Hajj & New Year's Resolutions For All

This year’s New Year holiday will be truly unique for me. As most of my fellow Americans will be preparing for the festivities, many Muslims (including myself) will be abstaining from food and drink during the daylight hours. And it won’t be part of an effort to lose weight in 2007. Rather, it will be in honor of this year’s

, or the "Feast of the Sacrifice," which is the second major religious holiday for Muslims.

Eid-ul-Adha (which will most likely fall on Dec. 31, 2006) commemorates the

to sacrifice his only son for the sake of God. To honor Abraham’s sacrificing of an animal instead, Muslims will sacrifice an animal and distribute its meat in thirds: To friends and family, to themselves, and to the poor.

Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day of the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah, and it is the culmination of the annual Hajj ritual, where more than 2 million Muslim faithful descend on the holy city of Mecca and its surroundings to perform the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage.

The day before the Eid is the day of Arafat, where the pilgrims stand on the plains of Arafat. It is believed Adam and Eve were reunited in Arafat after being expelled from the Garden of Paradise and begged for forgiveness from God. The day of Arafat is the most important part of the entire Hajj. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was reported to have said, "The essence of the Hajj is the day of Arafat." In solidarity with their brothers and sisters who are blessed to perform the pilgrimage, all Muslims are encouraged to fast on the day of Arafat.

The day of Arafat this year will most likely to be on Dec. 30th this year. At this time, people typically reflect over the past year and its events. Many look back on their weaknesses and shortcomings and resolve to be better the following year. Some of these New Year resolutions include losing weight, spending more time with family, and doing more charity work. This self-reflection is a good thing, and I believe we should undergo such a process much more than once a year.

With this in mind, it is fitting that Islam’s day of Arafat occurs coincides with the start of the New Year (as is celebrated by many around the world). On the plains of Arafat, everything is laid bare before the Almighty. The day is short on rituals: Pilgrims simply stand before God in a "dress rehearsal" of the Day of Judgment, and they beg--sometimes literally scream out to--the Lord to forgive their trespasses, admit them into His Grace, and fulfill their deepest prayers.

On that day, not only do pilgrims (and the Muslims all over) reflect over faults and mistakes committed over the past year--as we typically do on the New Year holiday-- but we also reflect over all the mistakes made during our entire lifetime. It can be an overwhelming experience.

Continued on page 2: Let's have New Day resolutions and daily mini-Arafats... »