Eid al-Adha

"Mwana mkaidi hafaidi hadi siku ya Idi" was a popular proverb back in my high school days. Like many others, it had a rhythm to it that made it stick. We’d get so caught up in the rhyme that sometimes we’d completely miss the meaning!



Remember sayings like: Cha mkufu huha, Mwenda tenzi na omo, Maskini akipata... They had a way of gluing us to the words. Which one was your favorite?


Now, I opened with the Eid proverb because today we’re taking a break to mark Eid al-Adha. I say “we” not because everyone is celebrating, but because it’s a national public holiday. However — just like those catchy proverbs — many of us don’t actually know what this day is all about. You might hear the resurrection of the Akorinos joke “When will the Akorinos give us a public holiday?” 😅


But truly, most of us hear “Eid” and carry on without asking questions.


So, What Is Eid al-Adha?


I encourage you to make the internet your friend today. Look up what Eid al-Adha means. It's more than just a day off — it holds deep significance in the Islamic world.



And interestingly, this celebration is tied to one of the main theological splits between Islam and Christianity.


It traces all the way back to a hill where Christians believe God provided a ram for Abraham in place of his son Isaac. Muslims believe it was Ishmael, not Isaac, who was to be sacrificed — and that God honored Abraham's submission by sparing him. Christians believe that in later years, on that same hill, Jesus was crucified to which Islam says "lies". It was Judas or another random guy who was hanged on the tree, then this Kafirs(as those outside Islam are referred to by some of our Muslim friends and neighbors) went around lying that it was Jesus. CCTV captured nothing that afternoon. There was darkness everywhere 🤦.


This disagreement has massive implications.

In fact, Islam holds that the Christian Bible was corrupted — that Isaac’s name was inserted in place of Ishmael’s to mislead the unbelievers.



I share this not to stir up debate, but to spark curiosity.


As you enjoy the break today, take some time to learn.

Then, more importantly, pray — for the Muslim world, and for those who work among them to share the gospel of grace and truth.


May this not just be a holiday of rest, but a moment of reflection and mission.

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