KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims all over the country yesterday celebrated Aidiladha on a moderate scale, but with a sense of gratitude and the spirit of sacrifice.
SPIRIT OF SHARING: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (second left) distributes meat to Mohamad Alif Aqmal, 8, in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha 2010 at Dewan Jinjang Utara, Jinjang longhouse. The event was organised by Umno Kepong branch. — Bernama photo
They attended prayers at mosques and surau and slaughtered animals such as cows and goats to mark the festival of sacrifice which comes at the end of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak attended prayers at the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
In Perlis and Kedah, the festival comes at a time when some 70,000 people are putting their houses in order in the wake of the massive floods earlier this month which had driven them to relief centres.
They are grateful though that they did not have to celebrate the occasion at the relief centres.
During the celebration of Aidiladha, Muslims commemorate and remember the trials of Prophet Ibrahim. One of the prophet’s main trials was to face the command of Allah (God) to kill his only son.
When he was prepared to submit to Allah’s will, Allah revealed to him that his ‘sacrifice’ had already been fulfilled and that his love for Allah superceded all others.
In Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang joined more than 3,000 Muslims at Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque in Kuantan.
The sacrificial slaughter of animals was carried out at mosques and surau in the state, including 659 cows donated by 20 private firms to the 14 Umno divisions and 55 mosques in the Pekan parliamentary constituency of the prime minister.
In Perlis, the festival was celebrated on a moderate scale as many of the people were still cleaning up their houses following the recent floods. Nevertheless, the sacrificial slaughter of animals was carried out.
In Kampung Katong, Pauh, near Kangar, a group of Perlis journalists carried out the sacrificial slaughter of a cow and held a ‘kenduri’ (feast) in the village.
The Perlis government had distributed about 100 head of cattle for sacrificial slaughter throughout the state yesterday.
In Kedah, which experienced massive floods that sent more than 60,000 people to relief centres recently, the festival was celebrated on a moderate scale.
Hashim Ahmad, 60, of Taman Kepala Batas in Alor Setar, said he marked the festival with prayers at the mosque because he had yet to finish cleaning up his house after the floods and that he was also suffering from gout.
In Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor attended Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in Shah Alam, along with more than 10,000 people. Also in the congregation were Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and several state executive councillors.
Twenty-nine head of cattle had been donated, including by the sultan and the state government, for sacrificial slaughter.
The sacrificial slaughter of six cows was conducted at the Shah Alam district police headquarters in Section 11. Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn Bhd (PLSASB) also conducted the sacrificial slaughter of four cows at the An Nur surau in Taman Sri Lembayung, Section 25, and distributed the meat to nearby residents.
In Sabah, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah attended Aidiladha prayers along with fellow Muslims at the Tun Ahmadshah Mosque in Kampung Inanam Laut near Kota Kinabalu.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman attended prayers at the Kampung Tinusa Dua Mosque in Sandakan, and attended a thanksgiving event organised by the Batu Sapi Barisan Nasional at the Sandakan community hall.
In Kelantan, the Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra Sultan Ismail Petra, attended Aidiladha prayers at the Muhammadi Mosque in Kota Baharu and exchanged greetings with the people at the Istana Balai Besar adjacent to the mosque.
The Tengku Mahkota is scheduled to hold a sacrificial slaughter of animals at the Kompleks Islam Jubli Perak Sultan Ismail Petra in Panji at 10.30am today.
The Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, is in Mecca to perform the Haj, along with Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. — Bernama