MUSLIM FEAST OF SACRIFICE. Muslims gather at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice on Tuesday (August 21, 2018). (PNA photo by Ferdinand G. Patinio)
MANILA -- Muslims worldwide start the celebration of Eid al-Adha on Tuesday, August 21. It is the most important festival in the Islamic calendar as Muslims gather to feast on halal dishes, exchange gifts and mingle with family and friends.
“Sa araw na ito, ang mga Muslim ay kailangan maligo, maging malinis, magsuot ng kanilang pinakamagandang mga damit at magsuot ng pabango bago pumunta doon sa lugar na aming pagdarasalan (On this day, Muslims need to take a bath, be clean, wear their best clothes and wear perfume before they go to our place of prayer),” International Grand Mufti Al-Sheikh Abdel Jabbar Macarimbor told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.
Also called the “Feast of Sacrifice”, the event is considered holier than the Eid al-Fitr -- the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast”, Macarimbor said.
“Ito po ay sa pag-alala po ng nangyari kay Propetang Abraham kung saan binigyan siya ni Allah ng tupa na pwede katayin at ialay kapalit ng kanyang anak (This is in remembrance of what happened to Prophet Abraham who was given by Allah a lamb he can kill and offer as sacrifice instead of his child),” he added.
Macarimbor explained the celebration of Eid al-Adha in the country starts at around 6:30 in the morning with a prayer before they proceed to the feast proper.
“Pagkatapos ng pagdarasal, mag-sesermon ang iman ng kalahati hanggang sa isang oras, tapos susunod po ang pagkakatay ng hayop na kambing o baka (After the prayer, there will be a sermon by the imam for half an hour to an hour, then it will be followed by the butchering of sacrificial animal like goat or cow),” he said.
According to Muslim tradition, parents should offer a goat if their child is a girl, and two goats if their child is a boy. But, they can choose to offer a cow if they are well-off.
Once the butchered goat or cow has been offered, it will be distributed to everyone for cooking.
“Puwede po ibigay sa kung sino man, kagaya po ako binigyan ko lahat ng kakilala kong Muslim pati ang mga kapitbahay kong hindi Muslim binigyan ko ng karneng baka (You can share it with anyone, like me I shared to all the Muslims I know and to my non-Muslim neighbors the beef given to me),” he said.
Macarimbor added the entire celebration will last for three days and it is characterized by prayer, gift-giving and visitations amongst families and friends.
Since this is an important day of celebration to all Muslims, Macarimbor said Eid al-Adha is often celebrated in quadrangles or open spaces so women and children can join.
“Kaugalian ng mga Muslim na ilabas ang kaganapang ito sa mga mosque, para ang lahat ng Muslim makadalo at magdasal dahil ang mga babaeng bagong panganak at may buwanang dalaw ay bawal pumasok sa mga mosque (It is a Muslim tradition to perform this event outside the mosque so all Muslims can attend and pray because women who just gave birth and with monthly period can’t enter the mosque),” he said.
Being the country’s International Grand Mufti, Macarimbor reminded all Filipino Muslims about the importance of the Eid al-Adha prayer which is part of the commandments of Prophet Muhammad.
“Kelangan natin lumaban at magdasal for the sake of our mighty Allah, magkaisa tayong mga Muslim dahil tayo po ay nilikha ng Maykapal sa mundong ito para tayo ay sumama sa kanya sa paggawa ng kabutihan sa ating kapwa, iwasan ang krimen at ang masama dahil tayo ay may pupuntahan pang kabilang buhay (We need to fight and pray for the sake of our mighty Allah, we Muslims must unite because the Almighty created us in this world to join him in doing good to our fellowmen because, avoid crime and evil because we’ll still go to after life),” he said. (PNA)
