Sunni cleric: “Unity crystallized during Hajj ritual”

BOJNORD, Iran (Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “In hajj congregation, all Muslims from different parts of the World gather so as to do their duties and this is far and away the best tool for showing unity lies among Muslim nations to people worldwide,” said the Friday Prayer Leaders and Preachers of Jargalan, Akhound Samadi.The Sunni cleric pointed to some customs people in Jargalan area and underscored, “Women in this area on the eve of Eid al-Adha clean their houses and a day prior to the eve visits each other.”“People in this area invite the religious clerics and pundits to their houses, celebrate this day,” said Akhound Samadi.Torkaman people celebrate this day for three days and invite each other for dinner and lunch to their houses.Millions of Muslims across Iran are celebrating Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), which marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.During the religious festival, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute meat among friends, family and the poor. The holiday commemorates Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham (PBUH)’s submission to divine order to sacrifice his son, Esmaeil (PBUH). However, God provided Ibrahim (PBUH) with a lamb to sacrifice instead.Millions of Muslims around the world celebrate the auspicious occasion and gather in congregations in the early morning for Eid al-Adha prayers.Meanwhile, around two million Muslims, wearing a plain white garment, converged on the Valley of Mina outside the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia Tuesday to celebrate Eid al-Adha.The major rituals of the Hajj are performed during a five-day period from the 8th through the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Muslim lunar calendar.The Hajj pilgrimage is a religious ritual, which must be performed by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it at least once in his or her lifetime./129