古爾邦節 Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha, "Festival of Sacrifice" or "Greater Eid", is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismael) as an act of obedience to God, but instead was able to sacrifice a ram (by God's command).

Eid is also about spending time with family and friends, sacrifice, and thanksgiving for being able to afford food and housing. In traditional or agrarian settings, each family would sacrifice a domestic animal, such as a sheep, goat, cow, or camel, by slaughter (though some contemporary Muslims do not sacrifice an animal as part of their observance, it is still a very popular tradition, even in Muslim communities in Europe). The meat would then be divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family eats one third, another third is given to other relatives, friends or neighbors, and the other third is given to the poor as a gift.

Pupils pray near a scale model of the Kaaba which was constructed at Nile Garden school before the upcoming Eid Al-Adha festival in Cairo Nov 11, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

Eid al-Adha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. The date is approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. Ritual observance of the holiday lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

古爾邦節，又稱宰牲節，與開齋節并稱為伊斯蘭教的兩大節日。“古爾邦”意為“獻祭”、“獻牲”，為朝覲功課的主要儀式之一。

古爾邦節的時間是伊斯蘭教歷12月10日，即朝覲期的最后一天。

古爾邦節的宰牲，起源于關于古代先知易卜拉欣的故事。易卜拉欣獨尊安拉并無比忠誠，他常以大量牛、羊、駱駝作為犧牲獻禮，人們對他無私的虔誠行為大惑不解。易卜拉欣當眾鄭重表示，倘若安拉降示命令，即使以愛子伊斯瑪儀做犧牲，他也決不痛惜。安拉為了考驗易卜拉欣的忠誠，幾次在夢境中默示他履行諾言。于是他先向愛子伊斯瑪儀說明原委，并帶他去麥加城米納山谷，準備宰愛子以示對安拉忠誠。途中，惡魔易卜劣廝幾次出現，教唆伊斯瑪儀抗命和逃走，伊斯瑪儀拒絕魔鬼的誘惑，憤怒地抓起石塊擊向惡魔，最后順從地躺在地上，遵從主命和其父的善舉。正當易卜拉欣舉刀時，天使吉卜利勒奉安拉之命降臨，送來一只黑頭羝羊以代替犧牲。

為紀念這一事件和感謝真主，先知穆罕默德繼承了這一傳統，列為朝覲功課禮儀之一。教法規定；凡經濟條件寬裕的穆斯林，每年都要奉行宰牲禮儀。朝覲者在12月10日舉行宰牲，其他各地的穆斯林自10～12日，期限為3天。超逾期限，宰牲無效。宰牲的肉食不僅要供自家享用，而且要分送給窮人，確保所有的穆斯林都要有份。

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）