Hundreds of Muslims in Mombasa attended special Idd-ul-Adha in the open grounds of Tononoka as pilgrims from across the globe continue to conduct the final days of Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Idd-ul-Adha, which in Arabic means the “festival of the sacrifice,” commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform it once in their life time.
Idd-ul-Adha is one of the two Islamic festivals, the other being Idd-ul-fitr which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan.
The last three days of Hajj are marked by three events, a final circling of the Kaaba, casting pebbles in the Mina and removing the ihram. Men often shave their heads at the end in a sign of religious renewal.
During the religious festival, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.
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Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Organizing Secretary, Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa called on well to do Muslims to share with the less fortune in the society.
Sheikh Khalifa also lauded the government for recognition of the Muslim community by granting them a public holiday.
The cleric called on political leaders to exercise restraint in politics through their utterances in public.
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Former Mombasa Senator, Hassan Omar faulted the leader of majority in the National Assembly, Aden Duale for attacking Chief Kadhi, Sheikh Ahmed Mudhar on his stand on matters of Idd celebrations.
According to the former Senator, in the last six years, Muslim leaders passed a law that the Idd celebrations should be observed according to the sighting of crescent moon in Kenya and not Saudi Arabia.
