Rabat – Moroccans are expected to celebrate Eid Al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) on August 22, astronomer and researcher Abdelaziz Khabrouch Al Ifrani told Morocco World News on Tuesday.
Al Ifrani, whose previous predictions for Ramadan and other religious celebrations based on the lunar calendar were all correct, said that based on astronomical calculations, Morocco will be able to see the crescent of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah on August 12. The following day would be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah which will impact when Eid Al Adha will be celebrated.
Dhu al-Hijjah is the sacred month in the Islamic calendar in which the Hajj (pilgrimage) takes place. The month also marks Eid Al Adha, which is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
The expert added that “it will be impossible in any way” for specialists to sight the crescent of the 10th Islamic month on Saturday, August 11, even with advanced equipment.
Al Ifrani said that all these predictions are according to astronomical calculations. The astronomer also called on Islamic countries to fully disclose the standards they use to make their calculations.
Preparations for Eid Al Adha
In June, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture Aziz Akhannouch announced the ministry’s plans to prepare for Eid Al Adha in a meeting attended by representatives of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) and the National Agricultural Advisory Board (ONCA).
The objective of the meeting was to ensure better animal traceability and transparency in commercial transactions, since most Muslim families will purchase and slaughter a sheep or goat for the holiday.
For Muslims, Eid Al Adha is the second holiest celebration in Islam after Ramadan. The day honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael in an act of obedience to God’s command.
Before Ibrahim sacrificed his son, God provided a male goat to sacrifice instead to honor him for obeying his command. Muslims across the world celebrate the day, sacrificing a sheep or a goat to honor Ibraham.
How Muslims celebrate the feast
In the morning of the feast, thousands of Muslim men across the globe dress up in white traditional clothes, especially djellabas. Men then head to mosques to perform salat El Eid (Eid prayers).
After the prayers, the family gathers to experience the joy of Eid as the father or the oldest brother slaughters the sheep or the goat. Part of the meat is donated to needy and poor people.
Families also greet and invite each other over for dinner. Most regions in Morocco serve couscous with meat and vegetables for dinner.
