Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev –APA. “Every Muslim who can afford to do, sacrifices their best domestic animals (usually sheep, but also camels, cows, and goats) on the day of Gurban Bayrami (Festival of Sacrifice), but pilgrims conducting Hajj are certain to do sacrifice in Mecca”, chief of the Education and Science Department of the Caucasian Muslims Office Haji Miraziz Seyidzadeh told APA. Eid-al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated in commemoration of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismayil in Mina Mountain as an act of his love and obedience to Allah. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, the knife didn’t cut and Allah instead provided a lamb as the sacrifice. This is why today all over the world Muslims who have the means to, sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), as a reminder of Ibrahim’s obedience to God.
Seyidzadeh said the Festival of Sacrifice was one of the greatest holidays of Islam. The festivities begin 70 days after the end of Holy Ramadan and last for three days. “The meat of sacrificed animals is divided into three shares, one share for the poor, one share for the relatives and neighbors, and the last to keep to oneself. A large portion of the meat must be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid-al-Adha. The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished person is left without sacrificial food during these days”, said Seydizadeh.
The Caucasian Muslims Office told APA the Ismayil’s sacrifice can be done on one of the three days of the festivities.
This year Azerbaijan celebrates Gurban Bayrami on December 8-10. The pilgrims will do sacrifice on December 8 in Mecca. The Azerbaijani mosques will conduct Holiday Namaz (Prayer) on December 8 at about 09.00.