Muslims celebrate Eid: Urged to keep peace and unity

Muslims in the country celebrated a low-profile Eid-ul-Azha (Festival of Sacrifice) - some of them wearing black armband expressing solidarity with Mumbai's Hindus and persecuted Christians in Orissa.

The second largest religion in India, Islam, has been under scrutiny following the Mumbai massacre that killed over a hundred by Jihadi terrorists.

Eid Al Adha (Bakrid) - the festival of supreme sacrifice is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail on god's command.

On this day, imams under the banner of the All-India Organisation of Imams of Mosques, called for subdued festivities, urging people to live in peace and unity.

The imams described the carnage as an attack on the nation and appealed to mosques, muftis and madressas to point out in Friday's prayers that Islam forbad the killing of innocent people and was against any form of terrorism.

"We are deeply aggrieved by the loss of human lives, especially by the brutal killing of Jews," they said in a statement.

"We have to think above caste, class, region and religion. It's an attack on India, and all true Indians should come forward and salute the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country."

They also suggested the Muslims to avoid slaughtering cows on Eid-ul-Azha as a

mark of respect to the religious beliefs of Hindus.

Maharashtra United Nations Association was the next to condemn the attacks and urge Muslims to celebrate Eid in a "low profile" manner due to the recent Mumbai massacre.

"We request Muslims to put a black band on the arm while going for Eid prayers and pray for peace and harmony in the country," said General Secretary of the Association KAA Syed.