Eid Al-Adha
Eid Al-Adha, is the second major Muslim festival celebrated worldwide and is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice. Eid Al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The day of Eid Al-Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelfth) month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, Dhu-al-Hijjah, where they pray in the morning and indulge in delicious meals in the evening in the company of family and friends.
In this article we discuss:
History of Eid Al-Adha
Learning about Eid Al-Adha, it is equally important to learn and discuss the religious duty of Hajj. Hajj is an annual pilgrimage that Islamic people take part in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims must partake in Hajj at least once in their lifetime, given that they are financially and physically able to do so.
One of the five pillars of Islam is Hajj, and one ritual of Hajj includes walking counter-clockwise seven times around the Kaaba. Eid Al-Adha is the fifth and final pillar and marks the climax of Hajj. Celebrations of Eid Al-Adha commence on the completion of Hajj. Read more about Hajj here.
The origin of Eid Al-Adha was to Muslims from Abraham. Prophet Abraham was commanded by God (Allah), in the form of a dream vision, to sacrifice his son Ishmail. While offering his son, God sent a ram to him through Angel Gabriel, who then told him to sacrifice the ram as a ransom for his son. The celebrations honor Prophet Abraham's devotion to Allah and his commitment to Him.
As previously mentioned, Eid Al-Adha is known as The Feast of Sacrifice. The day of Eid Al-Adha depends on the moon's visibility, and there must be an actual sighting.
How is Eid Al-Adha Celebrated?
Prayers
Eid Al-Adha marks the climax of Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. The holiday usually spans three to four days with prayers exchanged at mosques worldwide, celebrations with family, and gift exchanges. To begin celebrations, most Muslims will perform extra prayers in the morning.
Sacrificing an animal
The act of Qurbani is the act of sacrifice where Muslims sacrifice an animal to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice for Allah. The act of animal sacrifice spans a total of three days, and this is also known as Udhiya. The sacrificial animal is either a lamb, sheep, cow, goat, camel, or bull and must meet specific requirements such as age and good health to be slaughtered in a Halal way.
Distributing the meat
The meat from the sacrifice is divided and distributed among three groups:
The person who sacrificed the animal and their immediate family.
Their extended friends and family.
People in need.
An animal sacrifice is an act of charity required for the person who sacrificed the animal to divide and distribute the meat. Often, Muslims will pay the value of an animal to a Muslim charity to help feed underprivileged communities.
5 Ways to Recognize Eid Al-Adha at Work
Allow for Paid Time Off
Accommodate requests off for Eid Al-Adha. An employer should present options to any employee who celebrates the holiday to take time off without losing wages or using their vacation time. Paid time off allows your employees to enjoy this festival with their loved ones without stress.
Don’t Make Assumptions
People feel different emotions during the holidays, and not everybody who celebrates Eid Al-Adha will do so similarly. Some employees may take time off or want to have open conversations about the holiday with their colleagues, while others may prefer to stay quiet or may not wish to participate in the celebrations.
Be Flexible
Flexible working hours can be a good way of allowing employees to work when they are most productive. If you have colleagues who will be praying in the morning, ask them if they need accommodation for meeting times. Some employees may request to change their working shift times, take a shorter/longer lunch break or work from home. They may want to ensure they finish on time to celebrate with their family or friends.
Provide Resources
Honoring Eid Al-Adha in the workplace is crucial to show appreciation. Send out an email or provide accessible resources in the office that include information about Eid Al-Adha so everyone can learn more about the significance of this holiday.
Provide Space
Many Muslims pray multiple times a day, and some of these periods may fall during work hours. Providing a prayer space, such as an empty conference room, helps Muslim employees feel included and welcomed in the workplace.
Celebrating Eid
Eid Al-Adha is a time when friends and family come together to pray, eat delicious meals, and celebrate. Recognizing those who celebrate Eid Al-Adha in your workplace is a way to encourage a sense of belonging among colleagues.
When celebrating Eid Al-Adha in the company, respecting all Muslim employees and accommodating them for their particular needs is essential.
Taking the time to learn about the significance of this holiday will not only build inclusion within the company but will also lead to mutual respect, better morale, higher staff retention, and greater productivity throughout the workplace.