Eid Mubarak 2023: Why Is Bakrid Known As The Feast Of Sacrifice? Know All About This Tradition

JE Lifestyle Desk: Eid-Al-Adha, also known as Bakrid is one of the major festivals in the Islam community and is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm across all parts of the world. The dates of the Eid-Al-Adha festival vary based on the Islamic calendar. It is usually celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. Therefore, this year Bakrid is all set to be celebrated on June 29 across the country. 

Legends Of Bakrid

This festival is also touted as the ‘Feast of Sacrifice’ which signifies the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God. As a part of celebrations, a tradition of sacrificing an animal for food as an act of thanksgiving for God’s mercy is permitted. 

The legends of the celebrations of Eid-Al-Adha state that this festival honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God’s commands. Although before Prophet Abraham could perform the sacrifice of his son, the Almighty provided him with a lamb to sacrifice in the place of his son. Due to this, animals are sacrificed as a ritual to pay offerings to God. Muslims worldwide celebrate the festival of Eid-Al-Adha to commemorate the devotion of Abraham and Ismael towards God. This legend is known as the Akedah in Judaism and is followed worldwide. 

The traditions of Bakrid include slaughtering an animal and sharing the meat in three equal parts including for family, friends and the needy and poor people. The objective is that every Muslim gets to eat the meat after offering it to God. 

Eid-Al-Adha 2023: Celebrations

On this occasion of Eid-Al-Adha, people of the Islamic community sacrifice an animal to prove their devotion to Almighty Allah. After the sacrifice, the offering is distributed among family members, friends and the needy people. Muslims across the country pay their prayers at the mosque after the sun completely rises and just before it enters the Zuhr time (midday prayer time). The prayer is followed by a sermon or khutbah, by the Imam.