Arafa and Eid-Ul-Adha

Salam , today is the third day of Dulhijja , Arafa will be this coming friday Oct 3 , 2014 it is highly recommended to fast on Arafa if you are not doing pilgrimage to Makkah , since Arafa will be on friday it is recommended to fast Thursday and Friday as well .

Eid Al adha will be this coming Saturday , October 4, 2014

Why do Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha? 

The Greater Eid commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. It also marks the end of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia undertaken by about 1.5 million Muslims.

How is it celebrated?

Muslims across the world will sacrifice a sheep or a goat this coming Saturday  as a "reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. Why a sheep? "Muslims believe that the very moment Ibrahim raised the knife, Allah  told him to stop, that he had passed the test, and to replace Ishmael with a sacrificial ram. It was a great test for both prophet Ibrahim and his son prophet Ishmael . they both passed the test .The meat is shared among family, friends and the poor, who each get a third. 

 In addition, Muslims often dress up in their best clothes and visit family and friends as well as offering presents.

Eid-ul-Adha is a joyous occasion marked with family traditions and celebrations. The festivities begin in the morning after Fajr prayer, where Muslims, dressed in their finest clothes, attend the congregational prayer followed by a sermon. Upon completion of the services, people greet each other with the blessings of Eid: “Eid Mubarak.” Afterwards, Muslims often visit the homes of relatives and friends, partaking in delicious feasts customary to their native cultures and often exchanging gifts, and many eagerly anticipate the return of those friends and relatives who have made the journey for hajj.

Lets us watch this brief video on the importance of fasting on Arafat