WHY WE CELEBRATE BAKR-ID FESTIVAL?

ID-UL-ZUHA (BAKR-ID)

THIS MUSLIM FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE, ID-UL-ZUHA (ARABIC) OR BAKRID IN INDIA IS CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IT FALLS ON THE 10TH DAY OF THE MUSLIM MONTH ZUL-HIJJA. ON THIS DAY MUSLIMS SACRIFICE A GOAT OR BAKR (URDU) TO COMMEMORATE THE SACRIFICE OF PROPHET IBRAHIM, WHO WILLINGLY AGREED TO KILL HIS SON AT THE BEHEST OF GOD. THIS FESTIVAL COINCIDES WITH THE HAJ PILGRIMAGE IN MECCA. PRAYERS ARE OFFERED IN THE MOSQUES AND THE SACRIFICIAL MEAT IS THEN DISTRIBUTED AFTER THE ID PRAYERS. SPECIAL DELICACIES ARE PREPARED AND SERVED AMONG FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THE OCCASION.

ALSO CALLED BAKRID, ID-UL-ZUHA, IS A FESTIVAL OF GREAT REJOICE. SPECIAL PRAYERS AND EXCHANGE OF GREETINGS AND GIFTS MARKED THE ID-UL-ZUHA (BAKRID), THE FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE, IS CELEBRATED WITH TRADITIONAL FERVOUR AND GAIETY IN INDIA. ID-UL-ZUHA IS A REMINDER OF PROPHET IBRAHIM'S READINESS TO SACRIFICE HIS SON FOR GOD'S SAKE. IT ALSO MARKS THE COMPLETION OF HAJ (PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA). ON THIS DAY, SPECIAL "DUA' IS RECITED BY THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

IT IS A COMMEMORATION OF HAZRAT IBRAHIM'S GREAT TEST OF OBEDIENCE TO ALLAH, WHO ORDERED HIM TO SACRIFICE THE PERSON DEAREST TO HIM. IBRAHIM DECIDED TO SACRIFICE HIS SON ISMAIL, AT MINA, NEAR MECCA. AS THE GREAT RELIGIOUS LEADER WAS ON THE POINT OF APPLYING THE SWORD TO THE THROAT OF HIS DEAR SON, IT WAS REVEALED TO HIM THAT THE EXERCISE WAS MERELY A TEST OF HIS FAITH IN ALLAH, AND THAT HE COULD SACRIFICE A RAM INSTEAD.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: MUSLIMS IN KERALA FRIDAY CELEBRATED BAKRID WITH PRAYERS AND ACTS OF CHARITY, RECALLING THE UNFLINCHING FAITH AND DEDICATION SHOWN BY PROPHET IBRAHIM TO THE ALMIGHTY.

THE FAITHFUL THRONGED MOSQUES AND SPECIALLY ARRANGED ID-GAHS ACROSS THE STATE IN THE MORNING FOR PRAYERS, WHERE IMAMS AND RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS GAVE OUT THE ID MESSAGE OF TOTAL DEDICATION TO GOD, UNIVERSAL LOVE ANDCOMPASSION.

ACTOR MAMMOOTTY WAS AMONG HUNDREDS, WHO TURNED UP TO OFFER NAMAZ AT THE ID GAH IN KOCHI