Day of Arafa Program (December 30th)
On Saturday December 30th, the Islamic Education Center will offer a special
program on the rituals of the Day of Arafa.
The month of Zilhajja is a special month in the Islamic calendar for the
presence of the rituals of Hajj and special Eids of Qurban (Eid ul Azhaa or
Sacrifice) and Qadeer (or Eid ul Welaayah). It also includes the Day of Mubahila
and the revelation of Aya Tat`heer.
On the 9th day of Zilhajjam the pilgrims gather at the plain of Arafat as
part of their rituals of Hajj.
On the year 60 AH , Imam Hussain (AS) in the plain of Arafat recited one of
the most important and memorable supplications of Shia Islam. Just before
leaving for Karbala, on the Day of Arafa after Asr prayer, Imam Hussain (PBUH)
came out of his tent stood facing Mecca with the Mount of Arafa on his left side
and recited a prayer that is now known as the Supplication of Arafa.
On Saturday afternoon (December 30th), we will gather at IEC prayer room to
perform rituals of the Day of Arafa. Due to the number and length of of rituals,
the program will start at 1:30PM with the rituals of the Day of Arafa. Starting
at 3:00PM the Supplication of Arafa will be recited which will continue until
the Maqrib and Isha'a prayers.
A complete set of rituals (A'amaal) of the night before and the Day of Arafa
is available in Farsi pages (www.iec-md.org).
We also have several pages available of English site to provide the necessary
background for non-Farsi speaking brothers and sisters.
Eid Qurban Prayer (December 31st)
Eid prayer will start at 8:00Am sharp.
About Eid Qurban (Eid ul Adh'ha)
(Source: Internet, Non Shia site)
Eid ul-Adha (Arabic), or Eid-e Qurban (Persian) or Kurban Bayramı
(Turkish) occurs on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja.
It is one of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. Eid ul-Adha is
celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet
Ibrahim's (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael for
Allah. Others celebrate Eid-ul Adha as it marks the end of the
Pilgrimage or Hajj for the millions of Muslims who make the trip to
Mecca each year. Like Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha also begins with a
short prayer followed by a khutba. In Mecca, the Khutba is delivered
from Mount Arafat.
It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the
lunar Islamic calendar, after Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca
in Saudi Arabia. This happens to be approximately 70 days after the
end of the month of Ramadan.
Eid ul-Fitr is one day while Eid ul-Adha is four days long. Men,
women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing
and perform prayer (Salaa) in a large congregation. Muslims who can
afford to do so sacrifice domestic animals, usually sheep, as a
symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice; this sacrifice is called "Qurban."
The meat is equally distributed amongst themselves, their neighbours
and relatives, and the poor and hungry. The regular charitable
practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid
ul-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished Muslim
is left without sacrificial food during this day. Coming immediately
after the Day of Mount Arafat when Muhammad (PBUH) pronounced the
final seal on the religion of Islam, Eid ul-Adha gives concrete
realization to what the Muslim community ethic means in practice.
People in these days are expected to visit their relatives, starting
from their parents, then their families and friends.
Other names for Eid ul-Adha
Eid ul-Adha is also known as Hari Raya Haji/Iduladha/Qurbani in
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines; Eid el-Kbir in
Morocco , Egypt and Libya; Tfaska Tamoqqart in the Berber language
of Jerba; and Tabaski or Tobaski in West Africa, "Ciidwayneey" in
Somalia and Somali speaking regions of Kenya and Ethiopia.
In Bangladesh, Pakistan and India it is also called Id ul-Zuha,
and commonly referred to as Bakr-Id "Goat Eid" as goat is the
major sacrificial animal in those countries.
In Turkey it is often referred to as the Kurban Bayramı or
"Sacrifice Feast". Similarly, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania
it is referred as Kurban Bajram.
Traditions and practices
After the Eid ul-Adha prayer and up until the sunset of the third
following day, Muslims are encouraged to offer sacrifice. The
sacrificed animals (camels, cows, goats and sheeps) have to meet
certain age and quality standards. At the time of sacrifice, Allah's
name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication
as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said :
In the name of Allah
Allah is the greatest
Allah, indeed this is from you and for you
Allah accept from me
Eating and sharing the meat is considered an element of worship
during this period, as well as saying Takbir out loud in public, see
about Takbir in "Traditions and practices" of Eid ul-Fitr.
