THOUSANDS of Reading Muslims took to Palmer Park for a beautiful celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.
Visitors observed prayers before a lively funfair on Saturday, July 9, in an event hosted by Cumberland Road Masjid.
Eid-ul-Adha is one of two Islamic festivals celebrated worldwide every year.
Organiser Shazad Asghar was full of praise for the event’s success, saying: “It’s gone really well, it’s really nice to see so many Muslims and families, old and young.
“We’ve got a lot of people coming from surrounding areas, so this is a festival for everyone to get together and meet people.
“Some of the families have got nowhere to go in Reading, some don’t have family.
“So this is what it’s all about, to get everyone together and to enjoy ourselves. It was great to see everyone’s smiles as they arrived.”
The festival honours Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. Allah provided Ibrahim with a lamb to sacrifice in his son’s place.
The occasion encourages Muslims give back to those in need.
Mr Asghar explained: “This festival comes after Hajj, which is our holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
“This means a lot to us because it’s a reminder of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only child, Ismail, so it’s all about giving.
“Today, many will go to the halal meat butchers, place orders, and distribute that meat across families, shelter homes and so on.”
Preparations for the event began at 5.30am, with prayers starting at 9am.
Guest speaker Sheikh Abu Taymiyyah delivered the Khutbah speech, highlighting the celebration as an opportunity to consolidate visitors’ faith.
Families were then treated to entertainment including fairground rides, an ice cream van and egg and spoon races.
Start-up business Dalia showcased elegant traditional dresses and jewellery, while Mr M’s Hut provided refreshments.
Of the celebration, visitor Syed Ahmed, said: “It’s a community gathering we have twice a year, just like Christians get together for Christmas and Easter.
“People think that Islam relates to a specific country or culture, but you can see people from all walks of life, all cultures, all countries.
“In the same row that you’re praying on, you could be standing next to someone who’s English, born and brought up here, or someone from Africa, someone from Asia, someone from Japan or from China, so there’s no discrimination.
“It’s a big Islamic gathering and it shows the spirit of the community, the spirit of Muslims and the spirit of the British Muslims. They are not inside the walls of their culture or their country, they are a global community.”
The festivities saw thousands enjoy each other’s company, something people have been more hesitant to do in recent times due to the pandemic, according to Mr Asghar.
The organiser hopes the event can showcase the rich values of Islam to the wider community.
“It shows passersby that Islam is a religion of peace,” he explained.
“We are all here together and everyone’s got smiles on their faces and it’s bringing unity, it’s bringing the community together.”
