Eid Mubarak: N.L. Muslim community celebrates Festival of Sacrifice

Muslims from across Newfoundland and Labradorcame togetherin St. John's Saturday to celebrate Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice.

The Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador organized amorning prayer andafternoon activitiesat the Techniplex sports complex near Quidi Vidi Lake.

The association's president,Syed Pirzada, is happy to see the gatheringgo ahead after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Everybody is happy. Our community is coming together,"PirzadasaidSaturday. "A lot of people are travelling from different parts of the island."

Together with Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month Ramadan, Eid al-Adha is one of the two biggest Muslim celebrations.

It'scelebrated to honour Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in orderto prove his faith to God. It also marks the end of theyearly Islamic pilgrimage, called hajj,to Mecca, Saudi Arabia,which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

"In old days, it used to be a big hardship because people would actually walk in from different cities. And some people wouldgo on camels and cross the deserts," said Pirzada.

"It happens once a yearbut for people,it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Some people save money throughout their life to perform this pilgrimage."

For those who don't make the journey and instead celebrate at home, the Eid al-Adhafestivities includeprayers, animal sacrifices, food and family visits.

For this year's Eid al-Adha, saidPirzada, a "huge" congregation was expected. He estimates that about 3,000 people took part in the celebrations in the province, many of whom were atthe Techniplex on Saturday morning to pray.

A safe environment

After a forced two-year hiatus, Pirzada said,it was important to make the celebration a safe and positive event.

"Being the sole representative of Muslims of Newfoundland and Labrador,it is our duty and our obligation to make such arrangements so that people can perform their rituals in a safe environment," he said.

In the afternoon, the Muslim Association offered activitiessuch as bouncy castles for childrenand food forcommunity members something that couldn't have been managed without the help of volunteers who had spent Friday nightdecorating the venue, saidPirzada.

"Initially, we used to have this event in our own mosque, but our community has grown tremendously," he said,adding that the community is grateful to be able to use the Techniplexcomplex.

Looking ahead, Pirzada said his association is working to get city permits tobuild its own space for large gatherings and prayers, in addition to the mosque in St. John's.

"There's noway we can accommodatethismany people in our own mosque. So, we want to have our own big place where we can accommodate our own people," he said.

"When people are moving to Newfoundland, they want to knowwhether we have the facility for their children.We have thefacility for themto come, and pray and tofeel safe, feel happy."

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