Happy Eid Al Adha
Festival of Sacrifice
Exactly 70 days after the holy month of Ramadan, Singapore's Muslim community celebrates Hari Raya Haji. Families gather and celebrate over a 3-day event.
Hari Raya Haji, also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice" or the "Pilgrimage Festival" marks the end of Hajj, the annual holy pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates Prophet Abraham, considered as the father of Islam. The story tells that God asked him to sacrifice his son but placed a sheep under his hand when he was about to use the knife. Abraham trusted God blindly with his son’s life and was reassured in his belief. Since that day, Muslims all around the world follow the path of Abraham and sacrifice a sheep.
In Singapore, where all races and religions are well respected and in harmony, Hari Raja Haji is a public holiday. Male Muslims meet at the mosques for prayers after which they sacrifice livestock to Allah. Out of respect for Indian residents, the sacrificed animals are always sheep or goats but never cows. The meat is then shared within the family, distributed among relatives and the poor.
In the evenings, many people, both locals and travelers, visit the area around Kampong Glam, Arab Street and Haji Lane where cafes invite to enjoy a chat with friends while tasting Mint Tea and smoking Shisha.
With an open-minded community in Singapore, anyone is always welcome to join the festival. Its custom for Muslims to wear new clothes on these days and children get money from their parents and adult family members.
Visit the areas around Geylang Serai and Kampong Glam with it's beautiful Sultan Mosque and enjoy the busy bazaars with many fancy decorated stalls offering colorful clothes, decorations and – of course – popular dishes. It is a great occasion to learn about the ethics and practices of Islam and a reminder to share with the less fortunate.
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Hari Raya Haji
Muslims in Singapore remember their faith with prayer and reflection during Hari Raya Haji, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice.
Lasting four days, Hari Raya Haji commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham's) complete faith and trust in God.
This is recounted in the story of God commanding Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael), a commandment that Ibrahim responded to with obedience. God stopped him, and provided him with a sheep to substitute as a sacrifice, instead of his son.
Prayer and sacrifice - During this period, the faithful dress in their finest clothes and congregate in mosques to listen to sermons and offer their prayers.
But the most important ritual observed here is that of 'korban' (sacrifice). Worshippers contribute live sheep, lambs, goats and cows, which are slaughtered by a quick slit to the jugular as prayers are recited.
This act reminds worshippers of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to offer up even his own flesh and blood to God. The animal is then cleaned and the meat carved up and distributed.
Sharing and caring - The tradition is that the person who paid for the animal gets one-third of the meat and one-third goes to family and friends. As this festival is about compassion, sharing wealth and remembering blessings, the last third is usually distributed to the poor and the needy.
After this, Muslims pay social visits to parents, families and friends, and relax over a meal together.
There is little overt feasting or merrymaking – this is one festival that is more about spiritual needs than physical ones.
Pilgrims’ progress - Hari Raya Haji also marks the end of 'hajj', which is the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This arduous journey retraces the steps of the Prophet Muhammed and concludes with a series of symbolic rituals once the faithful have reached the holy city. The 'hajj' is considered the fifth pillar of Islam, and every able-bodied Muslim with financial means is expected to complete it at least once in his or her life.
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