‘Īdul-Aḍḥā - Dhul-Hijjah 2 A.H.

With reference to ‘Īdul-Fiṭr, the philosophy of Islāmic festivals has already been discussed. In this very year, during the month of Dhul-Hijjah, the second Islāmic festival, i.e., ‘Īdul-Aḍḥā was ordained, which is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah throughout the Islāmic world.1 On this ‘Īd, in addition to Ṣalāt, which is the true ‘Īd of a true Muslim, it is obligatory upon every such Muslim who possesses the means, to sacrifice a four-legged animal and distribute its meat amongst his kith and kin, friends, neighbours, etc., and to partake of it himself as well. As such, on the day of ‘Īdul-Aḍḥā, and for two days thereafter as well, hundreds of thousands, rather, millions of animals are slaughtered for the sake of Allāh throughout the entire Islāmic world. In this manner, by way of practice, remembrance of the magnificent sacrifice made by Ḥaḍrat Abraham(as), Ḥaḍrat Ishmael(as) and Ḥaḍrat Hagar(as) - the greatest example of which was the life of the Holy Prophet(sa) - is kept alive; and each and every Muslim is exhorted that he too should be prepared to sacrifice his life, wealth, and all of his possessions in the way of his Master and Lord. Just as in the case of ‘Īdul-Fiṭr, this ‘Īd is also celebrated at the completion of a grand Islāmic worship, and that worship is the Ḥajj,2 which shall, God-willing, be mentioned at its appropriate place ahead.