What is Eid al-Adha or Tobaski?

Those of you who do not know, surely you have heard of the feast of the lamb or the feast of the sacrifice, an event that is also known as TABASKI  or  TOBASKI   in the West African countries.

Eid al-Adha is the most important event for the Muslim community, it is celebrated annually marking the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca (Al-Hajj), specifically it takes place on the tenth day of the month of Zil-Hajj, which happens 70 days later. of Eid al-Fitr.

This holiday commemorates the passage in the Koran that shows Abraham’s (Ibrahim) willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael (in the Bible it is Isaac) as an act of obedience to Allah, before Allah intervened to stop him and provide him with a ram to slaughter instead.

What is done with the meat of the slaughtered ram?

The animal (usually a ram) is slaughtered in the morning and its meat is divided into three parts: one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for poor people.

How does the Islamic community live this celebration from abroad?

African foreigners residing in Europe, the United States or Canada try to live Eid-al-Adha in the most similar way possible to the customs of our countries of origin. However, we find limitations and restrictions that we must respect in each host country (one of the main differences is that, in Spain for example, it is not allowed to slaughter the animal in our homes).

Tobaski, despite being a religious celebration, has different nuances depending on the country or culture. However, there are a number of common elements:

• Days before Eid al-Adha, all the families proceed to look for their ram to reserve or buy it so that it is ready for the big day. Some buy it directly from farms and others from butchers.

• When the day comes, all the families wake up early, put on our best clothes, and we go to pray in community Salat Al-Eid at the mosque, in sports centers or in the place that the authorities have assigned us.

• When we finish praying, we return to our homes, where we enjoy a family breakfast with sweets, drinks, gifts for the little ones in the house with full happiness.

• After breakfast, we go for our ram, which is slaughtered following a specific procedure according to religion. We spent the rest of the day enjoying ourselves as a family.

For the Diaspora, celebrating Tobaski abroad is somewhat complicated since on many occasions the event falls on a working day in the host countries, and therefore you have to work. So, depending on the schedule of the working day, it is celebrated very well, well or regularly.

One thing that is certain, regardless of the personal circumstances of each one for the proper celebration of the party, we all share the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity and respect for others. It is a special day to remember the importance of being humble and asking for forgiveness (to your neighbor and to Allah).

From Baluwo, we wish everyone Eid Mubarak!