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Time is running and only in a week my
Moroccan Muslim Family and friends will celebrate one of the two biggest Islamic festivals- Eid Al-Adha! The first one is called Eid Al-Fitr, the day which marks the end of Ramadan - the fasting month; the second feast is Eid Al-Adha ( Eid Al-Kebir in Moroccan Arabic, which means "A Big Eid") - Feast of the Sacrifice.
So if you are like me, non-Muslims but would like to know a bit about this Islamic holiday, here are some facts:
1. Eid Al-Adha is celebrated worldwide by
1,8 billion Muslims on the tenth day of
Dhū al-Ḥijjah - the twelveth and final month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.
2. The central figure of celebration is Prophet Abraham ( Ibrahim in Arabic), whose story we can find in the Bible's Old Testament or Torah. The prophet was about to sacrifice his son Ismail as he believed it was a divine order from God, but God sent a ram to be sacrificed instead. As a reward for loyalty, strong belief and being ready to fulfill His will, God gave Abraham another son Isaac. So the sheep sacrifice symbolizes the loyalty and obedience of the prophet.
3. Eid Al-Adha marks the
end of Hajj - one of five Islamic "musts" ( if they can afford it) - pilgrimage to Mecca - a holy place for Muslims in Saudi Arabia. The other four pillars that are mandatory in Islam:
- Shahada ( Creed);
- Salat ( Prayer);
- Zakat ( Charity);
- Sawm ( Fasting).
4. At the day of the Feast, which begins with a
prayer a sheep or a goat ( and my neighbors even manage to purchase a cow for this reason!) must be slaughtered according to Islamic Halal standards ( of course, ONLY if a family can afford purchasing an animal). The meat has to be divided into three parts - one part for you and your family consumption, the second one - for your friends and neighbors, the third one is for poor people in need.
5. It is time for people to dress their best outfits, visit family and friends and to eat! The celebrations usually last for 3 or 4 days, which I appreciate very much- another few days off!
Even though Casablanca and its population are growing with a speed of light, there are still some nonurbanized places where on a piece of land you can find sheep or goats walking around, eating grass. At this period of time, like a week before Eid, there are plenty of so-called "Sheep hotels" where people can leave purchased sheep and the "owner of the hotel" will take care of it - feeding, cleaning, and entertaining sheep is on him for as much as 5 EUROS a day! There is only one bad thing about it - the smell! Especially when you're passing by or "the hotel" is too close or even in your block building! Actually, in my case, it is right next to the block's door, so if sheep are staying there for 4-5 days the smell in the corridors is a bit specific.
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| The place where people can buy ans leave their sheep |
And the last but not the least is the way people greet each other during the days of celebration - Eid Mubarak - A Blessed Holiday ( if you need a translation).
Enjoy your time whatever you are! Salaam Alaykum!
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