What is Eid Ul Adha

Eid-ul-Adha occurs on the tenth day of the final month, Dhu-al-Hijjah, in the Islamic Lunar Calendar. The specific date of the celebration is determined by the sighting of the moon following the completion of the obligatory Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and a requirement for eligible Muslims.

Eid-ul-Adha is observed to honor Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah SWT and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. As Ibrahim was about to carry out the sacrifice, Allah SWT replaced Ismail with a ram, which was then sacrificed instead. This divine command served as a test of Ibrahim’s unwavering obedience to Allah SWT. Hence, Eid-ul-Adha translates to the festival of sacrifice.

The duration of Eid-ul-Adha festivities varies between two and four days depending on the country. The act of Qurbani, or animal sacrifice, takes place after the Eid Salaah (Eid Prayers), which are performed collectively at the local mosque on the morning of Eid.

Qurbani involves slaughtering an animal as a symbolic sacrifice, reminiscent of Prophet Ibrahim’s act. This is also referred to as Udhiya. The three days from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu-al-Hijjah are designated for animal sacrifice.

The sacrificial animal can be a sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull, or camel. Sheep, lambs, and goats constitute one Qurbani share, while bulls, cows, and camels represent seven shares per animal. The animal must be in good health and meet specific age requirements for a halal slaughter, adhering to Islamic principles.

The meat obtained from Qurbani is divided equally into three portions per share. One-third is kept for personal consumption by the individual and their family, one-third is shared with friends and loved ones, and the final third is donated to those in need.

Traditionally, Eid-ul-Adha is a day spent celebrating with family, friends, and loved ones. People often wear new or their finest attire and exchange gifts during this festive occasion.

Eid Mubarak to all our family.