Muslims commemorate Eid al-Adha
by Davy James, Staff Writer
The holidays represent a time of giving to many, but to millions of Muslims, Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, brings a reminder to make sacrifices to God and share those sacrifices with the less fortunate.
On Wednesday, thousands of Muslims from the area were expected to celebrate Eid al-Adha at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center on Route 1 in North Brunswick, through the Islamic Society of Central Jersey.
Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham sacrificing his son, Ishmael, to God. The Feast of Sacrifice is a time for Muslims to share and submit to God, according to Sayed Hassan, an administrator at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey.
”We have to sacrifice and think of God,” Mr. Hassan said.
The services for the holiday begin with a prayer session, the Eid prayer, which lasts between five to 10 minutes, according to Mr. Hassan. Following the prayer, a sermon is given to remind people not to neglect the Five Pillars of Islam, one of which is to visit the Holy Land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The ISCJ organizes a trip every year for about 100 people to perform the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, required once during a Muslim’s lifetime.
”People tend to wait until later in life, putting off the pilgrimage until they’re older,” Mr. Hassan said. “We encourage people to take the trip as soon as they’re able. There are no guarantees you will live that long, people need to make the pilgrimage as early in life as they can.”
Another one of the major themes of the sermon and the entire holiday, is to remind Muslims to make sacrifices in the name of God. Those sacrifices can be their money or their time, to give back to those who need help.
”We encourage people to give to local charities, and make sacrifices to praise God almighty,” Mr. Hassan said.
Lambs will be given to the less fortunate in the area, as well as meat being distributed to the needy in Newark and Trenton to enable them to celebrate the holiday, according to Mr. Hassan.
The holiday is also a time to visit with old friends, said Mr. Hassan.
”Following the services, people will stay and talk to friends they haven’t seen in a while,” Mr. Hassan said. “This time of year represents good will and a time of giving and sacrifice.”

