JAKARTA, Indonesia: Eid-ol Adha, or the Islamic feast of sacrifice, was celebrated on Tuesday in some global parts while on Wednesday in some other with calls for peace around the world.

Eid-ol Adha is the day of commemoration of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him)’s obeying of God’s command to sacrifice his son Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon him).

In Iraq – the soil of Prophets -, main eid prayer congregation was held in the holy city of Najaf that houses the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali (peace be upon him) attended by hundreds of thousands of devotees.

Similar congregations were also held in other cities including holy city of Karbala, Kazemiyah, Samarra, Baghdad and Ammara etc. the speakers and scholars called for an end to the bloodshed that has wracked Iraq since last month’s elections.

Iraqis nationwide celebrated the Eid-ol-Adha with visits to relatives and graves, food and sweets. Lambs were slaughtered, and food was distributed to the poor.

“This Eid is a happy day for all Muslims, especially Iraqis. But it comes after painful events that happened in Karbala and Ramadi,” said Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Like other countries, Eid-ol-Adha was celebrated throughout Pakistan including Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas on Wednesday with religious spirit, devotion and respect. In federal capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, magnificent Eid congregations were held at Jamia Mosques, Imambargahs and open places in which millions of believers by prostrating themselves before Allah offered gratitude of blessings.

In Rawalpindi, main Eid congregation was held at Municipal ground where Quaid-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Sayed Hamid Ali Shah Moosavi, who is also the chief of the Tehreek Nafaz-e-Fiqh-e-Jafariya, led the Eid prayer and delivered sermon. He highlighted the historic occasion of presenting the sacrifice of Hazrat Ismail (A.S.) by Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) in way of Allah and the philosophy of sacrifice. He stressed the need of promoting the pious feelings of sacrifice, brotherhood and tolerance for solution to problems confronted by the humanity.

Various resolutions were adopted on the occasion regarding important national and international matters. Special prayers were offered for end to the troubles faced by the Islamic World, solution of problems, safety of Sha’a’er-Ullah, success of freedom movements being continued the world over, and integrity and solidarity of motherland Pakistan.

In Kano and other northern states, Muslims does not slaughter their animals until after the emir, who is the paramount leader of the society, slaughters his ram publicly at Eid praying ground. From there, official approval is given and the time of sacrifice opens.

In Iran, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani led Eid-ol-Adha prayers at Tehran University.

In Senegal, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Syria, India, Afghanistan, Indonesia, China, Japan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, United States, Belgium, South Africa, Britain and other countries, eid was marked reverently with slaughtering of seep, goats, rams, cows and camels.

From Kano to Port Harcourt, from Maiduguri to Lagos, the atmosphere is filled with aroma occasioned by frying of meat of the sacrificed animals. Interestingly, it is not only the well-to-do that enjoy the benefit of having the bellies full with fried meat; it is also the turn of the poor. Indeed, this is the moment that even the poor enjoy what is otherwise the exclusive reserve of the rich. Part of every ram, goat or cow that is sacrificed is shared not only among family members and friends, but great chunk of it is given out to the needy as well.