Eid Mubarak

Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest Muslim festival after Eid-ul-Fitr, will be celebrated on Sunday, July 10. Like every year, Bangladesh is taking final preparations for the Eid celebration. The festival falls on the 10th day in the month of Zilhaj in the Hijri calendar. Eid-ul-Azha is one of the rituals of the Holy Hajj, which is performed on the 8th, 9th and 10th of Zilhaj.

Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr, this Eid stands out with the great importance it attaches to the virtue of sacrifice, the one that marks the dedication of one’s dearest object to Allah. The sacrifice of animals in the name of God has been in practice since the times of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). It was his readiness to sacrifice his favourite son Hazrat Ismail (AS), later replaced by a lamb -- on divine intervention, which prompted the tradition of ‘Qurbani’, the ritual of slaughtering ‘halal’ animals on Eid day. The festive day also celebrates the willingness to be close to Allah.

In recent years, with sacrificial cattle-rearing turning into a popular and profitable venture in villages, the markets remain largely free of the cows smuggled from across the border. Farming sacrificial cattle has turned so lucrative that numerous small- and large-scale fattening operations have been set up in the last couple of years, drawing huge investments and eventually meeting the demand during Eid-ul-Azha.

However, unscrupulous businesses wait in the wings. Local traders have still to brace for the entry of smuggled cows into Eid cattle markets. However, the cattle farmers’ rearing of robust sacrificial animals with the help of the agricultural department has changed the age-old market scenario. But the scourge of cow-fattening with harmful chemicals, thus making the animals hazardous to consumers, continues to loom. Wild price fluctuations of sacrificial animals, orchestrated by the so-called syndicates, have yet to be coped with.

To Muslims, Eid-ul-Azha is associated with religious as well as social significance. Apart from being an obligatory religious responsibility, Eid-ul-Azha is seen to have a spiritual merit that provides Muslims with an opportunity for self-renewal. In Muslim countries, Eid-ul-Azha is a public holiday that involves animal sacrifice, remembrance, prayers and family gatherings. Muslims exchange a common greeting named Eid Mubarak means “blessed celebration”. The day begins with morning prayers, followed by visits to family and friends and the exchange of food and gifts.

Muslims are obliged to share food and money with the poor so that they can take part in the celebrations. This is also a day on which Muslims remember the deceased, visit the sick, see relatives and friends, overlook grudges, help the needy and show kindness and generosity to all. The meat from the sacrifice of Eid-ul-Azha is mostly given away to others and it is divided among those who honestly deserve the share of it rather than consuming all among ourselves. Eid-ul-Azha is a time for Muslims to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of something living to Allah. The sacrifice of an animal for the sake of Allah, the development of a sacrificial attitude amidst the Muslims through giving up their bestiality in mind is also attained.

For the last two years, Muslims across the globe have been celebrating their Eid festivities with many restrictions. Happiness, socialization and spontaneity of Eid are hardly found during the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Enduring the new variants of coronavirus, spikes in infections and deaths, depleting savings, job losses have caused huge frustration and sufferings in people. The inflationary pressures have added to the woes of the common people.

Many people are killed every year in road and waterway accidents, before and after Eid. Reckless driving of buses and carrying excess passengers in river vessels are two main reasons of these accidents. The authorities must control such matters. In essence, Eid-ul-Azha highlights the virtues of sacrifice and humility. In the strife-torn world, where petty selfishness robs man of his core purpose of existence, the festival appears as a reminder --- of the universality of submission and sharing. Eid Mubarak to our readers, patrons and advertisers.