MASIDING NOOR YAHYA
August 17, 2018
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| Muslim Hajj pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site. |
MANILA: Malacañang Palace declared Tuesday, August 21 as a public non-working holiday in observance of Eid'l Adha. It is embodied in Proclamation No. 556, s. 2018 which President Duterte signed on Wednesday, August 15.
Eid’l Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is marked on the tenth day of Dhulhijjah to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son. It is held at the end of the Hajj (Pilgrimage) and sees family and friends gather for feasts, gift-giving and prayers.
On this occasion, slaughtering of animals such as camel, cow, carabao, goat and other four legged halaal to eat to be feasted by the community is highly enjoined by Islam to those who can afford it.
Eid'l Adha is the second of the two Islamic holidays, the other is Eid’l Fitr which is celebrated at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
Preceding the Eid celebration is the Declaration of the Greatness of Allah, that there is no worthy of worship if not Him, that all Praises belongs to Him and Him alone, and praying before Allah to extend Peace and His Blessings upon Muhammad and his blessed progeny. This will be followed by a two-rak'at ritual congregation prayer performed immediately after sunrise on the 10th of Dhulhijjah to thank Allah for accepting their haj.
Dhulhijjah is the 12th month of the Muslim Hijrah Calendar which falls this year on August 21.
According to the proclomation, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) recommended that the event should be observed on that day.
The Philippines considered Eid’l Adha as a national day since 2002 when RA 9177 was signed to make the occassion a holiday in the ARMM.
Incidentally, on August 21 is also a regular national holiday celebrated as Ninoy Aquino Day, which commemorates the death of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9256 on February 25, 2004. - RSP
