Eid al-Adha (often called the Festival of Sacrifice) is one of the two major festivals in Islam. It commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to obey God’s command to sacrifice his son before God provided a ram in his place. Muslims honour this act of devotion and submission through prayers, charity, and (where culturally practiced and lawful) the ritual of Qurbani, in which an animal such as a sheep, goat, cow or camel is sacrificed and the meat shared with family, friends and those in need.

🛐 Religious Significance

• Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

• It coincides with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

• The festival emphasises faith, obedience, charity and community, with special prayers (Salat al-Eid), sharing with the poor, and gatherings with family and friends as key elements.

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the exact Gregorian dates shift each year and can vary by region based on moon sighting.