Hari Raye Haji, or Eid al-Adha, means Feast of the Sacrifice. How did this festival come about? Prophet Abraham was tested by Allah to sacrifice his only son, Ishamel. After much deliberation, he agreed to sacrifice Ishamel. Allah was touched and was aware of Prophet Abraham’s devotion to Allah, hence spared Ishamel’s life and a sheep was sacrificed instead. On this day, Muslims visit the mosques to pray and to watch the ritual of the sacrifice of the sheep, goats, or cows. This day also marks the end of the pilgrimage month, where Muslims go to Mecca to perform prayers on the Holy Land. Once the sheep are slaughtered, the meat are packed and distributed to the Muslim families, especially to the poorer Muslim community.
Above image is prayers being performed by male Muslims before the ritual begins.
Sheep horded outside mosque
Do you know that these sheep shed tears before they were being slaughtered? Although it is deemed as cruelty by some people, at the end of the day, isn’t it the same when these animals are being slaughtered daily to provide for our needs?
I’ve never witness a Korban ritual before, truthfully. However, I know the ritual is not for the ones who are weak hearted who faint at the sight of blood. Below is an image of a cow being slaughtered.
Food
On this day, extravagant meals are prepared. Dishes such as Ayam Masak Merah, Lontong, Rendang, Ketupat etc are cooked on that day.
Ayam Masak Merah
Beef Rendang
Clothings
During the celebration, it is tradition that the Muslims wear their traditional costumes to the mosque and also to house-visiting. Men and women don their best clothing on this day to celebrate this festive mood. Some women wear Hijab, also known as the head scarf, to cover their heads. Some believe that women should be modest and conservative in their dressings and allow only their future husband to look at them. Nowadays, however, the Hijab has become a fashion trend. Some wore the Hijab to look pretty, not to cover their modesty. Muslim women are not allowed to wear tight-fitting clothes as it will attract gazes from the opposite gender. Men also have their own dress code. For example, they are not allowed to let any of their garments they are wearing to be longer than their ankles. As quoted in the Qur’an “anything below the ankle is in the fire.” It probably means Hell.
Below is a brief video on Hari Raya Haji at Sultan Mosque. In this 0:52 seconds clip, you can identify some of the traditional clothing the Muslim men and women wear.
What I learnt is that we should share our wealth with the less fortunate and also to dress more conservative to protect my dignity and to avoid unwanted attention from the opposite gender.
References:
Hari Raya Haji, http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/whats-on/festivals-and-events/hari-raya-hajii.html
The Muslim Man’s Dress Code, 30th August 2007, http://southernmuslimah.wordpress.com/2007/08/30/the-muslim-mans-dress-code/
Five Most Delicious Food in Indonesia, 17th January 2012, http://indonesiaweekend.blogspot.sg/2012/01/five-most-delicious-food-in-indonesia.html
Ayam Masak Merah, http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EDQFaoNTqDM/SMrAyEq43lI/AAAAAAAADWo/IZ4pUMX7zqE/s400/Ayam+Masak+Merah.jpg
Hari Raya Haji at Sultan Mosque, 17 November 2010, http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OSpXCvIpqzI#!
Muslim Holiday of Eid Al-Adha and the slaughter of animals, 27 November 2009, http://islamizationwatch.blogspot.sg/2009/11/sheep-is-seen-before-its-slaughter-at.html
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