Islamic Society Of Franklin Township Celebrates One Of Faith’s Holiest Holidays

Members of the Islamic Society of Franklin Township pray during their Eid-al-Adha celebration at the Holiday Inn.

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Members of the Islamic Society of Franklin Township gathered Sept. 12 in a hotel ballroom to celebrate one of the holiest days in the Muslim calendar, Eid-al-Adha, or the “Feast of the Sacrifice.”

Nearly 100 of the society’s members showed up at the Holiday Inn on Davidson Avenue for the prayer.

The celebration commemorates Ibraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael, at God’s command, according to the faith tradition. Just before he was to do so, Ibraham was commanded to instead sacrifice a lamb.

Muslims around the world celebrate the holiday by sacrificing sheep, goats or cows, and then share the meat with friends and relatives.

Adherents also make pilgrimages to Mecca, one of the Islamic holy cities, to pray and make supplications.

Abdullah Savage, the society’s chief Imam, said the day is a commemoration of Ibraham’s test of faith.

Pilgrims who travel to Mecca are making the ultimate test of faith, he said.

Pilgrims leave their homes and travel to a foreign land, not knowing if they will return, he said.

But when they complete their supplications, he said, “it is as if they were born anew and all their sins were forgiven.”

“Its a way for them to turn a new page,” he said.

The pilgrimage is a pillar of Islam, Savage said, and is expected of all Muslims who are able to make the trip.

“If you fail to do so, you will be answerable to the almighty God on the day of judgment,” he said.

One of the society’s founding Imams, Al Hassan Barry, said the group has between 200 and 300 members.

They usually meet at a Lewis Street mosque, he said, but have to use hotel ballrooms for their larger events.

“We’ve been doing a good job for our community,” he said. “We do all sorts of work for our community.”

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