Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎, Īd al-Adhā), also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the two official holidays in Islam. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God's command. However, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.

History

Eid al-Adha is the latter of the two Eid holidays, the former being Eid al-Fitr. The word "Eid" appears once in Al-Ma'ida, the fifth sura of the Quran, with the meaning "solemn festival". The day of Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The date of Eid al-Adha varies from country to country depending on whether the moon has been sighted or not.

Practices

The practices during Eid al-Adha are as follows:

• Prayer: The day begins with a prayer, known as the Salat al-Eid, which is performed in congregation at the nearest mosque.
• Sacrifice: After the prayer, a sacrifice is made. The animal to be sacrificed must meet certain criteria, including age and health.
• Charity: One-third of the meat from the sacrificed animal is distributed to the poor and needy.
• Feasting: The remaining two-thirds of the meat is used for a feast among family and friends.

Significance

Eid al-Adha is a time for Muslims to learn about the importance of sacrifice, and to remember the trials and tribulations faced by Prophet Abraham. It is also a time for charity, as the meat from the sacrificed animal is distributed among the poor and needy.

See also

• Islamic calendar
• Hajj
• Eid al-Fitr