Islam is keen on making a strong community that is able to face different challenges and crises. In this community, the strong people are merciful to the weak, the rich give charity to the poor, and the able ones help the disabled. Islam is also keen on building an ethical community whose members love each other, cooperate, and help each other in making the good. Islam brought a wonderful methodology in building the whole humanity. It made every individual cooperative with others for the public interest. It taught Muslims to offer help in case of calamity.

The values of solidarity and the helping those in need are essential characteristics of the Muslim community. Islam, uniquely, made such noble social values applicable. In this respect, many examples may be quoted from the first Muslim generation. The Islamic legislation urged, through different means, the Muslims to practice the value of solidarity. Islam is a practical religion that links between both theory and its application. So, Islam does not offer mere ideas and theories that are far from practice. Islam offers the means through which a value can be applicable by Muslims. There are many are Qura'nic texts that reinforce and stress this meaning.

Moreover, the noble manners of the Prophet give us a practical example of solidarity and helping those in need. Among the means through which Muslims can apply solidarity is spending in the cause of Allah during the Muslim feasts. These feasts are `Eid al-Fitr (feast of breaking the fasting) and `Eid al-Adhha (feast of sacrifice). These are two great Islamic feasts that are related to two great worships. `Eid al-Fitr comes directly after the end of the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting. As to `Eid al-Adhhâ, it comes in the end of the first ten days of Zul Hijjah, these blessed ten days in which Muslims perform Hajj. Spending in the cause of Allah in these two feasts is sort of thanking Allah for these two great worships that Muslims perform before these feasts. The souls of the Muslims are purified in these blessed days, the matter that makes it easy to spend and give for the sake of Allah.

Islamic teachings do not merely urge spending in a general way. Rather it urges spending in specific ways, the matter that makes Muslims keen to meet these ways. Hence, the poor will get their rights in the community they live in. Such poor will feel no envy or hatred toward the rich. Undoubtedly, this brings happiness, safety, and stability to the whole community. As to `Eid al-Fitr, Allah made it obligatory on Muslims to pay Zakat al-Fitr (obligatory charity of breaking the fast) to the poor and the needy. Ibn `Abbâs reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made Zakat al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadan) and so that the poor may be fed. Whoever gives it before Salah will have it accepted as Zakat, while he who gives it after the Salah has given Sadaqah." Islam made it incumbent on every free Muslim who possesses food which is more than needed as a basic food for himself or his family for the duration of one day and night. This means that most of Muslims are asked to pay it. This way, the whole Muslim community will participate in such process of giving money or charity, while keeping in mind the words of the Prophet (PBUH), which soften the hearts and urge one to spend,: "Spare them (i.e., the poor) begging on this day (the day of `Eid)."

As regards to `Eid al-Adhhâ, it is sunnah to sacrifice animal during it. Sacrificing animals is one of the resources of social solidarity. The poor and the needy receive their share from the meat of such animals, the matter that makes them happy and cheerful during the day of Eid. Allah the Almighty says: {So offer prayer and sacrifice.} [al-Kawther: 2] Abu Ja`far at-Tabrî related that ar-Rabî` commented: "After you pray Eid al-Adhhâ, you may then sacrifice an animal." The Prophet (PBUH) used to urge people to offer sacrifice and he stated the great reward they shall receive for this. He (PBUH) mentioned that the dearest of human deeds to Allah during this day is shedding blood (i.e. sacrificing an animal). He (PBUH) was an example to be followed by the Muslims. He (PBUH) slaughtered two rams: one for himself, and the other for his Ummah. Anas Ibn Mâlik said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sacrificed two white rams speckled with black. He slaughtered them with his own hand, said ‘Allaahu akbar’ and put his foot on their necks"

This shows the greatness of the Islamic teachings which exhort the rich to help the poor, especially during the day of Eid (feast) through distributing meat of such sacrifice on them. Concerning distributing the meat of such sacrifice, Ibn `Abbâs reported that the Prophet said: "one third is for your family, one third for your neighbors, and give in charity (to the poor and needy) one third."
This will make Muslims search for the poor and needy. They will give them charity, make them happy of Eid, and make them feel that they are really part of the Muslim community. Such community never forgets about its poor people.

It appears, then, that al-udhhyah (animal Sacrifice) is one of the means social solidarity as it links the members of the Muslim community together.
Islam made the Islamic feasts as means of strengthening the ties among the members of the Ummah as well as means of spreading the spirit of solidarity among people. How happy is the community when it applies such noble values! How great is the reward of Allah for those who apply such values!

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