THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

Abraham (as) migrates to Mecca with his wife and his baby Ismael. However, there was not a soul in Mecca. Abraham(as) returns to Damascus leaving some water and fresh dates to his wife and his baby son. He travels for a while and then he raises his hands and prays to God: “Our Lord! I placed some of my children in a barren valley next to your holy house. Our Lord! I did so because I wanted them to do their prayers truly. Please let some of your people love them, and may you feed them with your food, hopefully, they will be grateful“ (İbrahim-37)

Hacer and her baby Ismael (as) run out of their food and water. Both of them begin to suffer from thirst. Hacer starts to seek for some water for her baby. She climbs up the nearest hill which is called the hill of Safa and looks around. She can neither see water nor a human being. She goes down the hill and runs accross the valley. Then, she climbs up the hill opposite, the hill of Marwa . She looks around and she can see nothing.

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

She goes between the two hills for seven times. Final, when she returns to her baby in a demoralized and worn out state, the limitless generosity of God blesses her. The water of zamzam springs from the feet of the child who was suffering from thirst. Both the mother and her baby are saved by drinking that water. In time, people start to settle in that valley because of that spring and

the city of Mecca is founded .

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

Several years go by. Ismael(as) grows up and becomes a young man. One day, Abraham(as), goes to his son and pointing at a certain place, he tells to him: “God commands me to build a house there” .This place was going to be the first common worshipping place for people on Earth. Then, they together started to build the Kaaba.

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

While Abraham(as) was building the Kaaba, he was praying: “You know when Abraham was building on the foundations of the house with Ismael, they were addressing to their God:” Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.“. ” Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (Will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (Will); and show us our place for the celebration of (due) rites; and turn unto us (in Mercy); for Thou art the Oft-Relenting, Most Merciful. “ (Bakara 127-128)

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

“ When His son (Ismael) is old enough to walk and run with him, Abraham(as) told him “My dear! I had a dream in which I was cutting your throat. So , think about it. What do you say?” . Ismael answered, “Dear Dad, do as you are commanded. Hopefully, you will see that I am one of the patient

people” . (Saffat 102) . Because Abraham (as) knew that dreams of prophets are true and they are divine inspirations..

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

In the meanwhile, disguised as a human being the Devil approaches first to Ismael’s (as) mother Hacer and then to Ismael . He informs them about the sacrifice in order to deceive them. However, both his mother Hacer and her son Ismael(as) reply the Devil : “If this is God’s order, how nice of him

to obey this order. Whatever God orders we will obey with our lives”

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

After that, the Devil approaches to Abraham(as) and tries to dissuade him from his decision. Having understood that it was the Devil who had talked to him, Abraham(as) drives it away by throwing stones at him at three different places. It is stated in Koran: “Finally, when both of them obeyed the God’s word, and Abraham laid him on the ground in order to sacrifice, we spoke to him in this way: “So, Abraham! You abided by the judgement made by us as it was foreshadowed in your dream. We certainly reward so , the ones who is virtuous. Un doubtedly, this is an absolute trial. We saved Ismael by giving Abraham a great blessing for sacrifice” (The Sura of Saffat103-7))

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

Abraham (as), decided to sacrifice his son Ismael (as) and laid him on the ground to cut his throat. At that moment, the knife went blunt and it did not cut the son. Then, Angel Gabriel appeared from heaven with a ram and told Abraham (as) to sacrifice the ram instead of his son. Thus, Ismael was saved and Abraham passed the God’s test successfully and he was given the title “Halilullah” which

means “the friend of God.”

THE HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE

The duty of the Sacrifice is a kind of holy ritual which requires financial power. The sacrifice is realized by all adult muslims who are sensible, well off and who are not staying as guests

somewhere. Besides his elementary needs and his debts, the person who possesses 80.18 gr of gold or who has money or other possessions which are of equal value is considered as well-off in our religion. Therefore, he does his sacred duty of sacrifice in order to express his gratitude for the

generosity of his God.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SACRED DUTY OF THE SACRIFICE?

1- SHEEP, GOATIT MUST BE OVER ONE YEARS OF AGE.

IT IS SACRIFICED BY ONE PERSON.2- CATTLE, WATER BUFFALO

IT MUST BE OVER 2 YEARS OF AGE. IT CAN BE SACRIFICED BY ONE TO SEVEN PERSONS.

3- CAMELIT MUST BE OVER 5 YEARS OF AGE. IT

CAN BE SACRIFİCED BY ONE TO SEVEN PERSONS.

WHICH ANIMALS CAN BE SACRIFICED?

HOW DO WE SHARE OUT THE MEAT OF THE SACRIFICED ANIMAL?

WHAT DO WE DO DURING THE FEAST?

LET US EXCHANGE OUR GREETINGS OF CELEBRATION. LET US KISS AND MAKE PEACE.

During the feast, we exchange our greetings by handshaking. People who are cross with

each other, put an end to their quarrels for the sake of the feast and they make peace. Feelings of human love and

brotherhood settle in the hearts of people.

WE VISIT THE GRAVES

Our Prophet (sav) says : “ Visit the graves because visiting the graves

will remind you of the afterlife”

WE VISIT OUR PARENTS, OUR ELDERLY AND OUR YOUNG.

Our Prophet (sav) announces : “ He who neither respects the elderly nor loves the young is not one

of us”

We show our respect for our elderly people by

kissing their hands. We conquer their hearts with sweet words and

gifts. We make our children smile by giving them

presents.

WE VISIT THE SICK

We go and see our relatives and our neighbours who are suffering from illness.

We try to hearten them with our conversation and boost their morale. We pray for their swift recovery. If there is

any need, we also support them financially.

WE HELP THE DEPRİVED, THE POOR AND THE ORPHANS

We help our relatives and our neighbours who live in poor conditions or who are left motherless or fatherless. We grant scholarship for students

who are in need of money. We give them from the meat of the ritually sacrificed animal.

We make them happy during the feast.