MUSLIMS’ RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES COINCIDE WITH THE HAJJ Friday, October 3rd is Day of Arafat and Saturday, October 4th is Eid ul-Adha

(Tulsa 9/26/14) The Islamic Council of Oklahoma has received confirmation that the Eid ul-Adha celebration commences on Saturday October 4, 2014. The Saudi Supreme Court announced that the “Hajjis” (Muslim pilgrims in Mecca) will observe the Day of Arafat on Friday, October 3rd, the most important day of the Hajj. Eid ul- Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice, is the three day celebration that follows the Day of Arafat.

Oklahoma’s 35,000 Muslims who are not on their pilgrimage traditionally fast in solidarity with two-to-three million Hajjis, while the Hajjis spend the Day of Arafat in devout worship. During the 10 days leading up to Eid, Muslims around the world will spend more time reading scripture, in prayer, fasting and doing good deeds for people near and far. Most will monitor the Hajj through Skype, Instagram, Facebook, C-Span…

Saturday, the first of the three days of 2014’s Eid al-Adha celebration is the day that Oklahoma Muslims will likely be absent from work. Holiday congregational services will be held in the morning that remind us of Prophet Abraham’s steadfast obedience to God, even when God called upon him to sacrifice that which was most dear to him- his son. When the Prophet made preparations to comply, God demonstrated His Grace by sparing Abraham’s son’s life. God proved to Abraham and to all of us that life is precious and that we should be thankful.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be days of performing religious rituals and festivities, sharing our blessings through gifts of food and hospitality. The traditional Eid greeting is “Eid Mubarak!” (eed moo-bar’-uk)- May you have a blessed holiday!