ID-UL-AZHA - FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE

Festival of sacrifice
The festival Id-ul-Azha, popularly known as Bakrid, is celebrated on the 10th day of Zul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, in memory of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (Alaihis salam- AS) who is said to have lived about 4,500 years ago. He was an embodiment of selfless sacrifice and deep devotion to Allah. Once he dreamt as if commanded by God, he was ready even to sacrifice his only son Hazrat Ismail (Ishmael) who was also all the more willing to give up his life as per divine order. But it was stopped as it was not what God wanted but he was only tested for his faithfulness and forbearance. In this connection the Holy Quran says in its inimitable expression that it is not the `flesh and blood' that reach God but the devotion one has for Him.
The most important aspect, associated with this festival, is the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah. It is one of the five `pillars' of Islam, the others being belief in God, prayer five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan and compulsory payment of 2.5 per cent called `Zakath' of one's assets to the poor and the needy. It was Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who built the `sacred refuge' of Makkah-based Kaba, "the first House of worship, full of blessings and guidance for all mankind" and "pilgrimage thereto once in one's life is a duty people who can afford it owe to God" — if one is physically and financially sound — according to Islamic yardstick.
The Islamic equality and brotherhood of mankind is manifest in the mammoth gathering of more than two million Haj pilgrims. The Holy Quran says: "O People! Behold, we have created you all out of a male and female and made you into nations and tribes only for the sake of identification and knowing one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is pious and God-fearing." (Al Hujurat 49:13)
It also says, "God does not love the proud ones" and Prophet Mohammed's (Sal-am) warning is that "he who has a grain of pride in his/her heart will not enter heaven." A Haji — one who returns after Haj pilgrimage — is expected to be as innocent as a child without enemies from within such as envy, greed and ill-will.