On Tuesday October 15th, Muslims all over the world will celebrate Idd al Adhuha. On the Islamic calendar, Idd al Adhuha is celebrated on the 10th day of Zulhajj. On Idd al Adhuha, Muslims go to prayer while reciting: “Allah is great, no one is worthy of worship except Allah …”
Muslims mark Idd al-Adhuha to commemorate the day when the grandfather of all believers, Prophet Ibrahim wanted to sacrifice his son Ismail (whom Christians believe he was Isaac) as a way of fulfilling his pledge he had earlier made with Allah.
Abraham had pledged that if Allah gave him a child in his old age, he would sacrifice it for God’s sake. After a while Allah gave him children, the eldest being Ismail, he had to make good his pledge.
He informed his son Ismail about the pledge and his intentions but surprisingly out of total obedience to his father and Allah, Ismail accepted to be sacrificed and assured his father not to worry, saying if done they will meet later in the afterlife.
But after several fruitless trials to sacrifice Ismail, Allah sent Ibrahim a sheep to slaughter in place of his son and thanked him for being committed to the pledge difficult as it was. However Muslims do not have to sacrifice their children as Ibrahim had pledged but animals that is why they sacrifice animals on Idd al Adhuha in place for their children.
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