Eid Al-Adha

Eid Al-Adha, known as a “Festival of Sacrifice”, is the second of two important holidays for Muslims all around the world. This festival takes place in the islamic month of dhul hijjah, the story behind this event is to honor the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) sacrificing his son as an act of trust in God. Right before the sacrifice could happen, God provided a ram instead of his son. This festival commemorates this moment of testing and submission to God.

During this festival, families who can afford to sacrifice a ritually acceptable animal must do so. It is a time to feed those who cannot afford and share what you can. Many celebrate this holiday with fun activities and gatherings, meeting family and friends, and performing communal prayer (ṣalāt) at daybreak on the first day.

In the morning, muslims wear new or clean clothes and attend prayers at mosques, greeting each other with “Eid Mubarak”, as in “Blessed Eid”. Foods and sweets are prepared, and similar to Eid Al-fitr, children receive gifts, money, or sometimes candy. Many Muslim countries celebrate Eid with beautiful decorations and festivals, few of these countries include Egypt, where in specific regions such as Sohag, locals paint the sheep’s forehead with henna and add colour to the rest of its body parts, parading the animal through the streets. Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam and a home to the cities of Mecca and Medina, Eid Al-Adha marks the end of hajj, the annual pilgrimage (intentional journey undertaken to a sacred place) of Mecca. In 2023 for instance, the number of pilgrims was about 2.3 million, breaking previous records. They begin with communal prayers, attended by men and women, with many children carrying baskets of sweets and/or dates. This is followed by families and friends gathered to enjoy feasts and give gifts, as well as distributing meat from the sacrifice among families, neighbours, and the less fortunate. Lastly, Eid in Turkey is generally referred to as “Şeker bayramı”, in translation called “Sugar Feast”. This title refers to the important role sweets take during Eid in Turkey, Turkish households prepare traditional foods such as Baklava and Halva in mark of the occasion. Despite the cultural importance of visiting relatives and friends during Eid, some individuals in Turkey prefer to skip the traditional animal sacrifice and choose to donate funds to charitable causes.

In conclusion, Eid Al-Adha is a meaningful celebration which brings muslims together for prayer, charity, and joy. As many Muslim countries celebrate this occasion in a different and unique way, it is important to remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim which teaches sharing and kindness, while the holiday spotlights unity, faith, and caring of humanity through charities, making it one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar.