Another name for this day is Eid-ul-zuha. It’s celebrated on the 10th of the month Zilhaj, of Islamic calendar. It’s also called Bakra eid, as according to Muslim tradition, every muslim who is earning beyond a certain limit has to slaughter a goat (bakra), cow, sheep or any other big halal animal and distribute it into three parts. He keeps one part, one part goes to his relatives and the last goes to the poor and needy.
Eid-ul-zuha marks the event of Prophet Ibrahim P.B.U.H when he was ready enough to sacrifice his child for the sake of God. Traditionally, the inhabitants of Mecca used to perform pilgrimage or Hajj during the Zilhaj until the 10th of the month. That’s when the famous Eid’s cermon and dua or prayer is held. Muslims from all around the world go to Mecca to perform pilgrimage.
People who are not in Mecca perform different rituals. They gather in the mosque for Eid prayers in the morning and then go back and sacrifice their chosen animals.
Traditionally the person who is doing the sacrifice touches the knife and the animal and either him or someone on his behalf sacrifices the animal. The animal has to be completely healthy and free of disease so that it fits best for human consumption. The butcher says “God is great” (Allah-u-akbar) three times and sacrifices the animal by cutting its windpipe. Despite the fact that sacrifice is important, it’s not mandatory on people who cannot afford it.
Muslims get together later in the day to enjoy feast and engage in social interactions for the whole day. So Eid has proved to be a very powerful vehicle of communicating a good will within the community. Moreover it reminds Muslims to celebrate but at the same time do not forget people who couldn’t afford to perform sacrifice. People donate sheep, or goat skins to such needy people, who can sell them and earn money that way.
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