Celebrating Eid al-Adha Amid a Pandemic

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/01/us/eid-al-adha-coronavirus.html

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Most countries observed Eid al-Adha on Friday, and so a belated Eid Mubarak to all who celebrated one of the holiest days in Islam. It is meant to remind Muslims of their faithfulness to Allah and each other, through Zakat, one of the five pillars of the religion that focuses on charity.

The holiday commemorates the story of the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail. Allah ultimately spared Ismail, and instead sacrificed a ram. You might know the story as Abraham and Isaac, per the Judeo-Christian tradition. This is why Eid al-Adha is known as the festival of sacrifice and why families slaughter an animal — often a goat, sheep or a cow — to give to a family in need.

Eid al-Adha also comes right after Hajj, a sacred pilgrimage to Mecca that is a mandate for Muslims who are able-bodied and can afford the five-day trip. Usually 2.5 million Muslims make the journey. But this year, because of the global pandemic, Saudi Arabia said it would allow just 1,000 people, and all from within the kingdom.

I’m celebrating — socially distanced — with my parents and one of my sisters, who lives in the New York City borough of Queens, not far from our parents and from where I grew up. My dad went to a socially distanced prayer service in the morning and my mom and I prayed at home. My mom usually makes a feast — pulao, biryani, kebabs and much more — but made much less food this year.

Our pared down celebration got me thinking: How else are American Muslims observing Eid al-Adha this year? I talked to a few people across the country about how they planned to celebrate. Here’s what they say had to say, edited lightly for length and clarity:

Ahmed Ali Akbar, a journalist and host of the podcast “See Something, Say Something,” has been in quarantine in Michigan with his wife and his father since March.

Kima Jones, the founder of a book publicity agency committed to literature by Black writers and writers of color, lives in Los Angeles and will be celebrating with her two brothers who have been in quarantine with her.

Shahana Hanif, is running for a seat on the New York City Council to represent District 39 in Brooklyn. She lives with her parents in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

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