Azerbaijan Celebrates Eid al-Adha as a Victorious Nation
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan is celebrating Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) on June 16-17, according to media reports. The festivities commenced with celebratory namaz (Muslim prayer) performed in mosques across the country.
This year marks the third consecutive celebration of Eid al-Adha as a victorious nation, including in the newly liberated territories. President Ilham Aliyev extended his heartfelt congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan on this joyous occasion, wishing them happiness, prosperity, and well-being.
The Council of Qazis of the Caucasus Board of Muslims provided guidance on the proper observance of Eid al-Adha. According to religious instructions, it is obligatory for pilgrims making the hajj to Mecca to perform the sacrifice. For others, offering sacrifices is considered a great blessing, with the sacrificial meat traditionally distributed to poor and needy families.
Preferred sacrificial animals include sheep, goats, cows, and camels, each meeting specific health and age criteria outlined by Shariah rules. The rite of sacrifice must be performed in conditions of cleanliness and sanitation, with the sacrificial animal facing the Qibla (the direction which all Muslims face when performing their prayers).
To facilitate the proper and sanitary execution of this ritual, Azerbaijan has organized sales and slaughter services at 138 locations nationwide. These sites will offer sacrificial animals that have passed veterinary inspections and will be slaughtered under strict sanitary and hygienic conditions. Additionally, mobile slaughter tents will be set up in various regions with the approval of the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, ensuring that the process remains under veterinary control.
During the holidays, from 08:00 to 20:00, citizens can access these services for the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals. The proper division of the sacrificial meat, as per Shariah, involves keeping one portion for the sacrificer, giving one portion to the poor and destitute, and distributing the remaining portion to relatives.
Hadiths emphasize that prayers are particularly efficacious on the night and day of Eid al-Adha. In recognition of the significance of this holiday, the days of Eid al-Adha are declared non-working days in Azerbaijan, allowing the nation to fully partake in the celebrations and rituals of this sacred time.
