As Muslims across Trinidad and Tobago marked Eid-al-Adha on Wednesday, many gathered with family and friends to observe the sacred tradition of Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice that symbolises faith, obedience and devotion.
While the slaughtering of animals is one of the most recognised aspects of the observance, Agriculture Consultant Shiraz Khan says the true meaning of the day goes much deeper.
Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid-al-Adha commemorates the story of Prophet Abraham, who, according to Islamic teachings, was commanded by Allah to sacrifice what he loved most, his son Ishmael.
Mr. Khan explained that the act was a test of faith and obedience, and before the sacrifice could take place, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram.
“So, what happened is that when he go to do the slaughter, the knife became so dull it couldn’t even mark Ismail’s neck, right? So, what happened is there was a ram that came from heaven straight down for Ibrahim to slaughter.”
The religious observance is traditionally marked with the sacrifice of sheep, goats, or cattle.
Mr. Khan said the observance is not simply about the sacrifice of an animal but also about spiritual reflection, intention and self-improvement.
“What He needs is your intention, or that when you slaughter this animal, that you slaughter away some of the bad habits, some of the, you know, what I should say, not-good and not-so-good actions, and so on.”
After the animals are slaughtered, the meat is divided among families, friends, and those in need, reinforcing the values of charity and community sharing.
“Well, in our tradition, we have that your meat is split in three. One is kept for yourself, one is given to the family, and one is given to the poor. So that’s making the three portions. You understand? That is what we do, right? But the animal is one sheep is one share. A cattle could go into one, three, five, or seven shares. But a sheep or a goat is one share per person.”
The festival directly coincides with the culmination of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.