With Eid al-Adha coming up in a few days, Muslims all around the world are gearing themselves up for this auspicious and special day. During the day, we can find people celebrating the glorious day, however, do you actually know and understand deeply what we're rejoicing for? Here's all you need to know about Eid al-Adha, how it is celebrated, and why it's such an important occasion.
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Eid al-Adha is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated each year. It falls on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah. It is part of a four-day annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) that is known as “Hajj”.
Hajj is the fifth of five pillars of Islam, and it is compulsory upon all Muslims who are physically and financially able. Hajj takes place over four days, during which time pilgrims participate in a sequence of rituals that include (but are not limited to) circling the Kaaba, traveling to Mecca's neighboring cities, and cutting or trimming one's hair. It begins on the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah and goes on until the 12th or 13th day.
Eid al-Adha, also known as “the Festival of Sacrifice” gets its name from the ritual of slaughtering an animal in the name of God (again, only prescribed upon those who are able to afford it). Muslims usually sacrifice a cow, sheep, or camel. Sometimes, one cow or camel is shared amongst up to seven people, so more people will be able to afford it. This meat is then distributed among friends and relatives, but most importantly, a large portion of it is given to the poor.
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As mentioned, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic month, Dhul Hijjah. The Islamic months are based on a lunar calendar, and the sighting of a new moon signals the beginning of each month. Therefore, Eid is also based on the sighting of the moon.
This is why some places around the world celebrate Eid on a different day than others. Even some groups of Muslims within the same region celebrate it according to their beliefs (sighting of the moon in their area vs. accepting the sighting of the moon in another country, usually Saudi Arabia).
Eid al-Adha 2024 is to be celebrated on either Sunday, the 16th of June, 2024 OR Monday, the 17th of June, 2024. It will begin after sunset on the previous day and end at sunset on that day.
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The story behind some of the customs of Hajj goes back to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), who non-Muslims might know as Abraham. When he was ordered to leave his wife and infant son in the dry deserts of Mecca, they grew desperate for water. His wife, Hajar (RA) ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa searching for it to quench the thirst of her crying baby. Suddenly, a spring of water started flowing at the child's feet; this water known as 'Zamzam' hasn't stopped flowing since. Muslims recreate the actions of Hajar (RA) by running between the two hills 7 times during Hajj and Umrah in a ritual called 'Sa'i'.
The sacrifice of an animal is also a commemoration of an incident that occurred with Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS). When Allah (SWT) commanded the Prophet to sacrifice his son, they were both prepared to follow their creator's wishes, even though their hearts were heavy. But in the last minute, Allah (SWT) revealed that it had been a test and replaced Ismail (AS) with a sheep, which they then slaughtered.
Hajj also involves the stoning of the devil, in which pilgrims throw stones at three pillars, which mark the place where Satan stood. It symbolizes Ibrahim (AS) throwing stones at Satan when he tried to deter him from carrying out Allah's command.
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While those who are going through the holy pilgrimage of Hajj do not “celebrate” Eid, Muslims all around the world do. Here are the traditions and practices that generally take place during Eid:
On the day of Eid al-Adha, once the Eid prayer is completed, those who have pledged to slaughter an animal do so (it can also be done on the following days, but it has to be on or before the 13th of the Islamic month). This is called 'qurban'. Men who have made the niyyah (intention) to give kurban do not trim their hair or nails from the first day of Dhul Hijjah until the animal has been slaughtered. It is not necessary that a person slaughters his own animal; in fact, most people today appoint someone else who does it on their behalf and distributes it to the needy.
While we're celebrating the same day and meaning, the way we celebrate it might be slightly different. These cultural influences usually shows after the prayers are done, where some might celebrate by feasting on different foods, some through community festivals, and some through the act of giving.
In some countries, for example, after the qurban, some places will actually have festivals that are marked by large feasts where the sacrificed meats will be featured as one of the dishes. The streets would then be filled with vibrant street celebrations and traditional drummings, such as in Nigeria, where the festival of "Durbar" is enjoyed by everyone. This type of celebration might be strikingly different and new to some, as different parts of the world celebrate it differently. Some filled with festivities, while some are much more intimate and focuses on family activities.
Eid al-Adha is also known differently in different countries, with some referring to Eid al-Adha through its origin in Arabic, while others are translated or done in different spellings. Some other names for Eid al-Adha include:
In Muslim countries, it is much more common for the one who is doing the qurban to be doing the slaughtering by themselves, as long as they are knowledgeable and skilled in doing it. The process of distribution are also commonly found to be done by themselves or through their community. Contrary to Muslim countries, this method of sacrifice is rarely found in non-Muslim countries, where it is usually done through halal-certified slaughterers from start to finish.
These differences in culture and celebrations, however, show the beauty of diversity and differences among the Muslim ummah. While done differently, these Muslims have the same sole common goal, which is to fulfill Allah's commands and deepen their understanding of its teachings. Highlighting the global unity and cultural richness of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world celebrate their faith and commitment to charity and community. Hopefully, through this article, we will be able to understand the importance of Eid al-Adha, and, as Muslims, fulfill the worship to the fullest.
