to witness the
activities.

Though not a compulsory religious duty, it is considered an obligation for

those who can afford. The meat is distributed to neighbours, friends and most
importantly to the poor and needy while keeping a portion (usually one
third) for their family.

The story behind Aidil Adha Every year millions of Muslims makethe
journey to the Holy Land of Makkah in Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj
where pilgrims will perform certain religious rituals and prayers.

Performing the Haj is one of the central religious duties of Muslims that
is enshrined in the Quran. According to the fifth tenet of Islam, Muslims who are
financially and physicall able are required to perform a pilgrimage to the holy city
of Makkah at least once in their lifetime.

Upon completion of the haj, the men earn the title of “haji and the
women, “hajjah”. Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple white garments,
which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before
God.

The pilgrimage is also inspired by the earlier example of obedience to

God set by the Prophet Ibrahim. After the completion of the Haj, the pilgrims would
perform the Korban’ or sacrifice.

This act is in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahims willingness to sacrifice

his elder son, Prophet Ismail, when God commanded him to do so as a test of his
commitment to his faith. God appeared in a dream to Prophet Ibrahim and told him
to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail.

Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail then set off to Mina to perform the
act. On their way, the devil attempted to persuade Prophet Ibrahim to disobey God
and not to sacrifice his beloved son. But Prophet Ibrahim stayed true to God, and
drove the devil away. As Prophet Ibrahim prepared to kill his son, God stopped him
and replaced his son with a lamb instead.