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Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى ‘Īd ul-’Aḍḥā, Urdu: بقرعید) or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims and Druze worldwide in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to kill his son, Allah intervened: instead Allah provided a lamb as the sacrifice. This is why today all over the world Muslims who have the means to, sacrifice an animal, as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. The meat is then shared out with family and friends, as well as the poorer members of the community (Islam names Ishmael as the son who was to be sacrificed, whereas the Judeo-Christian name Isaac).

Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Quran.^[1] (Muslims in Iran celebrate a third, non-denominational Eid.) Like Eid el-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon (khuṭba).

Eid ul-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for two to three days or more depending on the country. Eid ul-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.

[edit] Other names for Eid al-Adha

Eid-ul-Adha (Adha Eid) has other popular names across the Muslim world, such as Eid el-Kibir (the 'Big' Eid) in Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya; Tfaska Tamoqqart in the Berber language of Jerba; Tabaski or Tobaski in West Africa; Babbar Sallah in Nigeria; Ciidwayneey in Somalia and Somali-speaking regions of Kenya and Ethiopia.

In India and Pakistan it is also called Bara Eid (literally "Big Eid"). In Kashmir, where Kashmiri is spoken, it is called Baed Eid, and Keralites who speak Malayalam say Waliya Perunnal, both phrases also meaning "Big Eid." In Bangladesh it is called either ঈদ-উল-আজহা Id-ul-Azha or কোরবানী ঈদ Korbani Id. In South Africa it is also called Bakra Eid (or simply Baqrid in India, for the Hindi word baqara, meaning "goat", the traditional sacrifice).

In Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and in Sri Lanka, which has large concentration of Tamil-speaking Muslims, it is called Peru Naal meaning 'The Big Day'. Sometimes, Tamil-speakers say Bakr Eid Peru Naal, meaning 'the Big Day of the Sacrifice'.

In Turkey it is called Kurban Bayramı. Similarly, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo and Bulgaria it is referred as Kurban Bajram, the same root with Qorban Bäyräme in Tatarstan, Qurban Bayramı in Azerbaijan and Kurban Bayram throughout Russia. In Kazakhstan, it is referred to as Qurban Ait. In Iran and Afghanistan it is called "Eyd e Qorbán" by Persian-speakers and Loy Akhtar (literally, "the Greater Eid") or Kurbaneyy Akhtar by Pashto-speakers.

By the Kurds it is called Jejhni Qurban meaning Feast of Sacrifice.

In China it is called "Corban Festival" (古尔邦节、宰牲节 in Chinese) or "Qurban Heyit" in Uyghur language.

In the Malay Archipelago, especially in the Malay-speaking areas; Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, the term "Idul Adha" (particularly in Indonesia) or "Aidil Adha" is used. "Hari Raya Korban", which means the Sacrifice Celebration Day is also widely used. Another term is called "Hari Raya Haji" which means Celebration Day of the Hajj.

[edit] Traditions and practices

Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer (Salatu'l-`id) in any mosque. Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice their best domestic animals (usually sheep, but also camels, cows, and goats) as a symbol of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) sacrifice. The sacrificed animals, called "udhiya" Arabic: أضحية" also known as "qurbani", have to meet certain age and quality standards or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. Generally, these must be at least a year old. At the time of sacrifice, Allah's name is recited along with the offering statement and a supplication as Muhammad said. According to the Quran, the meat is divided into three shares, one share for the poor, one share for the relatives and neighbors, and the last to keep to oneself. A large portion of the meat MUST be given towards the poor and hungry people so they can all join in the feast which is held on Eid-ul-Adha. The remainder is cooked for the family celebration meal in which relatives and friends are invited to share. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid ul-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished Muslim is left without sacrificial food during these days. Eid ul-Adha is a concrete affirmation of what the Muslim community ethic means in practice. People in these days are expected to visit their relations, starting with their parents, then their families and friends. (Arabic audio with English meaning).

In the name of God	بسم الله
And God is the greatest	والله أكبر
O God, indeed this is from you and for you	اللهم إن هذا منك ولك
O God accept from me	اللهم تقبل مني

Distributing meat among people is considered an essential part of the festival during this period, as well as chanting Takbir out loud before the Eid prayer on the first day and after prayers through out the four days of Eid. (See Takbir in "Traditions and practices" of Eid el-Fitr.)

Distribution of meat of a traditionally sacrificed animal to the poor in Pakistan

[edit] Eid ul-Adha in the Gregorian calendar

See also: Islamic calendar

While Eid ul-Adha is always on the same day of the Islamic calendar, the date on the Gregorian calendar varies from year to year since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar. The Lunar calendar is approximately eleven days shorter than the Solar calendar.^[2] Each year, Eid ul-Adha (like other Islamic holidays) falls on one of two different Gregorian dates in different parts of the world, due to the fact that the boundary of crescent visibility is different from the International date line.

The following list shows the official dates of Eid ul-Adha for Saudi Arabia as announced by the Supreme Judicial Council. Future dates are calculated according to the Umm al-Qura calendar of Saudi Arabia. The three days after the listed date are also part of the festival. The time before the listed date the pilgrims visit the Mount Arafat and descend from it after sunrise of the listed day. Future dates of Eid ul-Adha might face correction 10 days before the festivity, in case of deviant lunar sighting in Saudi Arabia for the start of the month Dhul Hijja.

• 1400 (Islamic Calendar): October 17, 1980
• 1401 (Islamic Calendar): October 6, 1981
• 1402 (Islamic Calendar): September 26, 1982
• 1403 (Islamic Calendar): September 15, 1983
• 1404 (Islamic Calendar): September 4, 1984
• 1405 (Islamic Calendar): August 24, 1985
• 1406 (Islamic Calendar): August 14, 1986
• 1407 (Islamic Calendar): August 3, 1987
• 1408 (Islamic Calendar): July 23, 1988
• 1409 (Islamic Calendar): July 12, 1989
• 1410 (Islamic Calendar): July 2, 1990
• 1411 (Islamic Calendar): June 21, 1991
• 1412 (Islamic Calendar): June 10, 1992
• 1413 (Islamic Calendar): May 30, 1993
• 1414 (Islamic Calendar): May 20, 1994
• 1415 (Islamic Calendar): May 9, 1995
• 1416 (Islamic Calendar): April 28, 1996
• 1417 (Islamic Calendar): April 17, 1997
• 1418 (Islamic Calendar): April 7, 1998
• 1419 (Islamic Calendar): March 27, 1999
• 1420 (Islamic Calendar): March 16, 2000
• 1421 (Islamic Calendar): March 5, 2001
• 1422 (Islamic Calendar): February 22, 2002
• 1423 (Islamic Calendar): February 11, 2003
• 1424 (Islamic Calendar): February 1, 2004
• 1425 (Islamic Calendar): January 20, 2005 announced - calculated date: January 21, 2005
• 1426 (Islamic Calendar): January 10, 2006
• 1427 (Islamic Calendar): December 30, 2006 announced - calculated date: December 31, 2006
• 1428 (Islamic Calendar): December 19, 2007 announced - calculated date: December 20, 2007
• 1429 (Islamic Calendar): December 8, 2008 (calculated)
• 1430 (Islamic Calendar): November 27, 2009 (calculated)
• 1431 (Islamic Calendar): November 16, 2010 (calculated)
• 1432 (Islamic Calendar): November 6, 2011 (calculated)
• 1433 (Islamic Calendar): October 26, 2012 (calculated)
• 1434 (Islamic Calendar): October 15, 2013 (calculated)
• 1435 (Islamic Calendar): October 4, 2014 (calculated)
• 1436 (Islamic Calendar): September 23, 2015 (calculated)
• 1437 (Islamic Calendar): September 11, 2016 (calculated)
• 1438 (Islamic Calendar): September 1, 2017 (calculated)
• 1439 (Islamic Calendar): August 21, 2018 (calculated)
• 1440 (Islamic Calendar): August 11, 2019 (calculated)
• 1441 (Islamic Calendar): July 31, 2020 (calculated)

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Background to Eid ul Adha
• Praying Eid prayer in mosques, the view of Imam ash-Shafi'ee and others. Sunnah Inspirations Forums
• Moonsightings for different regions or their following after some other region
• The Umm al-Qurra calendar of Saudi Arabia (with computed and announced dates for Eid al-Adha)
• The Feast of Sacrifice