Eid al-Adha: The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha: The Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha is one of two Islamic Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate, the origin of which comes from the Quran. Also known as Hari Raya Haji, Hari Raya Kurban, Qurban, or the Festival of Sacrifice, the Eid al-Adha is one of the several religious festivals celebrated by Muslims all over the word. Here, the Muslim community commemorates God’s forgiveness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, from his promise to sacrifice his own son Ishmael as commanded by Allah.

When is Hari Raya Haji 2011 / Eid al-Adha 2011 / Qurban 2011 ?

The Hari Raya Haji festival annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic Calendar. It runs for two to three days, or even more, depending on the country celebrating it. However, Eid ul-Adha would last only in two in Cambodia. Eid ul-Adha happens the day after pilgrims perform Hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide. The pilgrimage is done approximately seventy days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

The festival is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, and thus in Gregorian calendar the date changes every year. Hari Raya Qurban 2011 is expected to fall on Sunday, 6 November 2011 for Cambodia and so for the rest of the countries in South East Asia. However since the festival is determined by moon position based on moon-sighting, the exact date of the Hari Raya Haji 2011 will be announced by the Islamic authority closer to the festival.

What Is Expected During Hari Raya Haji 2011 / Qurban 2011?

Men, women, and children of the Muslim community are required to dress in their finest clothing to perform the Eid prayer. Well-off Muslim devotees sacrifice their best domestic animals, usually sheep, cows, goats and even camels, as a reenactment of Ibrahim’s sacrifice. These sacrificed animals, or udhiya, have to meet certain age (the animal must be at least a year old, or two or two year and an half year old and so forth) and quality or else it is considered as an unacceptable sacrifice. During the sacrifice ceremony, Allah’s name is recited with the offering statement and a supplication, as said by Prophet Muhammad.

According to the Quran, ample portions of the sacrificed animal meat should be given to the poor and hungry, so that they too can join in the festivities. The remainder of the meat is cooked for the family celebration meal, wherein it is shared among friends and families. During the celebration, Muslims are also expected to visit their kin, from their parents down to their friends.

Hari Raya Haji 2011 in South East Asia

In the South East Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei) it is call “Idul Adha” or “Aidil Adha”. It is also referred to as “Hari Raya Korban” or the Sacrifice Celebration Day. Another term, “Hari Raya Haji” or “Lebaran Haji” translates to the Celebration Day of the Hajj.

The “Aidil Adha” or the Sacrifice Celebration Day is celebrated about two months after Aidilfitri, particularly on the 10th day of Zulhijah (Yaum Al-Tashrik), or the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, marking the end of the sacrificial period. Every year, Muslims trace their journey to the Holy Land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj: a requirement in the Islam religion. Muslims must perform the haj at least once in their lifetime. After the Haj is performed, the men are given the title “Haji” and the women “hajjah” .

Popular Greetings For Hari Raya Haji / Kurban

សួរស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី!​​ (Khmer, Cambodia)

រីករាយឆ្នាំថ្មី! (Khmer, Cambodia)

Happy Eid ! (English)
Eid Mubarak ! (Arabic)

Selamat Hari Raya Haji ! (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)
Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Haji ! (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)
Selamat Hari Raya Kurban ! (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)
Selamat Hari Raya Idul Adha ! (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)

Happy Hari Raya Haji 2011 !