I received an interesting complaint a few nights ago, about the scheduling of a Bayyinah class coming up. The class is intensive, at 3 hours a night for 10 nights, and it starts the day right after Eid. And that's where the complaint came in. I'm not really sure who was in charge of scheduling the class, but I doubt there was much flexibility in the first place. And it didn't bother me at all, since I figured I would have the day of Eid to celebrate plenty--and for me "celebrate" only means visiting with some friends. Since this Eid falls during my exam week, I don't think there will be much celebrating I can do.But what I didn't realize is that some people celebrate this Eid for several days. To them it's not a 1-day holiday as it has been to me, but a multi-day event with parties and gatherings and gift-giving. So important is the celebration that some people could consider even a class on the Qur'an obtrusive and unwelcome on their holiday. I can't think of much I would rather do with my time, personally, which is why I found the complaint interesting.
But it got me wondering--why is Eid celebrated for so long? I don't mean to criticize at all, I just don't understand it. Someone has argued to me that Muslim children must put up with the obvious celebrations of other holidays (like Christmas and Easter I guess) and so we as adults owe it to them to make the Eid days extra-special. For me, I would consider getting out of school, getting presents, getting to eat lots of sweets and hang out with friends to be pretty cool--but I didn't know that Eid was supposed to be competing with Christmas.
Does anyone know why Eid is so many days... ? Or why people are so insistent on celebrating for so many days?
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9 comments:
Eid is usually celebrated for 3-4 days.
Salaams Amy
Eid-ul-Adha is for 3-4 days, 'coz "Qurbani" (slaughterin' of goat) is done durin' those 3-4 days... not necessary that it has to be done on the first day. Few of them prefer to do it on day 1 while others- neighbours, family or friends usually participate with them & vice-versa followed by the 2nd or 3rd day. All this i have been noticing as a child back in India i wonder how it is here in USA. There also must be some hadith behind this, which i am unware; i will try find one.
Greetings!
Salaam Amy
Eid ul adha is celebrated for 3 days that is 10th 11th and 12 of the zillhajja, most families sacrifice the animal on different days that is if my family does it on the 10th my uncles family on 11 and another aunts on the 12, that is in India, but here in USA most families do not sacrifice animals they just celebrate on the 10th.
Faaz
Salaams
Eid - is the day of sacrifice,
and then there are three days of tashreek - which are basically the days the meat is left out to dry.
so in total it is four days
Day of Eid plus the three days of tashreek
Salaamu'alaikum,
in Malaysia, they have 'eid for about an entire month.
You discuss the number of days, I know it may not be convenient at times, but at least Allah has blessed you to have it, no matter how many days.
I feel like the last few 'eids have been hard for me.
For 'Eidul fitr, I was suppose to give the Khutbah, but was sick for two weeks prior, and ended up not going.
Wouldn't it be nice to have eid all year?
smile.
wassalaam,
S.Waheed
When I was small, both Eids were spent really festively--if thats a word. I actually wish it was like that again, but we had to move to a different state.
Every Eid, not only Eid-ul-Adha, there was prayers at the fairgrounds in the mornings, and later the Islamic school or a couple of families hosted a potluck or a picnic at the park in the afternoon. Then relatives or friends would invite people over to each others homes at night. Then another day would be in another families home for dinner party. There would be gifts too.
I think its just a simple tradition of people. I definitely don't think its because its to distract the children from Christmas or Easter.
Eid Mubarak :)
Thanks everyone for the answers
Muslim Bro - That's what I needed to know, I think.
Bayyinah classes are worth it. Ustadh Nouman is amazing!
The Islamic School I work for gave us the whole week off for it. Many families in the US travel 'back home' for these holidays so they need the time. In addition, brother Faaz said that people don't usually do the sacrifice in this country.... everyone in our community that can afford it does....
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