This morning, the big holiday or Eid prayers were held under under the rain at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. This Eid is the big holiday for Muslims, and it commemorates the sacrifice that Abraham was fortunately stopped from carrying out with his son as the sacrificial offering — so he substituted a sheep, instead. So, to commemorate, Muslims worldwide will traditionally sacrifice a lamb or goat or cow today — and then will prepare a special holiday meal for their families, while giving much of the meat away to the poor.
This feast falls towards the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca, attended, reportedly, by some three million faithful this year — it is a duty that Muslims should perform, if they are able to do so, at least once in their lifetimes.
Thanks to Ghaleb, our man on the spot, for the lovely photos.
