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Kurban Bayram
History
Four thousand years ago, the valley of Mecca was a dry and
uninhabited place. According to Islamic history, the Prophet
Ibrahim (Abraham) was instructed to bring Hajar and their child
Ismael to Arabia from the land of Palestine by God's command.
As Ibrahim was ready to return to Palestine, Hajar asked him, "Who
ordered you to leave us here"? When Ibrahim replied: "Allah" (God),
Hajar said, "then Allah will not forget us; you can go".
Although Ibrahim had left a large quantity of food and water
with Hajar and Ismael, the supplies quickly ran out and within a
few days the two were suffering from hunger and dehydration.
According to the story, a desperate Hajar ran up and down
between two hills called Safa and Marwa seven times, trying to
find water. Finally, she collapsed beside her baby Ismael and
prayed to Allah for deliverance. Ismael struck his foot on the
ground, causing a spring of water to gush forth from the earth.
Other accounts have the angel Jibral (Gabriel) striking the
earth and causing the spring to flow. With this secure water
supply, they were not only able to provide for their own needs,
but were also able to trade water with passing nomads for food
and supplies. When the Prophet Ibrahim returned from Palestine
to check on his family, he was amazed to see them running a
profitable well.
The Prophet Ibrahim was told by God to build a shrine dedicated
to him adjacent to Hajar's well (the Zamzam Well). Ibrahim and
Ismael constructed a small stone structure—the Kaaba—which was
to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their
faith in Allah. As the years passed, Ismael was blessed with
Prophethood and gave the nomads of the desert his message of
surrender to Allah. After many centuries, Mecca became a
thriving city and a major center for trade, thanks to its
reliable water source, the well of Zamzam. i other words muslims
are great beleifers of allah and we should all respect that
One of the main trials of Prophet Ibrahim's life was to face the
command of Allah to devote his dearest possession, his only son.
Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will.
During this preparation, when Satan tempted Prophet Ibrahim and
his family, Hajar and Ismael drove Satan away by throwing
pebbles at him. To remember this rejection of Satan, stones are
thrown during Hajj.
At the time of sacrifice, Ibrahim discovered a sheep died
instead of Ismail, whom he hacked through neck. When Ibrahim was
fully prepared to complete the sacrifice, Allah revealed to him
that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. Ibrahim had
shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others: that he
would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in
order to submit to God. Muslims commemorate this superior act of
sacrifice during Eid al-Adha. |
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Kavurma Kebab (Tas
Kebab)
This is prepared in Kurban Bayram
5 Servings
1 finely chopped onion
1 kilo of lamb, cut into small pieces
1 soup spoon butter
1 soup spoon flour
1 soup spoon salt
1 soup spoon tomato sauce
2 tomatoes - peeled, seeded, and cut into small pieces
5 glasses of water
Keep these in a small bag of thin fabric:
1 bunch parsley
1 soup spoon of thyme
1/2 soup spoon of pepper corns
2 bay leaves
2 cloves of garlic
Heat the butter in a saucepan and partially cook the meat in it
for 8 to 10 minutes. Then add and partially cook the onions for
2 min. Add the tomato sauce and stir. Add the flour and stir
again. Add the bag of spices, salt and water. Cook 15 minutes on
a low heat. Add the tomato over the meat. Cook 20 minutes or
longer. Remove the spice bag and serve. |
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