New-found secular fabric on display

Kathmandu, December 9:

Muslim communities celebrated Bakr Eid, also called Eid-ul-Azha across the country with great religious fervour and piety gathering at mosques to offer Eid namaz and supreme sacrifice commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail on God’s will today.The fervour of the festival was better this time since the government has declared a public holiday and each of them celebrated the festival with their family members.

At 9:30 am, namaz was offered at mosques and sacrifice of goats and buffaloes followed at homes. Kamal Hassan, member of Madarasa Nurul Islam said sacrifice was the thrust of the festival and people offered sacrifice at homes. “Rich people sacrifice to the name of each member of the family and poor people do one to the name of the oldest member of the family.” He said it was a solemn, sacred festival which enables a person to enjoy through sacrifice and surrender, resignation and renunciation, selflessness and total submission to the will of God.

According to the Muslim belief, Allah wanted to test Ibrahim’s faith and commanded him to sacrifice his son. Ibrahim agreed to do it and he blindfolded himself before putting Ismail on the altar at the mount of Mina near Makkah. After performing the act, he saw his son standing in front of him, alive. On the altar lay a slaughtered lamb instead. This message says that neither the flesh nor blood nor any other material will reach to God in the heaven, but the love, faith and spirit of sacrifice. Among the sacrificed animal portions, first is used by the family who sacrifices, the second is given to the relatives and friends, and the third is distributed to the poor people, said Dr Shabbir Khan, chief of Pashupati Homeopathy Hospital.