Sunday, December 31, 2006 at 2:02am
Fla. Muslims celebrate holy day
The Darul Uloom Islamic Institute in Pembroke Pines, Fla., was filled to capacity Saturday as local Muslims celebrated the Eid ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, one of the holiest days on the Islamic calendar. In another room, about 200 women and children also gathered to celebrate.
The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac before God intervened and provided a sheep instead. It also marks the end of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which all Muslims are urged to make at least once in their lives, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Sunday.
The Florida Muslims joined 1.3 billion co-believers worldwide in marking the holiday. The Darul Uloom Institute congregation combines Caribbean, Near Eastern and Middle Eastern Muslims.
Once the 1,200 men were seated in neat rows on the carpeted floor and 200 women sat in the side room, Sheik Shafayat Mohamed began his hour-long sermon. He urged members to remember Abraham and the sacrifice he was willing to make for God.
"If we don't understand who was Prophet Abraham, we do not understand the significance of the sacrifice, the purpose of this Eid," Mohamed said. "If we study the life of Prophet Abraham, we may develop better understanding and tolerance and a better relationship with the world at large, the communities that we live around, and a better life in the United States of America."
Mohamed reminded worshipers of the history that Islam, Christianity and Judaism share. He also emphasized that understanding the fundamentals of Islam can help Muslims mend divisions with the U.S. public. He also told worshipers to celebrate the holiday with family and friends at home.
"This is a joyous occasion," he said. "Enjoy it like a holiday, like a feast."
During the conclusion of his sermon, he told worshipers to think about the symbolism of Saddam Hussein's death on the eve of Eid ul-Adha. Many gathered outside the mosque to talk about Hussein, who was hanged Saturday morning in Baghdad.
"I don't know why it happened today or if it should have happened today," Mohamed said. "But a man like Saddam, on the day of slaughter, he was sacrificed. Maybe God caused it to happen today. Either way, no one will forget the day Saddam died."
Pembroke Pines resident Veronica Ali, 58, said the news of Hussein's death made it "the happiest day" she's had in years, but "I don't think he deserved being hanged today. Today is a holy day for us."
After the service many Muslims visited local farms where they prayed and sacrificed a ram, sheep or cow. Worshipers traditionally keep a third of the meat, give another third to the poor, and the final third to friends and family, said Azim Eoonous of Pembroke Pines.
"This is commemorative of the symbolic sacrifice of Prophet Abraham years ago," said Eoonous, 62. "It represents a very important part of our religion."
The holiday commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac before God intervened and provided a sheep instead. It also marks the end of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, which all Muslims are urged to make at least once in their lives, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Sunday.
The Florida Muslims joined 1.3 billion co-believers worldwide in marking the holiday. The Darul Uloom Institute congregation combines Caribbean, Near Eastern and Middle Eastern Muslims.
Once the 1,200 men were seated in neat rows on the carpeted floor and 200 women sat in the side room, Sheik Shafayat Mohamed began his hour-long sermon. He urged members to remember Abraham and the sacrifice he was willing to make for God.
"If we don't understand who was Prophet Abraham, we do not understand the significance of the sacrifice, the purpose of this Eid," Mohamed said. "If we study the life of Prophet Abraham, we may develop better understanding and tolerance and a better relationship with the world at large, the communities that we live around, and a better life in the United States of America."
Mohamed reminded worshipers of the history that Islam, Christianity and Judaism share. He also emphasized that understanding the fundamentals of Islam can help Muslims mend divisions with the U.S. public. He also told worshipers to celebrate the holiday with family and friends at home.
"This is a joyous occasion," he said. "Enjoy it like a holiday, like a feast."
During the conclusion of his sermon, he told worshipers to think about the symbolism of Saddam Hussein's death on the eve of Eid ul-Adha. Many gathered outside the mosque to talk about Hussein, who was hanged Saturday morning in Baghdad.
"I don't know why it happened today or if it should have happened today," Mohamed said. "But a man like Saddam, on the day of slaughter, he was sacrificed. Maybe God caused it to happen today. Either way, no one will forget the day Saddam died."
Pembroke Pines resident Veronica Ali, 58, said the news of Hussein's death made it "the happiest day" she's had in years, but "I don't think he deserved being hanged today. Today is a holy day for us."
After the service many Muslims visited local farms where they prayed and sacrificed a ram, sheep or cow. Worshipers traditionally keep a third of the meat, give another third to the poor, and the final third to friends and family, said Azim Eoonous of Pembroke Pines.
"This is commemorative of the symbolic sacrifice of Prophet Abraham years ago," said Eoonous, 62. "It represents a very important part of our religion."