Eid ul-Adha is a major Islamic holiday celebrating self-denial, commitment, remembrance, and forgiveness. It honors Abraham/Ibrahim’s faith and obedience and the mercy of Allah. Animal sacrifice is a big part of the holiday, and the meat is shared with family, friends, and those in need. The festival begins at sunset on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah and is celebrated differently in various Muslim countries. Muslims attend special prayers, wear their best clothes, and share food and gifts. The holiday is a time of great joy and reflection on obedience to Allah.
Eid ul-Adha is one of the two major Islamic holidays celebrated every year. The name of the celebration differs in translation, but it is usually known as the “feast of sacrifice”. Eid ul-Adha, which typically lasts for several days, actually celebrates several themes, including self-denial, commitment, remembrance and forgiveness. The second holiday, Eid ul-Fitr, celebrates the end of Ramadan.
Origins of the Festival
Abraham, also called Ibrahim, is a celebrated religious figure in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. According to tradition, he was called by Allah to sacrifice his son as a sign of devotion to him. Ibrahim showed his commitment to Allah in his willingness to perform this sacrifice and in turn, Allah stops him at the last moment and allows him to sacrifice a goat or a lamb instead.
Eid ul-Adha celebrates the faith and obedience of Abraham/Ibrahim and the mercy that Allah can show. In honor of the end of history, animal sacrifice is a big part of the holiday. In accordance with Islamic beliefs, a goat or sheep is slaughtered by cutting its throat while uttering the name of Allah. Following this tradition, people are reminded that all of life is considered sacred. The animal is divided into thirds and shared among the family, given to friends and donated to those in need.
The second important aspect of the festival is that it is the end of the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca for the year. Those who have done Hajj that year can celebrate the occasion with particular joy.
When the party starts
This celebration begins at sunset on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, this day does not fall at the same time every year in the Gregorian (Western) calendar. In 10, for example, Eid ul-Adha started on November 12, while in 2010, it started on November 16.
Muslim countries sometimes calculate the beginning of the month in different ways. While the month typically begins with sightings of the crescent moon, it doesn’t always appear at exactly the same time around the world; bad weather can also block sightings. Also, some countries calculate the date based on other observances of the moon. Differences in how the first day of each month is calculated mean that not all countries always celebrate Eid ul-Adha on the same day.
Celebrating the party
To observe the holiday properly, Muslims are encouraged to attend a mosque or an open-air service in the morning. Special prayers are said in commemoration of the day, during which people pray for forgiveness and strength, and forgive others who may have hurt them. People have to pay special attention to washing and dressing during the day and usually wear their best clothes.
The sacrifice of the animal usually takes place on the first day of the feast, allowing for the distribution of the meat in the following days. Traditionally, Muslims spend the rest of the festival visiting friends and neighbors, sharing food and giving gifts. People can also send special greeting cards with blessings and good wishes to relatives and friends in other parts of the world.
The food eaten during the festival focuses on the use of the sacrificial meat. Because the whole animal is used, the celebration is a chance for cooks to showcase their skills with different preparations. Popular dishes include curries, stews, kebabs and roasts. Desserts, such as pastries and puddings, are also very popular.
Eid ul-Adha nel mondo
The holiday may be called by different names in different Islamic countries. He is often referred to as Hari Raya in Singapore and Malaysia. In West Africa, a Muslim might call it Tobaski, while a Moroccan might call it Eid el-Kbir. Indians, Pakistanis and Bengalis call it Id ul-Zuha and more commonly they call it Bakr-Id or Goat Eid. Traditions of prayers, sacrifices, and donations to the poor are common in most countries that celebrate the holiday, but the duration of the holiday can vary from one to four days in different places.
In all the countries that celebrate it, the Feast of the Sacrifice is a time of great joy. It’s also a chance to reflect on obedience to Allah and how to be a better Muslim in the coming year. As Ibrahim’s story suggests, trusting Allah, even when a request seems impossible, ultimately shows the Muslim how faith is an unexpected path and affirms Allah’s will as just and merciful.
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