Eid – Ul-Adha Transcript
Nadia: Every year, Muslims like me celebrate the festival of Eid-ul Adha, which means the Festival of Sacrifice. My name is Nadia and Eid-ul Adha brings a special kind of energy into my home. It's a time for reflection, community, family and food. Eid-ul Adha begins on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, which is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Back home in Bangladesh, my family get four days off for a proper celebration. But here in the UK, we squeeze the joy into one packed day. Around this time, Muslims from all over the world are on Hajj, which is the pilgrimage to the city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. I haven't been yet, but it's something I dream of doing one day, insh'Allah. Eid ul-Adha takes place during the Hajj, and even though we're not there in Mecca, we still feel deeply connected to it. So we all celebrate together wherever we are. Eid ul-Adha is also when we remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail. Hajar held her baby close and rocked him gently. They were lost and alone in the scorching desert. Shh Ismail. Don't worry. I'll find us some water. She laid Ismail down on the sand and ran up a nearby hill to search the horizon. But there was no one to be seen. No glint of water, no vegetation, nothing. Hajar ran back down into the valley and up the other side to look in the opposite direction. Still nothing. Getting increasingly desperate. Hajar ran seven times between the two hills, looking for someone, anyone to help. Ismail began to cry and Hajar slumped down beside him. Please help us, Allah. Please show us mercy. Help! And Allah heard her prayer. Suddenly, crystal clear water gushed out of the ground and pulled around them. Hajar cupped her hands and gulped it down. Delicious. She dripped some water into Ismail's mouth, then heaped sand in a circle around the spring to create a shallow well. Laughing and shouting, Zam, Zam! Stop, stop! Later that day, some nomads were crossing the desert. One of them pointed at the sky. Look, birds circling ahead. They gazed up in amazement. There must be water nearby. But they knew of no oasis in this area. The nomads rode up the valley until they found a woman and a baby beside a well, where they'd never been one before. Hajar's husband was the Prophet Ibrahim. After some time, he found his wife and child living at the center of a small community that had quickly grown up around the Zam Zam well. It was the beginning of the city of Makkah. As soon as Ismail was old enough. Ibrahim took him out to help look after their sheep. Ismail was the most precious thing in Ibrahim's life, and he wanted to spend as much time with his son as possible. One night, Ibrahim had a dream. He saw himself sacrificing Ismail and knew it was a message from Allah. Ibrahim was distraught. Human sacrifice was common among the idol worshippers, but Allah had never demanded a life before. Even so, Ibrahim knew he couldn't disobey Allah and went to speak to Ismail. My dear son, I saw a dream that I must sacrifice you. Then you must do as Allah commands, said Ismail. So with heavy hearts, Ibrahim and Ismail walked out into the desert towards a place called Mina, where the sacrifice was to happen. Shaitan shimmered out of the heat haze in front of them. Don't do it, Ibrahim. Surely your son is more important to you than Allah. Ibrahim and Ismail were tempted to turn back, but they threw stones at the devil until he vanished. When they were halfway to Mina, Shaitan appeared again. Don't do it, Ibrahim. Think of Hajar. How must she be feeling? Surely your wife is more important to you than Allah. As before, they threw stones and Shaitan disappeared, only to reappear when they were nearly at Mina. Don't do it, Ismail. If your father really loved you, he would disobey Allah. But once more, Ibrahim and Ismail hurled stones at the apparition until he had gone. At last they arrived at the place of sacrifice. Ismail lay down, and Ibrahim raised his knife, ready to strike. Stop! Ibrahim, said the voice of Allah. You have passed the test. Ibrahim lowered the knife. Ismail got to his feet and they embraced, crying with relief and joy. When they parted, they saw a ram standing exactly where Ismail had been lying. They sacrificed the ram to Allah, cooked it, and then shared the meal with their family, their friends and the poor people of Makkah. Ibrahim had learned that he should always trust and obey Allah and to show his devotion, he built a cube shaped house of worship near to Hajar as well, where he could pray. It became known as the Ka'ba, which means cube, and for all Muslims it is the holiest place on earth. Because the Islamic calendar is shorter than the January to December one that most people use the date of Eid-ul Adha changes. Every year it's about ten days earlier, so we have to plan ahead. We usually buy new clothes to wear and getting ready on Eid morning is a whole ritual in itself. I always pick out a special outfit. Sometimes I go traditional and other times a bit more glam. I tend to stay at home and get a big meal ready for my family. But it's traditional to start the day by going to Eid prayers at the mosque or masjid, which is what we call our place of worship. So that's where my husband and brothers have gone. Everyone is encouraged to be there, and it's beautiful to see the whole community coming together, dressed in their best, greeting each other like one big family.
Interviewee 1: First step, of course of Eid is always getting the prayer done in the morning. That's what makes Eid, Eid.
Interviewee 2 : It starts with the morning prayer. Just always remembering God at the beginning of the day. Allah in our religion, in our faith.
Nadia: The story of Prophet Ibrahim, Hajar and Ismail is remembered in all sorts of ways. While people are on Hajj, they will run seven times between two hills and drink from the Zam Zam well, just like Hajar did. They will visit the Ka'ba that was originally built by Ibrahim, and they throw stones at three pillars, just like Ibrahim and Ismail threw at Shaitan to make him go away. And all Muslims, wherever they are, will make a sacrifice. In Muslim countries, families often keep an animal to sacrifice on the day. But in the UK, most of us give money instead so that a sacrifice can be made on our behalf. However it's done, the meat will be cooked and shared with the family and traditionally with the poor. These days we often donate to charities who do this work on a wider scale. For me, it's all about making a big meal, gathering everyone and making sure no one leaves hungry.
Interviewee 3 : We get a celebration to enjoy each other, enjoy food, good food. That's where the sacrifice comes from. People who are out in Makkah who are doing Hajj, they will also be having a very special day, which is why we celebrate here on the same day.
Interviewee 2: This Eid ul-Adha about the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Abraham, and the sacrifice he made for the sake of God and a special day for us, because we appreciate the sacrifices that we also have to make for God as well, and take that into account. And also, it's a nice blessed day to spend time with our family and friends and eat good food.
Interviewee 1 So me personally, myself, I'm not going to sacrifice a sheep. However, I have put money aside towards being used to sacrifice a sheep, and once that sheep has been sacrificed, it's going to be donated into poor areas where they don't have facilities to eat.
Interviewee 2 : Sometimes it's a bit difficult in this country, but what we do is our family back in Pakistan who are able to give to the more poor people there, they do it on our behalf and they distribute that to all the poor people in the area. And everyone that needs some food, which is another edition of Eid ul-Adha, which is feeding those who are less fortunate around us.
Interviewee 4: At home, actually. My family is going to be back home. So they're going to sacrifice a bull or cow for me because we've got a lot of family members. So sheep is not going to be enough. So my thinking will do for a cow or bull or something.
Nadia: We say Eid Mubarak to each other, which means blessed festival or happy festival. And the kids look forward to their Eidi's. That's money or presents. I still remember when I was a child, my favourite part was counting up all the notes from my uncles and aunties.
Interviewees: Eid Mubrak!
Interviewee 5: My kids usually get to money and stuff. Unfortunately, I fell out of that category just a couple of years ago, so I don't get any money anymore. But the money and presents for the kids.
Interviewee 3: Eid is celebrated a number of different ways. Some people go like to enjoy it as a community. There's often fares, fun fares. People get together in a large community, and then there's also the family Eid, which is what we tend to do. We go around to multiple houses, eat multiple different foods. We eat way too much, which is why the loose fitting clothing actually really helps.
Interviewee 1 : My favourite part to eat, first of all, is the the final part where you get to spend time with family. Enjoy the meal at the end of the day.
Interviewee 6: My favourite thing about Eid is chilling with my family and my friends. It's all about like having fun and everything. It's about celebrating what Prophet Abraham did for us and everything, just thinking about our religion and everything. That's why I think the best part about Eid.
Interviewee 2 : I agree as well about the family aspect, spending time with family and friends, but also for me, it's got to be the food. That's definitely, uh. So we have certain Eid foods that we only get on Eid.
Interviewee 7: What I like best about Eid is, I think it's a time where we remember the sacrifice of others. You remember the poor people. And also we get together as family. Everyone usually takes the day off. So it's a nice time to catch up with everyone and enjoy ourselves. And definitely the best thing is the food.
Nadia: But more than anything, Eid is a reminder. Prophet Ibrahim was ready to give up what he loved most. To obey Allah and Eid Ul-Adha reminds us that sometimes we have to make sacrifices too, for our faith, for our loved ones, and for those in need. I teach my daughter that even giving a little time, food, or kindness can mean the world to someone else.
Interviewees: Eid Muburak!
