IDUL ADHA’S DAY

M y younger brother, Abdul and I were so exited because Idul Adha’s

day would be here soon. Suddenly, Abdul’s face turned sad, he
might be remembering our dad. Actually, it was almost six months
our dad had not gone home. Our dad was a laborer and worked in Batam. He usually
went home once per three months. Not only Abdul and I but also our mom worried our
dad. She sometimes never stopped talking about our dad, and Abdul did too. Actually,
mom had ever written a letter to our dad, but there was not a reply. She could not phone
him because of various reasons. That was why we lost contact with dad for almost
months.
A Friday came, I invited
Abdul to prepare ‘Jum’atan’, a special
ritual prayer on Friday in a big
mosque in our village. We went to the
mosque earlier. After doing ‘Tahiyatul
Masjid’ prayer, then we sit crossleg to
listen Khotib’s sermon. The Khotib
told about Qurban, performing the
sacrifice. I listened it carefully,
meanwhile Abdul just noded his head
and smiled, perhaps he did not
understand what was performing the
sacrifice. After completing our
Jum’atan prayer, we then directly
went home.
“Abdul, let’s go home”, I invited my
brother.
“Wait for a minute, brother”, he hold my right hand. “May I ask you?”, “What does
sacrifice mean?” He delivered me a question.
“Oh..., let me explain you, performing sacrifice or doing Qurban means to sacrifice a
sheep or a goat or an ox or a bufallo or even a camel with the intention of because of
Allah Almighty. It is usually done on the first till fourth day of Idul Adha’s day”, I tried
to explain him.
“Ooo..., then why do we have to do sacrifice?”, he confirmed me.
“Because performing sacrifice is an obligation for every Moslem if he or she is able to
do it. In contrast, if he or she is unable, he does not have an obligation to do it. Later,
the meat of the animal is distributed to the poor people”, I explained him.

I looked his face, he gradually noded his head. He then smiled.

“Brother, if our dad were rich, perhaps we could do sacrifice, couldn’t we?”, he hoped.
“Yes, of course. Insha Alloh”, I ensured him.
“If you wanted our dad perform sacrifice, just keep praying to Alloh Almighty, your
hope must be coming true”, I supported him.
“Yes, I will”, he optimisically replied.
“Come on, let’s go home. Mom must be waiting for us”, I hold his right hand to go
home.

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 After arriving home, mom welcome us and smiled. She hugged and invited us
to have a lunch together. Actually, she had prepared rice, soup, and ‘krupuk’.
“Let’s say ‘Bismillah’, then eat carefully”, said mom.
“Oke, mom, Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahiiim”, said us.
**

Time flied so quickly. Every time, mom, my brother, and I always waited for
our dad. We hope, he would go home soon because Idul Adha’s day would come
tomorrow. We as Moslem usually welcomed it happily.
In early morning of Idul Adha’s day, mom, Abdul, and I went to the mosque
together to do Idul Adha’s prayer. Although, we were so sad because dad did not go
home this year, we tried not to cry and smile. At the mosque, we and all Moslem
performed Idul Adha’s prayer, 2 rakaat, and listen to the Khotib’s sermon. After
compliting the ritual, most of us then went home, and we did too. When we arrived
home, we got so surprised. Why? Because dad went home, yeah... he was standing up in
front of the door. He smiled to us.
“Assalamu’alaikum, my dears”, dad greeted us.
“Wa’alaikumsalam,... Da..da..dad”, we replied his greeting with impossible sense.
Directly, Abdul and I ran and hugged him, and so did our dad. Then, my mom walked
closer, she cried on dad’s shoulder.
“I am so sorry, I just come home for long time you wait for me”, said dad with his soft
voice.
“Abdul, Yusuf, look at to the Jamboo tree”, said him while pointing his right hand.
Then, we took a look, and it was so surprised. Our dad brought a big sheep, yeah... a big
sheep. We saw our dad’s face. His face was full of tears. Then, he said again.
“Although going home late, but your dad goes home in safe. .... and also brings a sheep
for you Abdul.” He tried to explain.
“Look at Abdul, your dream comes true”, I wispered my brother.
“Yes... yes.., brother. Alhamdulillah.” Replied my brother.
“Dad, Abdul, Yusuf, come on, come in. Take a drink first”, our mom’s voice startled us.

I look at my mom, she

gradually smiled, she put her arms
around me and then she said,
“Alhamdulillah, thanks God, finally
your dad comes home when we are
celebrating Idul Adha’s day.”
Abdul and I just nodded, and huged
mom. Then I looked at my dad,
while Abdul came closer to the
sheep.
“Yes, Alhamdulillah, with all of
gratitude, we have to thank to Alloh
Almighty, at last dad could buy a
sheep. We finally could do
sacrifice.” Said Abdul while giving
some benana leaves to the sheep.
“Come on, let’s go. Take our sheep to the mosque. We do a sacrifice.” Our dady
reminded us.
“Sure dad.” We replied togther.

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I looked at Abdul, his face is so glad. We hold a rope in the sheep’s neck to lead it to the
mosque, and Abdul did too.
“Finally, my dream comes true, finally, my dream comes true, finally, my dream comes
true.” Said Abdul while singing louder.
***

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