Eid al-Adha is a holiday celebrated by Muslims throughout the world at the end of November each year. This day, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the end of the Hajj, which is a time when Muslims commemorate the trials of the prophet Abraham with a pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid al-Adha is always celebrated on the tenth day of the month Dhul-Hijjah, which is the last month of the year in the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the Gregorian calendar is solar, the date of this festival on the Gregorian calendar tends to vary. This year, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of November 26th.
The Meaning of Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha is a festival of self-sacrifice and obedience to Allah. It commemorates the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice everything for God, including his beloved son Ishmael. According to the story, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son as a test of faith. The devil tried to make Abraham disobey God's order, but Abraham's faith was strong and he would not be dissuaded. God, being pleased by Abraham's devotion, spared the life of Ishmael by replacing him with a sheep at the last moment. In this supreme act of submission, Abraham proved that his love for God was greater than the love of all others and that he was willing to sacrifice all that he loved for God.
How Eid al-Adha is Celebrated
The festival of Eid al-Adha lasts for three days. On the first morning, Muslims will gather at their local mosques for prayers, then time is spent visiting the homes of friends and family. Special, festive meals are served and gifts may be exchanged.
During this time, each family will make arrangements for an animal to be slaughtered, such as a goat, sheep or cow. The meat from the animal is then distributed to relatives, as well as to the poor and needy, with some of the meat being used by the immediate family. Delicious meals for the festival are made from this meat.
The slaughtering of the animal is considered a sacrifice, but it is not considered a sacrifice of atonement for sins. Instead, this very solemn act is meant to show one's willingness to make sacrifices, in order to follow the commands of God and live a good, obedient and pure life.
