Festivals

• Eid ul - Adha - focuses on the importance of obeying Allah.

  • This is a very important festival and forms part of hajj.
  • The festival remembers when Ibrahim nearly sacrificed his own son Isma’il.
• What happens during Eid ul - Adha

  • It is a time of communal joy and festivity lasting up to four days.
  • Muslims dress up in their best clothes and spend time with family and friends.
  • Presents are often exchanged.
  • Muslims should attend mosque where they will have services involving communal prayers and a sermon focused on the importance of obedience to Allah and the lesson to be learnt from Ibrahim and Isma’il.
  • An animal is often sacrificed and divided up into three : one third is kept by the family, a third goes to relatives and neighbours and one third goes to the poor.
• The reason Muslims celebrate Eid ul - Adha.

  Ibrahim dreamt that Allah told him to sacrifice Isma’il.

  He told Isma’il and he agreed that it had to be done.

  But at the last minute, Allah told Ibrahim to sacrifice an animal instead of his son.

  This was a test of his loyalty to Allah.
• Eid ul - Fitr - marks the end of Ramadan

  • This is the end of Ramadan.
  • It is a day of thanksgiving to Allah for giving them the strength to fast for the past month.
• What happens during Eid ul - fitr.

  • Muslims pay a special Zakat. It helps Muslims who are less better off celebrate as well and is often given out in the form of food by charities and mosques.
  • The festival involves a service with prayers with a sermon and a meal to break the fast.
  • People meet up with family, friends, exchange gifts and wear their best clothes.
• Ashura - remembering the death of Husain.

  • Ashura is mainly a Shi’a festival.
  • It is an important day for Shi’as because it was the day that Ali’s son and Muhammad’s grandson was killed in a battle.
  • The ten days leading up to Ashura is a time of mourning for Shi’as.
  • The time is a reminder for shi’as the suffering that the community has experienced.
• What happens during Ashura.

  • Many Muslims fast however it’s not compulsory. It’s believed that fasting may absolve people of their minor sins in the previous year.
  • During the ten days of mourning, mosques often give out free food.
  • Shi’a Muslims will wear black as a sign of mourning.
  • There is often ’passion plays‘ where the story of Hussain is performed. Poems or stories are also read out.
  • Some Shi’as will hurt themselves as a way to remember Hussain’s suffering but this is banned in some countries.