Eid al-Adha, pronounced as,  ʿīd al-ʾaḍḥā, also known as 'Feast of the Sacrifice' is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr). It honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. Before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah provided a male goat to sacrifice instead. 

In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

The Eid al-Adha prayer is performed any time after the sun completely rises up to just before the entering of “Zuhr prayer” time (around noon), on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid prayers must be offered in congregation.

At the conclusion of the prayers and sermon, Muslims embrace and exchange greetings with one other (Eid Mubarak), give gifts and visit one another.

During Eid al-Adha, distributing meat amongst the people, chanting the takbir out loud before the Eid prayers on the first day and after prayers. The takbir consists of:

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar

lā ilāha illā-Allāh

Wallāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar

walillāhi l-ḥamdu

Which is translated to

Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest

No God but Allah

And Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest

and to Allah goes all praise.

 

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