Eid-ul-Adha or Hari Raya Haji in Malaysia, is also known as the festival of sacrifice.Hari Raya Haji is celebrated on the tenth day of Dzulhijjah, the Islamic month according to the lunar Islamic calendar. The festival falls on the 70th day after the end of the Ramadan month. It is celebrated in remembrance of prophet Abraham’s readiness to forfeit Ishmael, his son for God. The story tells how Allah told Abraham, to lift the foundation of Kaaba in Mecca.God also asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, in a dream.

The next day Abraham, along with his son journeyed towards Mina for the sacrifice. On the way, demons tried to direct Abraham away from his mission, but Abraham was true to God and as he was determined to sacrifice his son. God stopped him and gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead of his son. This festival in remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice is known to this day as Eid ul-Adha. Some people celebrate Eid- ul- Adha because it marks the end of the pilgrimage or Hajj for those Muslims who make a trip to Mecca each year.

Just like Eid- ul- Fitr, Hari Raya Haji commences with a prayer followed by Khutbah (sermon). The original delivery of this Khutbah was done from Mount Arafat in Mecca. It is assumed that Eid- ul- Adha should last for three days but some of the Islamic traditions think that Eid- ul- Fitr last for three days and Eid- ul- Adha last for four days.

Hari Raya Haji in Pahang

The first day of Hari Raya Haji is a national holiday in Malaysia and all Muslims dress up for the occasion and to perform the Eid- ul- Adha prayers in large groups. Muslims slaughter domestic animals like sheep and goat in sacred emulation of Abraham’s sacrifice. This act is  known as “Qurban”. The meat is distributed among friends, relatives, neighbors and the poor.  On this day no poor and needy Muslims are missed out in receiving the sacrificial meat.

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