“Feast of the Sacrifice”: Commemorating one of the greatest prophets of Islam

By Shane Marks

On Saturday, Muslims around the world celebrated Eid-al-Adha, known as the “Feast of the Sacrifice” in the English Language – the second of the two Eid festivals in the calendar for our Muslim brothers and sisters.
The “Feast of the Sacrifice” (dubbed the holiest festival in the Muslim calendar), according to the Director of Education at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Shaykh Moeen Ul-Hack, is a Muslim festival that brings the family together as it reminds us of the prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son when ordered by God.

The entire Eid-al-Adha festivity honours the famous story of the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim – known in the Christian Old Testament as Abraham – to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
“It is basically commemorating one of the greatest prophets of Islam,” Ul-Hack said in an interview with Guyana Times.
Ul-Hack, whose responsibility is to oversee the education of the Muslim community, as well as sharing information with the non-Muslims on topical issues, such as racism, independence, and national issues as they arise, said that prophet Ibrahim is highly admired and worshiped in the Muslim religion for his commitment and dedication to sacrifice his son for his unwavering love for the almighty God, though the sacrifice was not seen to the end.
“His commitment and dedication to sacrifice his most prized possession, for the love and for the sake of almighty. Of course, it was an attempted sacrifice because the sacrifice did not carry through. He is held in high esteem, in the religion of Islam, [and] in the Holy Quran, he is referred to or described as the friend of God,” Ul-Hack explained.
According to Muslim beliefs, Ibrahim drove away the devil – who was trying to persuade him to disobey God and let his son live – with pebbles and prepared to sacrifice his son who is believed to be Ishmael.
Ul-Hack explained that Prophet Ibrahim had a dream that he must sacrifice the thing he loved the most. Ibrahim then turned to his son, Ishmael, and informed him about the dream he kept having. Ishmael then told Ibrahim that if this is the command of God, then Ibrahim would find him at steadfast.
After seeing Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son, the almighty produced a lamb for him to sacrifice instead.
“I think the important lesson to learn from this, in addition to the sacrifice is that he was family-oriented,” Ul-Hack said.
To remember Ibrahim’s willingness and love for the almighty God, Muslims ritually sacrifice animals – normally sheep – on Eid al-Adha. A third of the meat is eaten by the family who performs the sacrifice and the rest is given to the poor.
Ul-Hack said that this year, CIOG received over 30 animals for the sacrificial ritual.
“So, I think this year, we have received 30-something animals,” he said.

He revealed that the organisation itself coordinates the sacrifice of the animals that were donated by various organisations and individuals. Once the sacrifice is completed, the slaughtered animals are then distributed to the Guyanese people, specifically the poor.
Ul-Hack said, “The organisation itself coordinates the sacrifice of animals, which were donated to CIOG and have been distributed across Guyana, the three counties, Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo and we pay more attention to the vulnerable areas.”
He added, “And so international organisations, as well as individuals, are financing the sacrifice of animals here in Guyana. And so, they have requested CIOG to oversee this on their behalf.”

COVID-19 and Eid
He said that the Eid-al-Adha celebrations were not the same over the last two years, due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic that forced many persons to customise the way they celebrate significant holidays, like the “Feast of the Sacrifice.”
He noted that due to the COVID-19 restrictions, only those who were involved with the sacrifice were allowed to be present at the place of sacrifice, everyone else was not allowed.
“We were affected in the sense that they were, we had to abide by the COVID-19 protocols of the Ministry of Health. And so those restrictions meant only the persons who were involved with the sacrifice were allowed to be present. At the place of sacrifice, everyone else had to be removed from that area.”
He said that the pandemic also affected the distribution of meat to the poor.
“It also meant following the safety regulations as it relates to the mask during that exercise, and even in the distribution of meat. We did not encourage during COVID for persons to come for meat at the place of sacrifice. It was packaged and taken to them at their respective places,” he revealed.
However, this year, the celebration of Eid-al-Adha will resume its normal celebration with the congregational prayer at sunrise and then the sacrifice of animals.

Caring and sharing
CIOG, during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-COVID, has been conducting outreaches across the country, helping the poor and needy with both medical and personal assistance, thanks to partnerships with other businesses, non-governmental organisations, and Government institutions.
Ul-Hack shared that the organisation will continue to give to the vulnerable people of Guyana, as their motho is “Caring and Sharing.”
“CIOG’s motto is caring and sharing. And as I indicated about the great prophet Abraham and about reaching out to others with our kindness, with whatever resources the almighty has entrusted us with is part of our religious obligation and our civic responsibility.”
He added that irrespective of race, CIOG is committed to reaching out to persons in need.
“That is, irrespective of your religion or your race, we must reach out to every human being, as every human is a creature of God Almighty. And we have to be kind to every creature of the Almighty, then we will receive the generosity and kindness of the maker,” he said.
And so, with parting, Eid Mubarak.