USA: Muslims at Lynnwood center mark call to sacrifice

Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, is in present-day Saudi Arabia. Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca, and they are expected to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives.

Photo: Dan Bates / Herald

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Herald | Everette, Washington
ByKatya Yefimova, Herald Writer | November 20, 2010

LYNNWOOD — Mariam Ahmad took the day off school Wednesday to celebrate Eid-al-Adha.

An important holiday for Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha marks the symbolic sacrifice of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) and the close of hajj, a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

The celebration is supposed to remind Muslims of the importance of sacrifice and gratitude to God.

Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad, is in present-day Saudi Arabia. Muslims pray in the direction of Mecca, and they are expected to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives.

Ahmad, 19, of Edmonds, joined family and friends at Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center in Lynnwood.


Irfan Chaudhry, president of the mosque, led the congregation in prayer. Willingness to sacrifice for community and for God is an important theme for Muslims, he said in a sermon.

He recited the story of Ibrahim, who was tested when God told him to sacrifice his son. It’s known in the Bible as the story of Abraham and Isaac.

He talked about people who sacrificed their lives for their faith: A group of worshippers in Pakistan packed the local mosque to observe the Friday prayer and were gunned down by terrorists.

Many members of the Ahmadiyya community or their parents are originally from Pakistan.

Muslims usually arrange to take the day off work and school to celebrate big holidays first at the mosque, then at home with loved ones over a traditional meal.

When Sheheryar Ahmed, 20, of Lynnwood, lived in Pakistan he often visited hospital patients on Eid al-Ahda.

It’s a day to share what you have with those less fortunate, which is one of the fundamental beliefs of Islam, he said.

Ahmed studied comparative religions in Pakistan and is starting classes at the Bellevue College.

After the sermon, the worshippers said a silent prayer, then got up to greet and embrace each other.

“It’s a joyful day. We all forget our fights and quarrels for the day,” Ahmed said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452; kyefimova@heraldnet.com.



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