History of Eid al-Adha

Eid Mubarak!

Today is Eid al-Adha. Eid essentially means festival or feast when translated from Arabic, and there are two notable days Eid’s in Islam. One of the two is Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice that is celebrated for around three of four days This celebration signifies the Day of Sacrifice which marks the climax of the Hajj which is the fifth pillar of Islam. This pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to see Makkah and Madinah is only an obligation for those who are physically and financially able, but it is still celebrated by Muslims everywhere.

Eid al-Adha celebrations include wearing new clothes and exchanging gifts with loved ones while Muslims take the day off work. It generally falls on the tenth day of the last month of the Islamic calendar. The act of Qurbani, or sacrifice is done during Eid Prayers in the congregation at Mosques during the morning of Eid. The Qurbani is generally an animal, generally a lamb, sheep, cow, bull, goat, or camel, being sacrificed in a halal way to remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice for Allah.

The other notable Eid is Eid al-fitr. This celebrates the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Ramadan is generally practiced during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, Muslims break their fast with a meal called iftar and offer prayers at the Mosque.

The fasting is a time for introspection and forgiveness of past sins for those who observe the Holy month with faithful intention. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with friends and family as they wear news clothes, give each other presents, and visit graves of loved ones.