Muslims around the world are celebrating ‘Eid ul-Adha’, the second most important festival in the Islamic calendar. Since Islamic festivals follow the lunar year, their dates shift approximately ten days earlier each year. The Muslim community observes two major festivals throughout the year. ‘Eid ul-Fitr’ marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, Quran recitation, and spiritual devotion known as ‘Taqwa’. Before the ‘Eid ul-Fitr’ celebrations begin, every Muslim, regardless of their financial status, must give ‘Fitrana’, a form of obligatory charity to the needy, which gives this festival its name meaning the Festival of Charity.
The second major festival, ‘Eid ul-Adha’, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s profound act of faith when he demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail in obedience to God’s command. As Ibrahim prepared to carry out this difficult test of faith, God intervened and replaced Ismail with a ram, thereby establishing the enduring tradition of animal sacrifice that Muslims continue to observe today. During ‘Eid ul-Adha’, Muslims sacrifice animals such as goats, sheep, cows, or camels. Notably, a cow or buffalo counts as seven sacrifices, allowing seven individuals to share one animal. The meat from these sacrifices is carefully divided into three equal portions – one for distribution to the poor, another to be shared with relatives, and the final portion reserved for the family’s own consumption.
The practice of Islamic worship follows a carefully structured progression that begins with the five daily prayers, which may be performed individually or in congregation at mosques or homes. The Friday prayer, known as ‘Jumu’ah’ (in Arabic and Urdu congregation) , represents a communal obligation that brings Muslims together in central mosques. For the ‘Eid’ prayers, Muslims gather in large open spaces, creating a powerful sense of unity as people from different areas come together. The pinnacle of Islamic worship remains the Hajj pilgrimage, an extraordinary spiritual journey that can only be performed in the holy city of Mecca. All Muslim prayers, regardless of where they are performed in the world, are reverently directed toward the Kaaba in Mecca, which serves as the spiritual center of the Islamic faith.
Understanding Muslim consciousness and practices objectively presents significant challenges, which have contributed to the rise of Islamophobia in various parts of the world. Some Muslims, even those living in Western societies, maintain strong adherence to their faith traditions, which can sometimes lead to cultural misunderstandings and conflicts. Islamophobia often manifests when Muslims in non-Muslim majority countries face prejudice for practicing visible aspects of their religion, such as women choosing to wear the hijab, while simultaneously facing societal pressures to assimilate.
Religion represents a deeply personal and formative aspect of identity that begins shaping a person from the moment of birth. For Muslims, the first exposure to their faith typically comes through the Azan, the call to prayer, which is traditionally whispered into a newborn’s ear. This powerful ritual serves to establish a lifelong spiritual connection to Islam. The upbringing and socialization that follows reinforce this religious identity in ways that cannot easily be erased or replaced by external objectivity. It’s important to recognize that Islam fundamentally means “peace,” and contrary to some modern portrayals, the religion does not advocate war or violence as a general principle.
However, historical conflicts and geopolitical events have unfortunately contributed to distorted perceptions of Islam in the modern world. The Afghan Jihad during the 1980s represents a particularly consequential chapter in this complex history. During this period, the United States and its allies supported Afghan ‘Mujahideen’ in their resistance against Soviet influence. As part of this effort, the CIA helped develop curricula for madrassas, or Islamic schools, that militarized religious education. Young students were taught using materials that associated religious concepts with warfare, such as lesson plans that equated the Arabic alphabet with weapons – “A for Allah, B for Bandooq (gun), T for Tank.” This approach fundamentally shaped a generation’s understanding of their faith in the context of armed struggle.
When the Soviet Union collapsed and the conflict ended, the international community largely abandoned these fighters, failing to provide adequate rehabilitation programs or support for reintegration into civilian life. Having been trained exclusively for guerrilla warfare and steeped in this particular interpretation of their faith, many found themselves ill-prepared to adapt to peaceful societies. Without proper guidance and alternative opportunities, some inevitably turned to violence, contributing to cycles of extremism that persist in various forms today. Remnants of these groups continue to exist in different parts of the Muslim world, often struggling to reconcile their wartime indoctrination with the realities of contemporary life.
Despite the democratic values of religious freedom and free expression that many nations uphold, Muslims frequently encounter discrimination, hate speech, and racism in various parts of the world. The roots of Islamophobia are complex, intertwining geopolitical conflicts, media misrepresentation, and the unfortunate consequences of failing to properly reintegrate former combatants into society. Achieving true understanding requires a balanced approach that recognizes Islam’s core teachings of peace while honestly addressing the historical and social factors that have contributed to violent extremism in some quarters. Only through such nuanced understanding can societies move toward greater harmony and mutual respect.
