Also known as Feast of Sacrifice or Big Eid, it is one of the two major festivals of Islam but considered the holier. The other is Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
Eid Al-Adha commemorates the Koran tale of Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael but God offered him a lamb to sacrifice, ruling that no human life should be sacrificed in the name of God.
Among Christian and Jews communities, they believe that Abraham is ordered to sacrifice another son Isaac.
Rwandan Muslims have convened today at Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo to offer prayers.
Eid al-Adha has come two days after the two million Muslims started annual Islamic pilgrimage in Mina and Mecca cities of Saudi Arabia.
The Holy pilgrimage started August 19 running until 26 with 79 Rwandans participating.
The Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Salim Hitimana, led the gathering in prayers at Kigali Stadium.
He encouraged the Muslim community to fight drugs especially among the youth and report drug dealers.
Mufti Hitimana also urged the congregation to play their role in bringing about upcoming parliamentary elections, come September 2-3.
Eid al-Adha compels all Muslims with means to slaughter cows, goats and other animals as sacrifice and distribute meat among disadvantaged around them.
Mufti Hitimana reminded all Muslims to share feasts with the vulnerable in observance of the sacrifice.
“This is a day of showing compassion and happiness that should always be reflected among the Muslims. You have to observe that, help the poor and share meals with them,” he said.
He said that Rwandan Muslims should not wait for foreign counterparts to give them animals to offer as sacrifice.
Today, Rwanda Muslim Community has offered as sacrifice 1,000 cows and 2,000 goats at the value of Rwf200 million.
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