Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of the Sacrifice,” signifies the will of the Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as ordered by Allah. It is one of the most important festivals in Islam.
Typically lasting three to four days and celebrated by millions of Muslims around the world, the holiday begins on the 10th day of the lunar month of the Muslim calendar of Dhul-Hijja, at the time of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. In the United States, Eid al-Adha 2021 begins on July 20 and ends with the climax of Hajj on July 22.
Considered to be the holiest of the two Eid, the other being Eid al-Fitr, or “Feast of the breaking of the fast”, which commemorates the end of Ramadan, it is one of the two major Muslim holidays celebrated each year. year in the world.
The story of Eid al-Adha
In the Quran, Ibrahim has a dream in which Allah commands him to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a sign of obedience to God. In writing, Shaytaan or Satan tries to confuse Ibrahim and tempt him not to act out, but Ibrahim chases him away.
However, as Ibrahim is about to kill Ismail, Allah stops him, sending the Angel Jibreel, or Gabriel, with a ram to sacrifice instead. The commemoration of the Adha, which means sacrifice in Arabic, takes place on the last day of the Hajj pilgrimage, the fifth pillar of Islam.
How Eid al-Adha is celebrated
Because Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice a ram in place of his son, Eid al-Adha is traditionally celebrated on the first day, by those who can afford it, with the symbolic sacrifice of a lamb, of a goat, cow, camel or other animal which is then divided into three to be shared equally among family, friends and the needy.
Muslim devotees usually perform a common prayer, or ṣalāt, at the dawn of the first day of the festival, attend the mosque, donate to charity, and visit family and friends, exchanging gifts as well.
The Hajj and the Kaaba
Muslim worshipers pray around the Ka’bah, the holiest shrine in the Grand Mosque complex in the Saudi city of Mecca.
Jasmin Merdan / Getty Images
Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the last day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, in western Saudi Arabia. All Muslims capable of doing so are encouraged to take the five-day Hajj journey at least once in their lifetime, and 2 million do so each year.
In Mecca, devotees visit the Ka’bah shrine, the most important monument of Islam, in the Grand Mosque. Also known as the “black stone”, the Ka’bah is said to have been built by Ibrahim and Ismail. Pilgrims also visit the Jamarat Bridge, where Ibrahim is said to have thrown stones at the devil.
How is Eid al-Adha different from Eid al-Fitr?
In Arabic, “Eid” means feast or feast and there are two major “Eids” celebrated by Muslims.
The first, Eid al-Fitr, which in Arabic means “feast of breaking the fast,” takes place at the end of Ramadan, a month-long period during which Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset. Also known as Sawm, it is also one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. Ramadan marks the month when Allah revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
Eid al-Adha, generally considered the holiest of the two Eid festivals, takes place about two months after Eid al-Fitr at the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The dates of the two public holidays change every year, as they are based on the Islamic lunar calendar, which is approximately 11 days shorter than the Western Gregorian 365-day calendar.
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What is Eid ul-Adha? BBC Bitesize
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: Why are there two Eids? BBC
Eid al-Adha: Muslims around the world celebrate the holy feast, The New York Times
Here’s what you need to know about Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s biggest holidays, CNN
