Eid al-Adha Mubarak!

Ever heard of the festival "Eid al-Adha" (Eed al Ahd-ah)? No? Well, today's your lucky day as I'm gonna tell you almost every single thing you need to know about this Muslim Feast of Sacrifice.

Eid al-Adha is one of the most important days of the year. We commemorate Ibrahim’s faithfulness and compliance to Allah and this day marks that the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj is completed. Families celebrate the day happily with generous giving, feasts, prayers, and the exchange of gifts.

The Meaning of Eid al-Adha and When It Is Celebrated:

The word "Eid" means "feast" or "festival". "Al-Adha" is something like sacrifice, especially the one God gave Abraham as a test to sacrifice his son. However, God interfered and replaced his son with a lamb (or a ram). As for the dates, they are often changing for Eid on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, and the 1st of Dhu al-Hijjah will only start when people see a waxing crescent moon after the new moon phase, and the Islamic Lunar Calendar actually relies on real-life moon sightings, which are always tentative. Eid al-Adha in 2024 is inferred to start when the evening of Sunday, 16th of June arrives in the USA and will end a few days later.

The Story Behind Eid al-Adha!

It is said in the Holy Qur'an, that Allah demanded the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in the form of an angel. Ibrahim was most loyal to Allah and was ready to do just what he said, even fighting with Satan, who tried to convince Ibrahim not to. Allah realised that Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and his devotion to him was what mattered most to him. So, he sent Angel Gabriel to stop Ibrahim from sacrificing his son and replaced it with an animal. There is a similar story written in the Christian Old Testament and Jewish Torah. However, this time God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his youngest son, Isaac.

How Do We Celebrate Eid al-Adha?

To memorise Ibrahim's story, Muslims imitate acts in the story, such as sacrificing animals and dispensing meat among loved ones, and those in dearly need. Almost every Muslim will perform extra prayers, hold large community gatherings, and take a trip to mosques. People always exchange gifts, wear new, beautiful clothes, and relish their time with friends and family. There is feasting too (YUMMY!), which explains why Eid al-Adha has nicknames like "Salty Eid".

So, that's all I have to say about this wonderful festival, Eid al-Adha, from its history to its traditions and more. I hope you enjoyed reading this article! Eid Mubarak (Blessed Eid), everyone! <3

Written by: Lily
Edited by: Hazel Antler
Proofread by: Connor Callahan