Bakrid 2019: History and significance of the festival

Bakrid is one of the most significant festivals celebrated by Muslims. It falls on the 10th day of the concluding month, Zil Hajj, of the Islamic calendar. Eid ul Adha is known by many names -- Feast of Sacrifice, Festival of the Lamb, Pilgrimage Feast and Great Day.

The festival falls precisely two months after Ramadan. This is a significant festival of the Muslim community, and it marks the end of Hajj, the journey that every adult Muslim is supposed to undertake at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. On Friday, more than two million Muslims begin the annual Hajj.

Remembering Ibrahim Alaihis Salam (AS) sacrifice

It is believed that Ibrahim (AS) dreamt one night of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala (SWT) ordering him to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (AS).

Ibrahim (AS) wanted to follow Allah's (SWT) command. Ibrahim (AS) took his beloved son onto the top of Mount Arafat. He also took with him a knife and a rope. He told about the dream to his son and about what Allah (SWT) had ordered him to do. Prophet Ismail (AS), being an obedient son, immediately obliged to the wishes of Allah (SWT) and his father. Ibrahim (AS) blindfolded himself so that he did not have to witness his son suffer.

Ibrahim (AS) followed Allah's (SWT) command. When he took off the blindfold, he found the body of a dead man in front of him. Ismail (AS) was standing right next to him unharmed. He heard a voice saying, "Allah (SWT) takes care of his believers, and he need not worry."

From that time, the believers of Allah give Qurbani remembering the sacrifice of Ibrahim AS.

What is Qurbani?

Bakrid is generally celebrated for three days. Eid ul Adha festival begins with Eid Salaah and ends with Qurbani. It is the ritual wherein animals are slaughtered –sheep, lamb, goat or camel. The slaughter must be done in the Halal method, as mentioned in the Quran. The animal that is sacrificed is distributed in every Muslim household.