Hari Raya Aidiladha Falls On New Year's Eve
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei will celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha on December 31, 2006, which is on a Sunday according to an announcement made by High Court Syariah Judge Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Metussin Bin Baki over RTB news and radio yesterday.

The decision was based on attempts made to sight the new moon at strategic locations to determine the Islamic month of Zulhijjah but which was not in view.

Officials yesterday made attempts to sight the new crescent moon at several vantage locations at Bukit Shahbandar in Jerudong, Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District and Bukit Lumut in the Belait District.

In Bukit Shahbandar, among the officials present were the Pehin Khatib Awang Haji Suhaili Al Hafiz, Ustaz Haji Lazim bin Hj Metali, Pengiran Haji Mohammad bin Pg Haji Ahmad from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and from the Survey Department GDC Hj Julaihi bin Hj Lamat, Acting Senior Surveyor.

Aidiladha occurs on the 10m day of the Islamic month of Zulhijjah. It is one of two Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. Aidiladha is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son (Ismail) for Allah and also marks the end of the pilgrimage or haj for millions of Muslims who make the trip to Mecca each year.

Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest and perform prayer in a large congregation. To celebrate Aidiladha, Muslims who can afford it are to sacrifice domestic animals, as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice. This sacrifice is called "Qurban."

The meat is equally distributed amongst neighbours relatives and the poor and hungry. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Aidiladha by the converted effort to see that no impoverished Muslim is e without sacrificial food during this day.

Aidiladha gives concrete realisation to what the Muslim community ethic means in practice. People in these days visit their relations, starting from their parents, then, their families and friends. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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