Warning! Not for the fainthearted

Hari Raya Haji (or Hari Raya Aidiladha)

Muslims in Singapore celebrated Hari Raya Haji or Aidiladha on Thursday, 20 December 2007. This celebration falls on the 10th day of Zulhijjah (the 12th month of the Muslim calendar) and marks the end of the ‘haj’ or pilgrimage period, which lasts about two weeks. Muslims all over the world make the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the ‘haj’ as it is one of the five basic tenets of Islam.

After the Hari Raya Haji prayers, the Muslims observed the sacrifice of sheep or ‘korban’. The ‘korban’ or sacrifice of sheep means alot to the Muslims because not only is the act a form of religious duty for those who can afford it but it is also the means with which to demonstrate the compassion and solidarity among Muslims of all races. This is because the meat from each sacrificed sheep is given not only to the individual who made the sacrifice, his family, relatives and friends, but is also distributed to the poor and deserving people in the community.