RANDA SHABAYEK Muslims celebrate Thul-Hijjah

American Muslims, as well as Muslims around the world, are observing activities associated with the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudia Arabia.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. The other pillars include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.
The Hajj is a profound spiritual experience for Muslims, taking them back to the origin of their God-centered faith in the prophet Abraham. It enables Muslims from all around the world, of different colors, languages, races and ethnicities to come together in a spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood to worship the one God together.
When is it?
Hajj activities take place during six days (the 8th-13th) of the Islamic lunar month of Thul-Hijjah and are a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for adult Muslims who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey. Hajj is a form of worship that involves the entire being: body, mind and soul.
The most important day of the pilgrimage is the ninth day of Thul-Hijjah, which falls today. On that day, which is also known as the Day of Arafat, the throng of approximately 2 million pilgrims from all over the world spends the afternoon at the vast Plain of Arafat, believed to be symbolic of the gathering place of the Last Judgment, and prays for God's forgiveness, mercy and guidance. The people then move on to the next station of the pilgrimage.
Although only the pilgrims in Mecca can participate in the Hajj fully, all the other Muslims in the world join them by celebrating Eid-ul-Adha, or Festival of Sacrifice on the 10th of Thul-Hijjah, which falls on Sunday.
This festival is celebrated as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for God, including the life of his son Ishmael. Because God spared Ishmael, substituting a sheep in his stead, Muslims commemorate this occasion by slaughtering an animal, usually a sheep, and distributing its meat among family, friends and the needy as a special act of charity for the occasion.
Prayer gathering
Muslims wear their nicest clothes and attend a special prayer gathering in the morning. This is followed by a short sermon, after which Muslims greet one another. The traditional Eid greeting is "Eid Mubarak," which means "holiday blessings."
Next, people visit each other's homes and partake in festive meals with special dishes, beverages and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets on this joyous occasion.
Muslims in the Valley will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha with early morning prayer followed by a community breakfast. Celebration of the Eid and the honoring of the Hajjis, or pilgrims, will take place on Feb. 15 at the Mahoning Country Club.
XRanda Shabayek of Poland is an engineer and attends the Masjid El Kheir in Youngstown.