The Hajj and the Eid ul-Adha

On December 8th, Muslims will celebrate the Eid ul-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, which comes at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj). Each year, between two and three million Muslims from all over the world descend upon Mecca. The Hajj is an opportunity to praise and glorify God in the holiest of places, with people from every class, race, age, gender, and ethnicity. It is a stunning demonstration of Islamic beliefs and values like the oneness of God, brotherhood, and the equality of every human being. 

Since it is one of the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj is obligatory for every Muslim once in a lifetime, if able.  Its rites and rituals stem from the life of Abraham, father of all Prophets.  Muslims believe that Abraham and his eldest son, Ishmael, built the first house of God in the Arabian Desert, located now in the city of Mecca.  In this same sacred spot stands a large square structure, the Ka’bah, a symbol of the house Abraham built in the name of the one God.
 
In Mecca, the pilgrimage ends with the distribution of blessed meat to the poor. This gesture commemorates the story of when God tested Abraham, ordering him to slay his own son.  Both he and his son passed the test, willing to submit to God’s will.  As a reward, Abraham’s son’s life was spared and ransomed by a ram. 

Muslims celebrate the Eid by praying together in a mosque, donating money to the poor, or arranging to have halal meat distributed to the poor. It is a time to visit friends, family, dress up, and exchange gifts and cards. 

Quran (3:97):  “Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for humankind was at Bakkah (Makkah), a blessed place and a guidance for all. In it are manifest signs (for example), the Station of Ibrahim (Abraham). Whosoever enters it attains security. Hajj to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that humankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses...though Allah is not in need of any of His creatures.”

Many thanks to Mary Lahaj, Muslim Chaplain to Simmons College, for this brief essay.