USA: Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adhia at Chino's Baitul Hamid mosque

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“The purpose of the Eid reminds us every day that we should have the love of God in our heart and be in complete submission and obedience to his commandment.”

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
By By Canan Tasci | October 16, 2013

CHINO; American Muslims at a mosque in Chino joined other Muslims worldwide on Wednesday to celebrate Islam’s most important holiday, Eid-ul-Adhia.

The holiday commemorates Prophet Abraham’s symbolic sacrifice and the close of the Hajj pilgrimage to the Holy Ka’aba in Mecca.

The day reminds Muslims of the importance of sacrifice, service to humanity and gratefulness to God, according to a news release from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA.

“During these difficult times for our nation, it is more important now than ever to remember what God has given us,” Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, vice president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, said in the release. “As Muslims, we should strive to show our gratitude through prayers and service to humanity.”

Eid day Baitul Hamid Mosque, Chino, California.
Imam Syed Shamshad Ahmad Nasir (R) and Ch. Jalal uddin Ahmad

About 800 Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children from Southern California and San Diego attended the Eid prayer and sermon at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Baitul Hameed Mosque. The service began with a congregational morning prayer followed by a sermon in English by Imam Shamshad Nasir.

“The purpose of the Eid reminds us every day that we should have the love of God in our heart and be in complete submission and obedience to his commandment,” said Nasir.

The Hajj is a 1,400-year-old Islamic rite of pilgrimage to the Holy Ka’aba in Mecca that commemorates the sacrifice offered by Abraham in obedience to God. It is a three-day event that ended this year on Tuesday and attracts upward of 3 million Muslims to Mecca annually, Nasir said.

Mehmood Chaudhry and Monas Chaudry

“And while Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting during daylight hours, encourages the participation of every healthy, adult Muslim man and woman, the vast majority of Muslims are not able to do the Hajj, but they can still participate in both spirit and sacrifice if they are able to slaughter an animal locally where they live,” he said.

According to Islamic teachings, the sacrifice of an animal is done in honor and remembrance of the sacrifice Abraham was willing to make when God commanded him - as a test of his faith and obedience – to sacrifice his first-born son, Ishmael. But just as Abraham is about to do as God had commanded, God stopped him and replaced his son with an animal, Nasir said.

Muslims perform the various rites incumbent on them during the Hajj, with the sacrifice of an animal being done to provide food for the poor and needy and to remind Muslims of the mercy of God bestowed on Abraham and his son, and by extension, on all the spiritual “sons” of Abraham, Nasir said.

“But, slaughtering animals does not have any meaning if we do not have righteousness and love of God in our heart,” Nasir said.


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