Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 32
Eid day falls on the 10th of the month of Dhul Hijjah, i. e. ten days after the sighting of the new moon. As the sighting of the new moon is announced, Eid preparations start in earnest. The eve of Eid day is always very busy, so the shops in many countries remain open till late at night. Early in the morning after taking bath and putting on the best garments which one could have, Muslims assemble in the. Eid-gah or in the large mosques of the town for Eid Prayer Service, which comprises two Raka'as and offered in the same manner as. Eid-ul-Fitr. Generally no breakfast is served on this Eid, and those who offer sacrifices do not eat anything until after they have sacrificed the animal. After the prayer the Imam delivers a sermon in which he explains the significance of the festival, giving the details of the sacrifices offered by Abraham, his wife Hagar and their son. Ishmael. Returning by a different route and singing the praise of. God Almighty, Muslim worshippers return home and slaughter their animals. On Eid day, Muslims recite: 'Allah is the Greatest,. Allah is the Greatest. . There is none worthy of worship except Allah,. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. All praise belongs to Allah', as often as possible:. Besides other prayers for the occasion the person who is offering the sacrifice of the animal recites the following:. Translation: 'Say my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are for the sake of God, the Lord of all the worlds. '. The person who offers the sacrifice is allowed to use a portion of the meat, the remainder is distributed among the relatives, friends, neighbours and the poor. The animals may be sacrificed on the Eid day or during the two days that follow. Millions of animals are slaughtered all over the world on this occasion. Feasts and festivities follow throughout the Eid day and the two following days, the main dishes being prepared from meat. The skins of the slaughtered animals are sold and the proceeds given to different charities. Eid fund is also collected on this occasion and is spent for the welfare of the community as a whole. 32