Today marks the Islamic Holiday of Eidul-Adha (pronounced, EEEDul-odd-ha). Muslims have only two holidays.

The first eid is called Eidul-fitr (EEEdul-fitter) which is a prayer and sermon at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan to celebrate the lessons learned from fasting and showing God appreciation for the numerous gifts bestowed upon us. The second holiday is this Friday, Eidul-Adha, which commemorates the almost-sacrifice of Abraham of his son. The impact of this story is sometimes lost on many. Abraham, who is attributed by many to be the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, was a man who firmly believed in strict monotheism. When his environment, his people, his world, were lost in polytheism and atheism, he stood firm on the worship of the One True God, without partners nor images. He stood alone. In the Quran, Allah calls Abraham, a nation to himself. As he aged, some say he was anywhere from a few hundred to 800 yrs old, he prayed to God for a son. He had traveled extensively, throughout many parts of the known world, and invited the people to the worship of God. He was rejected constantly. Towards the end of his mission, he prayed to God for a son, an heir, to carry on the mission of inviting mankind to strict monotheism. After asking God for a son, an inheritor of the mission, God granted Abraham a son. As the son was growing and the bond was created between father and son, God, commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. The very son he had prayed for and wanted and desired for years. Abraham, who had strong conviction in God, realized that his son had come from God, that all of creation must submit to God, regardless of our feelings and attachments to the life of this world. Abraham did not whine about how much he loved his son, or aspirations or dreams that he had for his son. Abraham submitted without hesitation, and for this reason, Abraham was raised in ranks in this world and the hereafter. His son, who some estimate was anywhere from a pre-teen to late teens in age, also willingly submitted to the request of his father and did not hesitate. Both of these men are examples of true belief in God by truly showing mankind the meaning of how best to show thanks and gratitude to God. There is nothing more beloved by God than for mankind to show appreciation to their Lord for all they possess. Furthermore, mankind should be willing to sacrifice anything and everything to God. This is the true meaning of worship, sacrifice, and love for God. Lip-service worship is easy for anyone. But true sacrifice in the cause of God is the example that all of God's warners, messengers and prophets left for us. From God we come and to Him we shall all return. So as we reflect at this time of year for all the good we have, let us not forgive that everything we get comes from God. We are here for a short time and what we have on this Earth is a loan from God. We will all die and return to our Lord and be questioned about our conduct and beliefs. Covetousness, envy, jealousy and greed are heinous sins which entraps mankind and are detrimental to the wholesomeness of our souls.