Eid ul-Adha

Eid ul-Adha 2021 be celebrated on July 20th and 21st, depending on moon sightings. 

Earlier in the year, Muslims celebrated Eid al-Fitr. These are two very different celebrations. 

Eid al-Fitr is also known as "Festival of Breaking the Fast." It is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide, marking the end of the month long fasting of Ramadan.  

Eid ul-Adha is known as the "Festival of Sacrifice." The festival remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.

What is the story of Eid ul-Adha?

Eid ul-Adha celebrates the story in the Quran about when Ibrahim dreamt he had a message from Allah, in which he asked him to sacrifice his son, Isma'il. He was asked to do this as an act of obedience to God.

Ibrahim was tempted by the devil, by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. But Ibrahim was devoted to Allah, and just as he was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.

Hajj

Eid ul-Adha is celebrated on the last day of the Hajj. 

The Hajj is pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. This is an annual event and is the Fifth Pillar of Islam. It is suggested that all who are fit and able to travel should make the visit to Makkah at least once in their lives.

During the Hajj, pilgrims will perform acts of worship, and they will renew their faith and sense of purpose. As part of this, they will stand before the Ka'bah, a shrine built by Ibrahim, and praise Allah together.

The Ka'bah

The Ka'bah is the most important monument in Islam. 

As part of the Hajj, pilgrims walk around the Ka'bah seven times. They will also try to touch the Black Stone located at the corner.

How is Eid celebrated?

Across the world, Muslims sacrifice a sheep or goat. In the UK, the animal is killed at a slaughter house. The meat is then shared equally between family, friends and the poor.

Eid usually begins with going to the Mosque for prayers. They will thank Allah for all the blessings they have received, and everyone will be dressed in their best clothes. Muslims will also spend this time visiting friends and family, as well as donating to charity, so that the poor can celebrate too.