Eid-ul-Azha on August 12

The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated on August 12 throughout the country with due solemnity and religious fervor, reports BSS.

The National Moon Sighting Committee came up with the decision in the evening at a meeting held at the Islamic Foundation in the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque here as the moon of the holy month Zilhajj was sighted in parts of the country’s skyline on Friday,an official of Islamic Foundation told BSS.

State Minister for Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Moon Sighting Committee Sheikh Md Abdullah presided over the meeting.

The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhajj month of the Hizri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 years ago, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah. But the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.

To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets - Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).

On the occasion, the Muslims across the country will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah.

They will offer munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.