Eid al-Adha, Tunis, Tunisia
Wandering deep in the maze of Tunis’ medina, an urgent bellowing broke the silence of the deserted cobbled alleys. Rounding the corner I found a ram being tethered in front of a mosque. The tetherer explained that it was just before the start of Eid al-Ahda, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail (Ishmael). He had brought the family’s sacrifice and was leaving it at the mosque.
Muslims who can afford to sacrifice an animal sacrifice their best halal domestic animals (usually a cow, but it can also be a camel, goat, sheep or ram depending on the region). The sacrificed animals, called aḍḥiya, have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice.
The meat is then divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the other third is given to the poor and needy. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid al-Adha by concerted efforts to see that no impoverished person is left without an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial meal.
Love the ram picture!
Thanks, it was quite a spooky experience hearing a farmyard bleating so deep in the ancient city walls.
Tunis’ medina is an amazing place. I went there once.
Tunis is such a beautiful, modern and multi cultural city and the Medina is so big and loud and colorful and full of life. Truly the heart of the city.
Too bad I was there only for a day.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you! Oddly, although we didn’t know this at the time, we were there for the last Eid before the Arab Spring which started nearby. We also hope to return someday.
This resonated with me a lot today as I was reading an article about the far right in the US (and what I think of as faux apocalypse Christianity) and their complete and utter disregard for the poor. Makes you think.
Absolutely. Fundamentalists seems to miss out on the fundamentals of humanity!
Love that Tunisian blue. Did you get to Sidi Bou Said? Amazing place.
Yes, Sidi Bou is so beautiful, but so dependent on tourism (like most of Tunisia) that we can only hope it is holding up all right.
That Tunisian blue is so distinctive, so vivid, that the other day we saw a trailer for a documentary and were able to identify the country from the blue doors in the background. Thanks for the comment!