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Cattle for slaughter before Eid. There is a text written on one of them which says “Happy Eid”.

Eid al-Adha is almost here.

Between the two key Eids (“Festivals”) in Islam, al-Adha is considered the holier. While Eid al-Fitr marks the end ofRamadan, Eid al-Adha signifies the completion of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Hajj is among the Five Pillars that make up the core of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith (Shahada), prayer five times a day (Salat), giving alms to charity (Zakat), andfasting (Sawm).

The holy day commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, per Allah’s order. Ibrahim is recognized as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism.

From when Eid al-Adha takes place to how the holiday is observed, here’s everything to know about Islam’s Festival of Sacrifice.

When is Eid al-Adha in 2022?

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Jama Masjid during Eid-al-Adha 2014

In accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha starts on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Muslim calendar. This year,it will begin at sundown on July 9and end on July 10.

Who celebrates Eid al-Adha?

Muslims pray to mark Eid al-Adha on street in Mumbai Muslims pray to mark Eid al-Adha on a street in Mumbai Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid-al-Adha, marking the end of the haj, by slaughtering sheep, goats, cows and camels to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God’s command

What is the story behind Eid al-Adha?

Cattle for slaughter before Eid. There is a text written on one of them which says “Happy Eid”.

Eid al-Adha means “Festival of Sacrifice” in Arabic. It is celebrated in honor of Prophet Ibrahim’s loyalty to Allah.

Just as Ibrahim was about to execute his son, Allah sent him the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) with a ram, insisting that he kill that instead. This was a reward for Ibrahim’s loyalty to Allah.

How is Eid al-Adha observed?

Girl displaying her Mehndi (henna) on occasion of Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Azha, celebrated after Hajj at Makkah Sharif.

Paying homage to Prophet Ibrahim, Eid al-Adha is celebrated similarly to the story in the Quran. Since it takes place after the Hajj, Muslims take a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at the start of Eid al-Adha.

When the holiday begins, they gather at a mosque for special prayer before gathering with family for a feast-filled festival. A communal prayer (ṣalāt) happens the night before, at sundown.

Additionally, those who can afford to sacrifice a ritually accepted animal will do so. The animals typically consist of goats, sheep, cows, or camels. Then, they will equally divide the meat up between themselves, friends, and those less fortunate.

source: people.com