Eid al-Adha is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of
Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah's (God's) command to
sacrifice his son Ishmael. Muslims around the world observe this event.
At Eid al-Adha, many Muslims make a special effort to pray and listen
to a sermon at a mosque. They also wear new clothes, visit family
members and friends and may symbolically sacrifice an animal in an act
known as qurbani. This represents the animal that Ibrahim sacrificed in the place of his son.
In some traditionally Muslim countries, families or groups of families may purchase an animal known as udhiya,
usually a goat or sheep, to sacrifice, but this is not common or legal
in many parts of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the
United States or many other countries.
In these countries, groups of
people may purchase a whole carcass from a butcher or slaughterhouse and
divide it amongst themselves or just buy generous portions of meat for a
communal meal on Eid-al-Adha. People also give money to enable poorer
members of their local community and around the world to eat a
meat-based meal.
In the period around Eid al-Adha, many Muslims travel to Mecca and
the surrounding area in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Package holidays are organized from many countries. Muslims may plan and
save for many years to enable them to take part in this event, which is
one of the five pillars of Islam.
Five things to know about Eid al-Adha:
1. Considered one of Islam's revered observances, the four-day religious holiday corresponds with the height of the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that annually draws 2 million Muslims.
2. Eid al-Adha
commemorates when God appeared to Abraham known as Ibrahim to Muslims in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of
obedience. As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God stopped him
and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. A version of the story
also appears in the Torah and in the Bible's Old Testament.
3. Pronounced EED
al-UHD-huh, the holiday begins Friday and ends Monday, the last day of
the Hajj. Eid al-Adha is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or
Greater Eid. It is the longer of two Eid holidays observed by Muslims.
Eid al-Fitr or Little Eid follows the conclusion of the holy month
of Ramadan.
4. During Eid al-Adha,
many Muslim families sacrifice a sheep and share the meat with the poor.
They also are required to donate to charities that benefit the poor.
Muslims also routinely exchange presents during the holiday.
5. Eid Mubarak (pronounced EED muh-BAR-ack) and Eid Saeed are routine greetings used during the observance to offer best wishes.
Source: CNN
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