1a] When Should Eid Al-Adha Be Celebrated?

1a]
This is why Islamic Shariah does not recognize the birth of the Moon
in blindness; rather it considers its appearance on the horizon. The
ruling of Shariah applies to the observance of the Moon. Only upon
visibility does the month start, not before the appearance on the
horizon.
IS EID AL-ADHA DEPENDANT UPON HAJJ ?
In North America, unfortunately, upon the announcement of startingof
the month Zel-Hijjah, discussions start floating on the assumption
that Eid Al-Adha should be observed on the second day of
Oqoof-e-Arafaat (Hajj). Emphasis is exertedon the belief that there is
no need to observe the Moon on a local level. Those who oppose this
idea are thought to be wrong. Apparently, there is no logic towards
that assumption. Now we will analyze the logic and ask our readers to
read carefully.
If Eid Al-Adha is dependant upon Hajj, then the following objections arise:
I. Making Hajj a condition or dependency factor for Eid Al-Adha is
against the Qura'an and Hadith. Thereis neither proof of it in
theQura'an nor Hadith because there is a long time span between the
permissibility of both events. The Eidain ('Al-Fitr'and 'Al-Adha')
were made obligatory in the first yearof the Hijrah calendar and Hajj
was made obligatory in the ninth year of the Hijrah calendar. The Eids
were declared festivities eight years before Hajj was made obligatory.
"Hadhrat Anas (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) reported that when the
Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) came to Medina, the people had
two days on which they engaged in games. He asked, 'What are these two
days (what is the significance)?' They said, 'We used to engage
ourselves on them in the pre-Islamic period. The Messanger of Allah
(Peace Be Upon Him) said, 'Allah has substituted for them something
better than them, the day of sacrifice (Eid Al-Adha) and the day of
the breaking of the fast(Eid Al-Fitr).'" (Abu Dawood, Book 1, Page
161) / (Nasaee, Book 1, Page 231) / (Sunane Bayhaqee, Book 3, Page
277)
All of the Islamic Laws since the time of our Noble Holy Prophet
(Peace Be Upon Him) are continuously being observed and followed. "Eid
al Adha" and Sacrifice are also being performed continuously without
termination.
The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) performed Eid Al-Adha prayers on
10th of Zel-Hijjah and then sacrificed animals. Now for argument's
sake, let us consider that Eid Al-Adha is dependant upon Hajj. Then
the question arises: How did Muslims perform Eid Al-Adha and sacrifice
animals without the Hajj for those eight years that didn't have Hajj?
Apart from this, other doors of objection open up.
II. As today's technology in communication and its progressions make
the transfer of information seem easy, knowing the day of
Oqoof-e-Arafaat is simple. But when these technologies were not
available, then dependingupon Oqoof-e-Arafaat to observe Eid Al-Adha
would be impossible. In those days the information of Ooqoof-e-Arafaat
would reach distant locations relative to Mecca in months, only after
people come back from the journey of Hajj.
Keeping in mind the above fact, how is it possible for Islamic Shariah
to command its followers to go through the hardship which is beyond
their reach? Allah says in the Qura'an:
"Allah places not burdenon any soul but to the extent of his strength..."
2:286 (Sura Al-Baqarah, Verse 286)
Still, who knows that in this technological age, how many parts of the
world have no communication; and yet, Islam is practiced there and
those who reside there observe their Eid day based solely on local
Moon sighting.
III. To link Eid Al-Adha with Hajj does not have any basis, as Hajj is
an act of worship which is limited to a specific location. On the
contrary, Eid Al-Adha and sacrificinganimals are observed all over the
world. How can aglobal event depend on a local event?
IV. Not having any Islamic historical evidence to link Hajj with Eid
Al-Adha, and inventing something which has no consistency and yet
calling it an Islamic act, how can one suspend the Islamic Shariah's
rules and formulate something newthat never happened in Islamic
history. To follow something unlawful can result in weakening the
religion. (May Allah protect us from such things. Aameen!)
V. Under the situation of the conflicting doctrine, it will follow
that Eid Al-Adha should be observed on a date other than the 10th of
Zel-Hijjahwith the exception of Saudi Arabia, even thoughits
dependency is upon the 10th of Zel-Hijjah. As according to Hadith, Eid
Al-Adha is to be observed on the 10th of Zel-Hijjah only.
"Hadhrat Baraa bin Aazib (May Allah Be Pleased With Him) reported that
the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) gaveus a sermon on the day
ofNahr (10th of Zel-Hijjah)."
(Bukhari, Book 1, Page 132) :->