On 'Arafah and Eid ul Adha

Tomorrow, yawm al 'Arafah, is a day of fasting for millions of Muslims around the world. It will commemorate the day prior to the first day of Eid ul Adha, or the Eid of the sacrifice. While many of us are making the blessed pilgrimage of Hajj at this time, others are in their homelands, seeking to reap the blessings of this most holy month of Dhul-Hijja. My dear friends Um Tareq, Um Arifi, and Um Ibrahim are in Mecca right now, for the first time in their lives; they are there in front of their Lord asking Him to accept their Hajj and make them whole and spiritually reborn.

I am a monotheist and a follower of one of the three great Abrahamic religions. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), may Allah be pleased with him, built the Ka'aba at Mecca with his son, Isma'il (Ishmael). I have stood and gazed at the footprints of Prophet Ibrahim at his station. I have circled the Ka'aba seeking forgiveness and repenting for my misdeeds in this life and asking a place for me and my family in Paradise. I have experienced the awe of walking, eating and drinking, and praying side by side with those who have made the journey, seeking to step forward in their religious convictions and escape the stagnation of their lives. I held conversations with those who did not speak one word of my mother tongue, but who spoke the sweetness of Iman (faith) and whose hearts, like mine, swelled with everlasting love and humility at the sound of the call to prayer, with doves circling over head. Paupers shared bread with me; I knew not that they were poor, because they were filled with the richness of truth and compassion.

Perhaps my non-Muslim family members are just now understanding the meanings of the Eids that we celebrate. The Eid ul-Fitr that takes place after Ramadan is most known, because we have been fasting for a month and have built up to this celebration. Eid ul-Adha is actually the more significant of the two, symbolizing a rebirth of the soul in worship, a chance to purify oneself, to be benevolent, and to have a second chance. God is all about second chances.

Could we not learn our lessons from the Almighty instead of constantly slamming doors in others' faces or burning bridges? Could we learn the art of forgiveness on some small scale? Could we open our hearts for a moment and forgive those who we think may have wronged us? Must we keep shutting out those who do not dance to our tune? Fathers, forgive your children's transgressions; children, forgive those of your parents. We err. We forgive. We move on, or we don't, but we all die in the end. Let our rebirths not be horrifying; we have the ability to make them less painful.

So if you happen to see a Muslim on Wednesday, maybe you could wish him an "Eid Mubarak," or blessed Eid holiday. Not all of us can make the Hajj when we want to, but it is in our hearts and on our minds, inshaAllah, with every Eid that comes.

Here is some more explanation of the meanings of the day of 'Arafah and Eid ul-Adha, taken from here.

The Day of `Arafah
The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah include the days of Hajj. Of particular importance is the Day of `Arafah, on which Allah perfected His religion. Fasting on this day is one of the most important sunnah fasts, which can expiate the sins of two years. Fasting on all these days, however, is not obligatory, nor was it a constant practice of the messenger.One of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah's messenger used to fast the [first] nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of `Ashura', and three days of each month." (Abu Dawud)The day of `Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of `Arafah. This has been called the best day of the year.The Prophet Muhammad has been quoted as saying:

"Fasting the day of `Arafat expiates the sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And, fasting the day of `Ashura' (the tenth of the lunar month of Muharram) expiates the sins of the past year." (Muslim)

The Day of `Eid Al-Adha
The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is `Eid Al-Adha or the day of an-Nahr (sacrifice). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj. It also commemorates Allah's bounty on His messenger Ibrahim (peace be upon him), when He gave him a ram to sacrifice, as ransom for his son Isma`il, (peace be upon him).`Eid Al-Adha is a day of festival for Muslims who do not perform Hajj. While the pilgrims complete their rites, other Muslims continue with their `Eid celebrations. Here, they are prohibited from fasting. These are days of fun, happiness, eating, drinking and glorifying of Allah.

The Sacrifice
Allah has mentioned the duty of the sacrifice together with the first and foremost worship in Islam, namely prayer. This obviously signifies its great importance. In the Qur'an, Allah says what means:

Therefore pray to your Lord and sacrifice. (Al-Kawthar 108:2)

Sacrificing an animal, as part of `Eid observance, is an important sunnah, and a worship enjoined by the law of Allah. The sacrifice is not only to be enjoyed by the one who sacrifices and his family. A main reason behind this ritual is to provide for the poor and let them share this moment of happiness. It is to give charity to the poor and give them portion of what you eat in your own house. Thus, becoming one big family, sharing the same belief, as well as the same joy.