Come August 12, the followers of Islam are going to be gathered in prayer and celebration to mark Hari Raya Haji. Eid al-Adha or Hari Raya Haji is one of the two main festivals of Islam. But many of us might not be completely aware of its significance and the message that it sends. So, what is the story behind this festival? How do people celebrate it? Is it celebrated on the same day every year? Read on for the answers to all these questions and other interesting information about Hari Raya Haji.
Prophet Ibrahim – tracing the festive origin
Hari Raya Haji is also known as the Festival of the Sacrifice and there is a story behind this. Prophet Ibrahim is an important character in the Islamic religion. He was a righteous man and a strong believer in God. In order to test Ibrahim’s loyalty, God asked the prophet to offer his own son Ishmael as a sacrifice. Prophet Ibrahim followed God’s command and had propped his son up for the sacrifice when God intervened to tell him that he did not have to sacrifice his son. Instead, Ibrahim is said to have made another sacrifice. It is the commemoration of Ibrahim’s sacrifice which is celebrated as Hari Raya Haji.
Qurbani and Charity
It is believed that Ibrahim sacrificed a sheep in place of his son. Does that remind you of any existent ritual associated with the festival? Ever heard of the word Qurbani or Udhiyah? Even today the practice of Qurbani or sacrifice is carried out across the globe during Hari Raya Haji. Sheep, goats and cows are sacrificed accompanied by ritualistic prayers. The person who pays for the animal gets one-third of the animal’s meat. One-third goes to the family and friends of the one who pays. The remaining one-third is distributed as a charity to the poor and needy. Charity is one of the most important aspects of the Islamic religion and its importance is elevated during the period of Hari Raya Haji. It is not just restricted to the distribution of the meat of the sacrificed animal, even monetary contributions are made by believers in order to help the poor.
The Date and Month
Is Hari Raya Haji celebrated on the same date every year? Well, it is a Yes and a No! It occurs on the same date if you follow the Islamic calendar. But almost all of us follow the Gregorian calendar and thus the date of the festival keeps changing every year. It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Zulhijjah. The month is also called Dhu al-Hijjah or the month of the pilgrimage and it is the time when the Hajj pilgrimage comes to an end. Since the sighting of the festive moon and the Islamic calendar is used to determine the date of the festival, Hari Raya Haji gets shifted forward by almost 11 days every year on the Gregorian calendar.
Hari Raya Haji is less about pomp and is more centered around religious sermons, social gatherings, family visits and charity. There are special prayers on the night in which the festive moon is sighted. Hari Raya Haji emphasises the messages of sharing and trust in God. This year as the festival draws closer let us spare a thought to think about the poor and downtrodden who could use our help. Wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Haji, let the spirit of Hari Raya Haji encourage us to be better human beings!
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