‘Praying in unity’: Eid worshippers celebrate Feast of Sacrifice

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/06/2025 (488 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Around 15,000 local Muslims converged on the convention centre Friday to mark Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

The event remembers the story in the Qur’an of Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son, Ishmael (known as Abraham and Isaac in the Old Testament, or what Jews call the Tanakh). It was held in three sessions to accommodate everyone who came to pray and hear sermons from Islamic leaders.

French speaking worshippers also gathered at the Heather Curling Club for prayers.

Ismael Mukhtar, an imam at the Grand Mosque, preached about the importance of being willing to follow God in life and to submit to him.

One of the leaders who preached at the convention centre was Ismael Mukhtar, an imam at the Grand Mosque. During his sermon, Mukhtar spoke about the importance of being willing to follow God in life and to submit to him.

“As Muslims, we are to follow the example of Ibrahim, to be willing to sacrifice what is most precious to us for God,” he told the gathering.

That, he added, is the essence of Islam, that “we are willing to go to the furthest point of sacrifice in obedience to the creator.”

Eid al-Adha occurs at the end of the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca. Like Eid al-Fitr, which takes place at the end of Ramadan, it has a major focus on charity, or what Muslims qurbani, or sacrifice.

In some countries in the global south, it is common for people to kill a goat, sheep or cow and donate some of the meat to people in need. In Canada, people donate an equivalent amount of the cost of an animal to an organization like Islamic Relief Canada, which uses the funds for programs overseas.

Manitoba Muslims were also encouraged to donate to the Canadian Red Cross to help wildfire evacuees. “We are to care about people around the world, but also about people closer to home,” Mukhtar said.

Hisham Ali, a refugee from Sudan, said the celebration was a time to “enjoy praying with people from other cultures.”

Separated from his family for more than two years, praying with a large group helped Ali, although he admitted it was difficult praying without his family.

Fellow newcomer, Saheed Adeniyi, was happy to see people from different countries and cultures “praying in unity.” Formerly from Nigeria, he said he hoped the Winnipeg community could see people coming together as one and be kind to one another.

Nedzima Mehmedovic, who was there with her daughter, Adna, and mother, Nazifa Vukovic, called the prayers beautiful.

Mehmedovic, who has been in Canada for 20 years after immigrating with her family from Bosnia, says Eid al-Adha is a “spiritually fulfilling” time.

“It’s good to be with so many worshippers,” she said.

After the prayers, participants went to their homes to be with families and friends and to share meals together.

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