Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is a big festival.

It is a special time for many people.

Many people follow a story about Abraham. He showed great faith in God. To honor him, people sacrifice an animal. This can be a sheep or a goat.

Families share the meat in three parts. They give some to friends and relatives. They also give some to poor people.

People wear their finest clothes for prayer. They also give gifts to one another. Some children even get money called Eidi.

It is a time for feasts and kindness.

People enjoy many yummy treats together.

Eid al-Adha is a major festival in Islam.

It is also called the Greater Eid. This holiday happens during the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, the date changes each year.

The festival honors the prophet Abraham. Many people follow a story about his great faith. In this story, Abraham was willing to obey God's command. To show this devotion, an angel provided a ram to sacrifice instead of his son. To remember this, many Muslims perform a ritual sacrifice called udhiyah. They use animals like sheep, goats, or camels. The meat is split into three equal parts. One part stays with the family. One part goes to friends and relatives. The last part is given to poor people.

People celebrate with special prayers in the morning. They often wear their best clothes. Friends and families exchange greetings like "Eid Mubarak." In some places, children receive money or gifts called Eidi. People also enjoy many tasty foods. Some eat sweet cookies called ma'amoul.

Eid al-Adha is one of the two main festivals in Islam.

It is often called the Greater Eid or the Large Eid. This holiday falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja. That is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar follows the moon, the date changes each year on the solar calendar. The celebrations often continue for three more days. These extra days are known as the Tashreeq days.

The festival honors the prophet Abraham and his great faith. In Islamic tradition, Abraham received a command from God. He was willing to sacrifice his beloved son to show obedience. During this time, a figure named Iblis tried to stop him. Abraham drove Iblis away by throwing pebbles. This is why pilgrims at the Hajj perform a ritual stoning of the Devil. Eventually, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Abraham. The angel provided a ram from heaven to sacrifice instead of his son.

Many special things happen during the holiday. On the morning of Eid, people perform a special Eid prayer. They often wear their finest clothing for this. After the prayer and a sermon, people embrace and exchange greetings. A common greeting is "Eid Mubarak."

Some people also perform the udhiyah, which is a ritual sacrifice. This involves livestock like a camel, goat, sheep, or ram. The meat is divided into three equal parts. One part goes to the family. One part goes to friends and relatives. The final part is given to poor people so everyone can eat meat.

Different parts of the world have unique ways to celebrate. In Bangladesh, it is called Korbanir Eid. About 13 million animals are sacrificed there each year. People might eat dishes like Kala bhuna or Qorma with pulao. In Pakistan, women might apply henna to their hands. Children there often receive Eidi, which is money or gifts from elders. In the Middle East, people make traditional sweets. In African nations, families host big feasts and give gifts.

This holiday connects to many different traditions. The story of Abraham is also known as the Akedah in Judaism. It can be found in the Torah in the book of Genesis. Many of these customs show values like giving and family. Whether through feasts or charity, the goal is to celebrate and share. Even though cultures differ, the spirit of the festival remains the same.

Eid al-Adha is one of the two major festivals in Islam.

It is often called the Greater Eid or the Large Eid. This holiday falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja. That is the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the date changes on the solar Gregorian calendar. The lunar year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year. Celebrations typically continue for three additional days. These are known as the Tashreeq days.

The festival honors the devotion of the prophet Abraham. According to Islamic tradition, Abraham received a command from God. He was willing to sacrifice his beloved son to show his obedience. The narrative mentions either Ishmael or Isaac as the son. During this trial, a figure named Iblis, or Satan, tried to dissuade Abraham. Abraham drove Iblis away by throwing pebbles. This event is why Hajj pilgrims perform a ritual stoning of the Devil. Eventually, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Abraham. The angel provided a ram from heaven to be sacrificed instead of his son.

Many specific religious observances occur during this time. On the morning of Eid, Muslims perform a special Eid prayer. This prayer happens after sunrise but before the Zuhr prayer. People often dress in their finest clothing for this. They may gather in an open field called an Eidgah or a mosque.

The prayer is followed by a khutbah, which is a sermon. After the sermon, people embrace and exchange greetings. A common phrase used is "Eid Mubarak." Some people may delay the prayer if a force majeure occurs.

A central part of the holiday is the udhiyah. This is a ritual sacrifice of livestock. Muslims who can afford it sacrifice a camel, goat, sheep, or ram. These animals must meet specific age and quality standards. The term udhiyah comes from a root meaning to offer up or sacrifice. There is a debate among scholars about this practice. Some, like Al-Kasani, say it is obligatory or wāǧib. Others view it as an established custom known as sunna mu'akkada. Alternatives like fasting or charity are also suggested by some fuqaha.

The distribution of meat from the udhiyah follows a specific pattern. The meat is generally divided into three equal parts. One third is kept by the family performing the sacrifice. One third is shared among friends and relatives. The final third is given to the poor. The goal is to ensure every Muslim has the chance to eat meat. This practice emphasizes the values of sharing and community.

Cultural traditions vary greatly across the Muslim world. In Bangladesh, the festival is called Korbanir Eid. It is estimated that about 13 million animals are sacrificed there annually. People may eat dishes like Kala bhuna, Chui Jhal, or Qorma. In Pakistan, women often apply henna. Children frequently receive Eidi, which consists of money or gifts from elders. In the Middle East, traditional sweets are common.

In many African nations, families host large feasts and exchange gifts.

Eid al-Adha connects to broader historical and religious themes. The story of Abraham is also known as the Akedah in Judaism. This account is found in the Torah within the book of Genesis. The Quran also references this story in its 37th surah, As-Saaffat. The holiday also intersects with the Hajj pilgrimage. During Hajj, pilgrims perform the tawaf and saee on Eid al-Adha. These rituals link the individual festival to the larger journey of faith.