Eid al-Adha marks beginning of ten-day period honouring Eid al-Ghadir

Eid al-Qurban or Eid al-Adha is the 10th day of Dhul-Hajjah. It is one of the great Islamic holidays. On this day, Abraham took his son Ismail to the altar, and Gabriel descended on him with a ram and told Abraham to sacrifice that ram in place of Ismail. This day also marks the ten-day period commemorating Eid al-Ghadir.

According to narrations, Almighty God on this day commanded Prophet Ibrahim al-Khalil to sacrifice his son Ismail in the way of God.

The tradition of offering sacrifice on the day of Eid al-Adha in the land of Mina is meant to commemorate that event. Observing this ritual on this day is obligatory for the pilgrims who are present in the land of Mina, and it is strongly recommended for other Muslims.

In fact, the philosophy of Eid al-Adha is to slaughter lusts and bring carnal desires to the altar in the presence of Almighty God. The concept of this Eid is the return of man to the position of closeness to God, which is achieved through fighting against carnal desires, refinement, self-improvement and taking advantage of golden opportunities.

Eid al-Adha is the day of trial and test for the Honourable Ibrahim and Ismail, peace be upon them, from which they came out victorious.

Perhaps Imam Hussain’s Arafa Prayer and the immense reward of his Ziyarah on this day are hints to the fact that the Day of Arafa is a prelude to Eid al-Adha. The mention of the “Grand Slaughter” in religious concepts as a reference to the ultimate sacrifice of Imam al-Hussein reflects a great truth that stands out in the history of creation. The Almighty God had given the news of this mighty event to all the residents of heavens before the creation of Adam, and God’s angels have also delivered the news of this great event to all the prophets and saints in all ages.

The “Grand Slaughter” is the story of the slaughter of the son of the best of God’s creations at the hands of the most evil of God’s creatures. “Grand Slaughter” is the slaughter of Hussain bin Ali, peace be upon him, who, according to God’s primordial determination, satisfied the divine will in the most sensitive point of time, and sacrificed his blood to revive the religion of God.

In view of the angels, prophets and saints of God, “Grand Slaughter” is one of the most famous events in the history of creation, and it bears great significance and honor in the sight of God. Whoever appeals to this entity, his prayer will be answered and will achieve a great position in the view of God.

The religious sources have introduced several acts for the night and day of Eid al-Adha, including holding vigil overnight, Ziyarah of Imam al-Hussain, general ablution, reciting Nodba Prayer, and performing Salat of Eid al-Adha. Fasting on this day is forbidden.