MUSLIMS will today celebrate one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar Eid-al-Adha.

But the foot-and-mouth disease scare means that some will celebrate it slightly differently than usual, says High Wycombe's mayor.

Eid-al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast of the Muslim religion. It concludes the Pilgrimage to Mecca and lasts for three days.

The festival commemorates Ibraham's (Abraham) willingness to obey God by sacrificing his son. Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael rather than Isaac as told in the Old Testament.

Ishmael is considered the forefather of the Arabs and according the the Koran, Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son when a voice from heaven stopped him and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead.

"It is a very important festival," explained Rafiq Raja, the Free Press's Asian View columnist.

"It is on par with the celebration at the end of Ramadan. It lasts for three days although some Muslims may only celebrate if for one day."

The Eid services in High Wycombe take place at Jamia Mosque, Jubilee Road; the Islamic Centre, Totteridge Road and the Islamic Centre, Rutland Avenue. They were due to begin at 8.30am. A second service is held at the Jamia Mosque at 9.45am for those who cannot make the earlier ones.

Mahboob Hussain, High Wycombe Mayor, said the most important part of the celebration was the feasts.

He said: "Traditionally Muslim families sacrifice a sheep but in the current foot-and-mouth crisis a lot of families will be sending out money to the poor. My family are sending money to relatives in Kashmir. They will then sacrifice a sheep and share the meat with the people in the village."

The Mayor will be attending the 8.30am service at the mosque in Jubilee Road, before visiting friends and family around the town.