A Different Smith PHOTOGRAPHY
Amy C. Smith

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Idul Adha

 A boy rides his bike around the front of the mosque as prayers wind down.  People slowly trickle out, heading home to break the fast they held as their own sacrifice leading up to this sacred day.
A boy rides his bike around the front of the mosque as prayers wind down.  People slowly trickle out, heading home to break the fast they held as their own sacrifice leading up to this sacred day.
 Shoes are put aside as the community joins in prayer.  With so many members present on this special day, these men set up their prayer maps in the street parallel to the mosque to make way for the women and elderly within the mosque walls.  The normally busy streets of Jakarta welcomed this calm congestion as the cities population joined in the ceremonies across town.
  • Shoes are put aside as the community joins in prayer.  With so many members present on this special day, these men set up their prayer maps in the street parallel to the mosque to make way for the women and elderly within the mosque walls.  The normally busy streets of Jakarta welcomed this calm congestion as the cities population joined in the ceremonies across town.
 A young girl looks around as individuals start leaving the prayer space to head home with their families to break fast before the sacrifices begin.
A young girl looks around as individuals start leaving the prayer space to head home with their families to break fast before the sacrifices begin.
 We look on as families leave prayers to go home to break fast.  Along their way, they visit with the Imam, who had been welcoming us to their ceremony and community.  The young girl presses her cheek to the back of the Imam’s hand to show her respect.
We look on as families leave prayers to go home to break fast.  Along their way, they visit with the Imam, who had been welcoming us to their ceremony and community.  The young girl presses her cheek to the back of the Imam’s hand to show her respect.
 Men collect the prayer mats as people join their families to break fast.  There was quiet calm in the neighborhood after the prayers had finished – no more speakers echoing the prayers and chants; no more shuffling feet.  The only sounds were these men and the quiet bleats and bellows from the goats and cows awaiting their fate.
Men collect the prayer mats as people join their families to break fast.  There was quiet calm in the neighborhood after the prayers had finished – no more speakers echoing the prayers and chants; no more shuffling feet.  The only sounds were these men and the quiet bleats and bellows from the goats and cows awaiting their fate.
 The kurban (animals for sacrifice) were comfortable, well fed and looked after as they waited for the community to return.  A goat can cost between 900,000 and 1.7 million rupee and is usually bought by one family. Alternatively, a cow requires a 7-person buy in and usually costs between 10 and 16 million rupee.  Animals for sacrifice must be mature and healthy.
The kurban (animals for sacrifice) were comfortable, well fed and looked after as they waited for the community to return.  A goat can cost between 900,000 and 1.7 million rupee and is usually bought by one family. Alternatively, a cow requires a 7-person buy in and usually costs between 10 and 16 million rupee.  Animals for sacrifice must be mature and healthy.
 Upon their return, the men, women and children of the community gather to witness the sacrifices.  Men work together to sooth the animals and gently restrain them using rope as they lay the creatures down.  The biggest sacrifices, the cows, are performed first.  From there, they move on to the smaller goats.
  • Upon their return, the men, women and children of the community gather to witness the sacrifices.  Men work together to sooth the animals and gently restrain them using rope as they lay the creatures down.  The biggest sacrifices, the cows, are performed first.  From there, they move on to the smaller goats.
 While this can be challenging to watch, we found it highly enlightening.  Donise and Dan were happy to watch from further back as the community members shuffled in and out of the sacrificing arena at the rear of the mosque property.  We received only smiles and kind words in response to our attendance.  We had a few community members come over, practicing their English, eager to help us understand the proceedings and other elements of Islam.
  • While this can be challenging to watch, we found it highly enlightening.  Donise and Dan were happy to watch from further back as the community members shuffled in and out of the sacrificing arena at the rear of the mosque property.  We received only smiles and kind words in response to our attendance.  We had a few community members come over, practicing their English, eager to help us understand the proceedings and other elements of Islam.
 The experience is a somber and respectful one.  These Muslim women look on from further back as the smells and sights are quite intense.
  • The experience is a somber and respectful one.  These Muslim women look on from further back as the smells and sights are quite intense.
 One of the men charged with butchering the animals sharpens his blade.  They work efficiently and respectfully as they butcher the sacrificed animals, preparing the meat and other parts to be distributed.
One of the men charged with butchering the animals sharpens his blade.  They work efficiently and respectfully as they butcher the sacrificed animals, preparing the meat and other parts to be distributed.
 During a sacrifice, no part of the animal is wasted.  Butchering is done tactfully as they work to maintain the honor of the sacred creature.  The only parts of a sacrificed animal that will not be eaten are genitals, bladder, gall bladder and flowing blood.
  • During a sacrifice, no part of the animal is wasted.  Butchering is done tactfully as they work to maintain the honor of the sacred creature.  The only parts of a sacrificed animal that will not be eaten are genitals, bladder, gall bladder and flowing blood.
 In the complex of the mosque, there are public areas and holy areas.  When entering the holy areas, it is customary to remove your shoes to keep the holy space pure.  It is also common to perform “wudu,” a cleansing ritual, before entering the prayer area.  In the back of the mosque, there was a pool of water intended to help cleanse the feet, which were moving between holy and not holy spaces.
  • In the complex of the mosque, there are public areas and holy areas.  When entering the holy areas, it is customary to remove your shoes to keep the holy space pure.  It is also common to perform “wudu,” a cleansing ritual, before entering the prayer area.  In the back of the mosque, there was a pool of water intended to help cleanse the feet, which were moving between holy and not holy spaces.
Idul Adha - From the Outside Looking In

Idul Adha.  Eid Mubarak.  Eid al-Adha.  This is the Muslim day of Sacrifice, where Muslim’s honor Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son, Ishmael, as commanded by Allah.  For this holiday, communities gather for prayer, breaking fast, witnessing the sacrifices of goats and cattle, and distributing the wares.  Priority is given to the poor, elderly and sick.  Men of the community work together to slaughter and butcher the sacrificed animals, all within the confines of the mosque property. 


As a westerner unfamiliar with Muslim traditions, I was eager to experience this holiday first hand, along with a couple of friends..  Society had led us to believe that slaughtering animals should be viewed as barbaric and inhumane.  While we may not choose to participate and found parts hard to watch, it was an enlightening experience.  We were welcomed with open arms by the local community members, who were eager to help us understand their religious beliefs and practices.
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A Different Smith Photography - Amy C Smith
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