Recently our friends and neighbors celebrated the second of the two big holidays in the Muslim world. The first is Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The second, Eid al-Adha, comes a little more than 2 months later and celebrates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. As with many of the Islamic versions of the stories of the patriarchs, prophets and even Jesus – the names are the same and even some details are shared but the overarching narrative of redemptive history is hollowed out and only a shell remains.
Anyway, for us it’s a chance to visit friends and neighbors and learn more about the significance of this holiday in their eyes. We have opportunities to ask questions and better understand the worldview of people here so that we can more clearly present the gospel. And for our kids, it’s a bit like Halloween because they go from house to house and get candy, treats and even coins. They don’t dress up in costumes but they do dress up in new fancy clothes…
