Muslims celebrate their great holiday - Eid al-Adha or Hajj Bayram

(Patria) - Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world today welcome Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice or Hajj Bayram, the time of performing the Hajj. The central Eid celebration of the Riyasat of the Islamic Community will be held at the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo. After the Fajr prayer at 4:25 AM, the Eid prayer will be performed at 5:41 AM. A live broadcast on BHT1 starts at 4:55 AM.

The Eid prayer will be led and the Eid sermon delivered by Husein-ef. Kavazović, the Grand Mufti of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The ceremonial program will be performed by renowned reciters of the Qur'an, ilahis and qasidas, and an appropriate sermon on this occasion will be delivered by Mr. Dževad Pleh, director of the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in Sarajevo.

The importance of Eid al-Adha or Hajj Bayram is determined by the act of sacrificing an animal and distributing the meat to the poor, friends, and neighbors; as well as the act of Hajj, when several million Muslims stay in Mecca during specific days.

For Muslims, these are great blessed days, days of great goodness. Today, millions of pilgrims from around the world are at Arafat and the Mount of Mercy. Pointing out the importance of standing at Arafat, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Hajj is Arafat."

The sacrifice is an offering made in memory of the two sons of Adam, peace be upon them, and of Abraham's devotion to God. For the sacrifice, a ram or large livestock is usually slaughtered, and the meat is distributed to the poor, friends, neighbors, and those who need it most.

Hajj Bayram is the time when several million Muslims stay in the holy places of Mecca and Medina to perform the fifth Islamic duty - the Hajj, which the Almighty God prescribes and which every Muslim is obliged to perform if they are healthy and have the material means to do so.

There are two joys of this holiday - the first joy is the sacrifice of the animal, through which Muslims practically show care for other people and their needs, emphasizing equality and unity among people and nations.

The second joy is the completed Hajj, through which the pilgrims, who are God's guests, draw closer to Allah and show Him obedience and gratitude, hoping for His reward and forgiveness.

Eid al-Adha lasts four days, and it is a time that Muslims spend with their families, welcoming and visiting family, friends, and neighbors, but also awaiting the return of their loved ones from the Hajj.