Kenric was on the balcony telling me that the call to prayer at the Et’hem Bej Mosque down the block seemed to be getting an unusually large crowd this morning. I was quite surprised to see so many people going to the mosque at around 7:00 am.

Then, I remembered it’s Eid al-Adha, the holiest of the Islamic holy days. Also referred to as Eid Qurban (Sacrifice), it commemorates the sacrifice Ibrahim (Abraham) was willing to make for Allah (God) – sacrificing his son Ismail (Ishmael). At the last minute, when Ibrahim’s obedience was clear, Ismail was replaced with a lamb and the sacrifice proceeded. Today, the sacrificed meat is shared with the poor and relatives. Eid al-Adha also marks the end of Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca for those who can afford the journey. Happy Eid al-Adha to all our Muslim friends!

A short while later, the nearby Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral rang its bells reminding Christians of their Sunday church service. So, the Muslims and Christians have good reasons to be up, but we two heathens are simply jet lagged.