Eid al-Adha is a very well-known Muslim festival of the Sacrifice that is also called the Sacrifice Feast. It is the second of two Muslim events celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two.
Background of Eid al-Adha Celebrations 2024
Eid al-Adha honors the willingness of Ibrahim (A.S) to sacrifice his son, as an act of obedience to Allah's command. Before he surrendered his son Allah intervened by sending his angel who put a sheep in his son's place. In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hajj and lasts for four days until the 13th day. In the international calendar, the dates vary from year to year traveling nearly 11 days earlier each year.
Different Names for Eid al-Adha Celebration
Eid al-Adha celebrations also named Eid al-Kabir celebrations mean the celebration of the Greater Eid and big Eid, also this festival is called Eid-e-Qurban means this Eid for Qurbani and "Bakr-Eid" in Urdu that is derived from the Arabic word al-Baqara meaning "The Cow".
The Sunnah of Eid al-Adha Islamic Celebration
In observance of the Sunnah of Muhammad, all the Muslims are cheered to prepare themselves for the occasion of Eid al-Adha celebrations. That includes making ablution and offering Fajr prayer, to prepare for personal cleanliness like taking care of details of clothing and Dressing up, putting on new or best clothes available.
Rituals of Eid al-Adha Mubarak Celebration
Similar to Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a prayer of two rakats followed by a lecture. The actual Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the descent of the pilgrims performing the hajj. Eventually, Eid's sacrifice may take place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Muslims all over the world including all Men, women, and children are likely to dress in their finest clothing and perform Eid prayer in a large congregation in an open ground or mosque.
Rich and wealthy Muslims, who can afford it, sacrifice their best halal domestic animals, usually a cow but can also be a camel, goat, sheep, or ram depending on the region. Later sacrificing the animals, the meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. From which the family keeps one-third of the share. Another third is given to relatives, friends, and neighbors while the remaining third is given to the poor and needy. However, the partition is purely optional wherein either all the meat may be kept with oneself or may be given away to the poor or needy, the preferred method as per the Sunnah of Muhammad is dividing it into three parts and then sharing it with the desired category.
Like Eid-al-Fitr, the regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are established during Eid al-Adha by rigorous efforts to see that no needy person is left without an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial meal during these days. Islam spreads the message of unity, sharing, and caring. Similarly In the event of Hajj lots of Muslims slaughter animals and distribute the major share of the meat to the poor and needy people.