06 Oct 2013   06:57:34 PM   Sunday BdST

Eid-ul-Azha on October 16

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DHAKA: Eid-ul-Azha, one of the two biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on October 16 amid religious fervour and gaiety.

The decision came from a National Moon Sighting Committee meeting on Sunday evening at the Islamic Foundation.

The meeting said the moon the Zilhajj month was sighted in Gaibandha and Thakugaon.

This day, the 10th of Zilhajj some 4,000 years ago, Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah. But the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and, instead, sent a ram to be sacrificed.

To commemorate this event, Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two prophets--Hazrat Ibrahim (As) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).