Saturday, November 5, 2011

Hari Raya Haji & Puasa!



Hello!
APA KHABAR ("How are you" in Malay)?
Selemat Hari Raya Haji!

Hari Raya Puasa- Celebration for the Malays who have completed their fasting period. Yeah! Most of the families will give out duit-raya, which is commonly known as the green packet during this celebration. Hari Raya Puasa lasts for a month.


Hari Raya Haji (which is this coming Sunday!) Are you excited my fellow and lovely Malay customers and friends??? – This festival is different from Hari Raya Puasa. Very different in fact! It is a celebrate for scarification. (Yes, commonly known as the "Goat story"!) It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in an act of obedience to God. Some families will still give out duit-raya but it is not commonly seen because fewer families celebrate this festival.


"On that day itself,  muslims worldwide sacrifice sheep, cows or camels for the sake of religion and community. Some families will fork out money together to buy a goat. They will then bring the goat to a mosque to perform the sacrificial slaughtering after the Hari Raya Haji congregational prayers. This sacrificial slaughtering, also known as korban, is a voluntary act. Sheep, goats and cows are ritually slaughtered as sacrifice. The meat is then distributed to the community, neighbours and relatives, with special attention to the needy and poor, as a reminder to share one's wealth with others. Muslim Singaporeans are increasingly doing korban with Muslim associations and mosques, locally and abroad.


During the sacrifice, prayers are uttered and the sheep's throat is slit with razor-sharp knives. This act must be done with confidence and quickly, so as to minimise the animal's suffering. This is in accordance with Islamic law, where halal does not literally mean that the food contains neither pork nor lard, but it has to be prepared properly according to Islamic requirements."

Some of the resources and background information are extracted from: http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/sip_694__2009-01-02.html
:) ;)

To all TNS' beloved Malay customers, we sincerely wish all of you a very happy and blessed Hari Raya Haji! To all, spend this time to wish your Muslim friends and send your warmest regards to them!

Not to forget, remember to visit us, The Nail Status too! We will be really glad to see all of you! :)

Xoxo, TNS!