Eid El Kabir: What you need to know about the Muslim festival

Eid El Kabir is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibraham (aka Abraham in Christian religion) to follow ALLAH'S command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. 

The Prophet Ibraham had been so commanded by ALLAH in the form of a vision, to sacrifice Ishmael. But when Abraham's willingness to obey was evident, ALLAH stopped him from proceeding with it, and provided a ram for the sacrifice, instead of Ishmael. 

Prophet Ibrahim therefore killed the ram instead of his son Ishmael. 

During the feast, which is also known as Eid Al Adha, Muslims re-enact Ibraham's obedience by sacrificing a cow or a ram, and feasting on the meat. 

The central themes of the feast are obedience and sacrifice. It lasts for three days, and concludes the pilgrimage to Mecca. 

The festival falls on the 10th day of zulhijjah—the 12th and final month of the Islamic Calendar. In Islamic faith, one of the most blessed periods (beside the well-known last 10 Nights of Ramadan), are the first 10 days of zulhijjah.

Virtues of first 10days of Zulhijjah

Q89:1-2 says, "ALLAH makes an oath by them; By the dawn. And by the ten Nights".

A prophetic Hadith also states:

"There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to ALLAH than these 10 days in which Good deeds are rewarded in manifold" (Sunan ibn Majah). This is the first virtue of zulhijjah. 

Another virtue was that the religion of Islam was perfected on the 9th day of zulhijjah. 

"This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favours for you and have chosen for you, Islam as a religion." (Q5:3).

The most beloved devotions during these sacred days are the recitation of zikhr (Remembrance)" ALLAH akba, ALLAH akbar, ALLAH akbar, La'ilaha illallahu ALLAHU akbar, walillahil Hamdu." These words not only remind of and strengthen our relationship with the Lord, but also connect us in a special way to Prophet Ibraham AS.

Ritual sacrifice of livestock on the 10th day (called Eid el Kabir) is also very important. And by distributing the sacrificed meat to the poor and the needy, it allows the entire community to celebrate the festivity together. 

This sacrificial killing of live stock originated from Prophet Ibrahim, when God ordered him to slaughter his beloved son Ishmael.

Q37: 102-110 states, "Oh my son! I see in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice. Now see what is thy view! (The son) said "O father! Do as thou art Commanded: thou will find me, if ALLAH so wills one with patience and constancy. And we ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice and we left his blessings for him among generations to come. Peace and salutations to Ibrahim."

SY Umar is a devout Muslim, and a civil engineer based in Lagos, Nigeria.