Selamat menyambut “Hari Raya Haji”
Hari Raya Aidiladha
Apart from Aidilfitri, the festival most grandly celebrated by Muslims the world over is Aidiladha. In Malaysia, it is more commonly known as Hari Raya Korban or Hari Raya Haji and a public holiday is observed.
Celebrated about two months after Aidilfitri, on the 10th day of Zulhijah, the 12th month of the Muslim calendar, it marks the end of the haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks); hence the name Hari Raya Haji (festival of the pilgrimage).
Every year millions of Muslims make the journey to the Holy Land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the haj, a requirement in Islam as it makes up one of the five tenets of the religion. As long as they have the means to do so, and are able health-wise, Muslims must perform the haj at least once in life. Upon completion of the haj, the men earn the title of "haji" and the women, "hajjah".
Aidiladha also commemorates the sacrifices made by the prophet Abraham (hence the word "korban" which means sacrifice), who demonstrated immense faith when he was put to the test by God. The prophet was commanded to offer his only son Ishmael up for sacrifice, and though it grieved him greatly, he made ready to perform the task. However, as he was about to strike his son, God stopped him and revealed that it was a trial. Ishmael's life was spared, and a ram sacrificed in his place.
As such, during Aidiladha, the sacrifice of animals such as lambs, goats, cows, bulls and camels is performed. The animals are slain in accordance with the proper religious rites; the meat is then distributed.
One third of the meat is given to the individual who willingly supplied the animal, while the rest is given to the poor and deserving friends and relatives. It is to be noted that this is not a compulsory religious duty, but an obligation for those who are able to afford it.
The observance of the korban is carried out after the congregational prayers, held early in the morning of Aidiladha. It is not unusual for the slaying to take place within the mosque compound.
The rest of the day is either spent visiting friends and relatives, or entertaining guests at home, as is customary in this multicultural country.
Though in Malaysia the celebration of Aidiladha is relatively solemn compared to Aidilfitri, by no means is it less important, for it is a day when Muslims reaffirm their faith in God, giving thanks for the many blessings that He has bequeathed to them.
HOLY RITUAL: Muslim pilgrims perform the "Jamarat" ritual, the stoning of Satan, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca. Pilgrims pelted pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles to show their defiance on the third day of the haj as Muslims worldwide marked the Eid al-Adha holy day with mass animal sacrifices. - AFP
Nov 27, 2009 3:51 pm
GATHERING OF THE FAITHFUL: Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi city of Mecca yesterday. Some 2.5 million Muslims from more than 160 countries converge annually on the Islamic cities of Mecca and Medina in western Saudi Arabia for the haj pilgrimage. — AFP picture
Nov 27, 2009 8:23 am
The Great Ka’ba
SMOKE SCREEN...An arrow on a traffic road sign is illuminated as vehicles travel along the central east-west axis of Chang'An Avenue in Beijing on a smoggy day on November 26, 2009. China said it will cut the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent from 2005 levels, offering targets for the first time. China and the United States are the world's number one and two sources of greenhouse gases and are considered critical to any progress at Copenhagen. -- AFP PHOTO
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PM NAJIB ARRIVES FOR CHOGM: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak being greeted on arrival at Port of Spain in Trinidad & Tobago by Minister of Social Development Amery Brown.
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IN “MALAYSIA”
Nation celebrates Aidiladha
2009/11/27
KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Muslims in the country today celebrated the Aidiladha in the spirit of sacrifice and with much gratefulness.
Although several states, especially Kelantan and Terengganu, are still recovering from the floods since last week, the Aidiladha was nevertheless celebrated joyously.
It was a moderate Aidiladha for about 1,000 people who were still at evacuation centres in Terengganu.
The Aidiladha, which marks the end of the haj pilgrimage, also commemorates the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin joined some 5,000 people to perform the solat sunat Aidiladha at Masjid Negara here.
Also performing the prayers were his two sons Tengku Muhammad Ismail, who is the Regent of Terengganu, and Tengku Muhammad Mu'az.
His Majesty later shook hands with the congregation who took the opportunity to wish him Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha.
In SHAH ALAM, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah performed the Aidiladha prayers with some 20,000 Muslims at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque.
Also performing their prayers at the mosque were Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, executive councillor Datuk Dr Hassan Ali and Selangor Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi.
The sacrifice will be carried out tomorrow at the mosque involving 28 cows.
In KOTA BARU, Kelantan Regent Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra performed the prayers at the Muhammadi Mosques.
Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
After the prayers, Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra joined a Aidiladha get-together with the people at the Istana Balai Besar while Nik Abdul Aziz hosted an open house at the Pulau Melaka Mosque.
The sacrifice will be held tomorrow at the Kompleks Islam Jubli Perak Sultan Ismail Petra in Panji involving 50 cows contributed by the regent.
Mustapa will host an open house at his residence in Darul Falah in Jeli tomorrow where 46 cows will be sacrificed.
In IPOH, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah performed the Aidiladha prayers with about 2,000 people at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mosque in Jalan Diary.
Also performing their prayers there were the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, the Raja DiHilir of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, members of the royal court as well as Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
In KUALA PILAH, Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Ampuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani performed the Aidiladha prayers at the Tuanku Munawir Royal Mosque in Seri Menanti.
After the prayers, he witnessed the slaughter of cows at the mosque's compound.
The royal couple later attended a tahlil at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum.
In JOHOR BARU, some 1,000 Muslims joined the Raja Muda of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibrahim and Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman for the solat sunat Aidiladha at the Abu Bakar Mosque here.
Also present were Johor Mufti Datuk Tahrir Shamsuddin and executive council members.
In PENANG, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and wife Toh Puan Majimor Shariff joined thousands of Muslims for the prayers at the State Mosque.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia held the sacrifice at its mosque involving 27 cows donated by the university's staff and members of the public.
There will also be a sacrifice at the mosque tomorrow.
In KUCHING, some 5,000 Muslims performed the prayers at the Masjid Jamek Negeri in Petra Jaya together with Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg and State Legislative Asembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, some 2,000 people including State Secretary Datuk Mokhtar Nong performed their prayers at the Al-Muktafi Bilah Shah Mosque in Ladang.
On the way to besacrificed on this day of celebrating “Aidiladha”
Terengganu Veterinary Services Department director Dr Azizol Mohd Sharun said some 3,000 cows would be sacrificed this year.
In PERLIS, the Aidiladha prayers were held in 103 mosques and over 200 surau.
Perlis Veterinary Services Department director Dr Tariq Jaafar said about 1,000 cows would be slaughtered this year.
In KUANTAN, some 3,000 people performed the Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Ahmad 1 Mosque. A sacrifice was later held.
Meanwhile, the Kuantan district police also held a sacrifice of nine cows at the police station''s compound.
In KOTA KINABALU, nearly 7,000 Muslims performed the prayers at the State Mosque in Sembulan.
The sacrifice will be held at the mosque tomorrow.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman performed the prayers at the Sri Aman Mosque in Rancangan Sungai Manila Sandakan.
Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah is now in Mecca to perform the haj.
In MALACCA, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob and about 5,000 Muslims performed the prayers at the Al-Azim Mosque in Bukit Palah.
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and state executive councillors.
The sacrifice of 21 cows will be held tomorrow at the mosque.
In ALOR SETAR, Sultan of Kedah Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah performed the prayers at the Zahir Mosque in Alor Setar together with over 3,000 people.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak and state leaders. -- BERNAMA
BLACK SHEEP...Workers load a sheep onto a truck to be transported to Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state in India, at a wholesale cattle market, ahead of Eid al-Adha festival in Amritsar, India, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009. Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, is celebrated to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim's faith in being willing to sacrifice his son. -- AP Photo
Nov 25, 2009 7:27 pm
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ONE YEAR LATER: A year after the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, Viju Lakshman Chavan holds her baby daughter Tejaswini, nicknamed 'Goli' which means bullet in Hindi. At the city's Cama and Albless Hospital that day last year, Viju went into labour just as two heavily-armed gunmen began stalking the building's corridors and eight others laid siege to India's financial capital. Tejaswini, although two weeks early, couldn't wait. She was born at 10.55 pm, about one hour after the gunmen took up position in the hospital. - AFP PHOTO/Indranil MUKHERJEE
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