Eid al-Adha: secrets of the great Muslim holiday, beginning and end in 2025

Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of the month of Dhul Hijjah in the Muslim calendar. Traditionally, believers slaughter a ram for the celebration and bring it as a sacrifice. On this day, Muslims also remember the exploits of the Prophet Ibrahim, who is considered the common ancestor of Arabs and Jews. In 2025, the celebration falls on the night of June 5 to 6. For more information about the traditions of the holy day and the meaning of the sacrifice, see the Izvestia article.

Eid al-Adha 2025: what a holiday, the beginning and the end

Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Adha are two major holidays in Islam. The first date is dedicated to the end of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, and the second is the feast of mercy and sacrifice, which is celebrated 70 days after Eid al-Adha. The name Eid al-Adha is of Turkic origin. In Arabic, it sounds like "Eid al-Adha," which means "feast of sacrifice."

The celebration does not have a fixed date, as it is counted according to the Muslim lunar calendar, so due to differences with the Gregorian calendar, the celebration is shifted by 11 days each year. In 2025, Eid al-Adha falls on the Muslim holy day of the week, Friday. It is celebrated for three days, from 6 to 8 on June 18th. In some Islamic states, the celebration can take up to two weeks, such as in Saudi Arabia.

Eid al-Adha - 2025: the beginning and the end, where to meet prayer time in Moscow, the essence of the holiday for Muslims

The holiday is of great importance for Muslims. In countries where the majority of Muslims preach, the first day is a non-working day. This is also true in some regions of our country, explains Herman Baruch, president of the Altaf Charitable Foundation.

Muhammad-Hazrat Baybikov, imam of the Ihsan Mosque, noted that in the Muslim world, the holiday is one of the two main days of the year. On this day, believers remember the story of the 37th surah of the Quran, which is also mentioned in the Old Testament. According to legend, once the angel Gabriel appeared to Ibrahim (Christians call him Abraham) in a dream and conveyed the command of Allah to sacrifice his son Ismail. Despite his mental anguish, the prophet came to the valley of Mina with his son. Both treated Allah's command as a test of loyalty. When everything was ready for the ceremony, the Almighty rewarded the prophet for the strength of faith and accepted a ram instead of the boy.

Interestingly, the name of the son whom Ibrahim sacrificed is not mentioned in the Quran. According to Muslim tradition, the legend implies the elder Ismail. At the same time, Christians imply that Abraham was going to sacrifice his youngest and beloved child named Isaac. However, sacrifice is not the only ritual of the Muslim holiday.

Eid al-Adha in 2025: traditions of the feast of sacrifice

Muslims begin their training one and a half months before Eid al-Adha. During this period, they refuse to feast, do not cut their hair and do not shave.

The day is a celebration of the completion of the Hajj, that is, the journey to Mecca. It is believed that every believer should visit the holy city at least once in his life. As Muhammad-Hazrat Baybikov explained, Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which is performed once a year on the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. In translation, the month means "the owner of Hajj." However, if a person does not have the opportunity to go to the city, he performs worship at home. In addition, it is customary to keep a fast at this time.

The main purpose of the holiday is to prove one's devotion to Allah. When slaughtering an animal, the believer must treat it with pity in his soul. The ritual should be performed carefully, and the victim should not be tortured. Then, according to the Scriptures, God will have mercy on man.

— A rite is, first of all, a testimony of faith, a moment of conversion of sincere worship. Through sacrifice, a Muslim approaches Allah," adds the imam of the Ihsan mosque.

The great holiday is marked by morning prayer, prayer is performed in each of the mosques. After that, the believers return home and offer prayers to Allah (takbir), have breakfast, and go back to the mosque for a sermon led by the imam. The main part of the celebration is the sacrifice of an animal, most often a ram. If there is no opportunity to purchase, Muslims negotiate with relatives or neighbors about a joint purchase. The animal must be bought with honestly earned money. Some believers put bells, necklaces, and amulets on the victims before the slaughter, or paint them with bright paint. This custom is associated with the belief that they will be able to cross the abyss during Judgment Day and jewelry will help to find them faster.

At the end of the sacrifice, the ram is divided into three parts. One third should be offered to the poor, the other to relatives, and the rest should be left to the family. Dishes for the festive table are prepared from the meat of the sacrificial animal. On the days of celebration, it is customary to invite many guests and treat them.

In addition to the obligatory actions that must be performed on a holiday, there are several taboo rules. So, it is strictly forbidden to refuse help to those in need, to swear and swear. On this day, a believer should pay attention to his appearance — it is important to be clean. The list of taboos also includes hard work, and free time should be devoted to prayer and loved ones. It is considered a sin, among other things, to refuse to help those in need.

How will the celebration of Eid al-Adha take place in 2025, Moscow

According to the Muslim Spiritual Board, more than 25 million people in Russia practice Islam. On the territory of the country, Muslims mainly live in Tatarstan and Bashkiria, as well as in the Caucasus: Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Islam is also practiced by many residents of Crimea, and an extensive religious community lives in Moscow.

Various festive events are held not only in those areas where Islam is widespread. Thus, a large-scale celebration is expected in the capital in 2025. The Muslim holiday begins with morning prayer, in Moscow it starts at 7:00 a.m. at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque on Mira Avenue, the Historical Mosque near the Novokuznetsk and Tretyakovskaya metro stations and the Shuhada Memorial Mosque on Poklonnaya Gora. An additional playground will also be allocated on the territory of the Technical Sports Center in Pechatniki.

Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Presidium of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Russia, head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, Moscow, in an interview with Izvestia, said that Moscow is the capital of not only an Orthodox state, but also a Muslim one.

— Let's not forget that Russia was created by Slavic and Turkic peoples, Christianity and Islam. The spiritual administration is located on the territory of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, in a sacred place with a 115-year history. The Soviet government also recognized it as the main mosque of our country," the imam explained.

Today, from 13,000 to 18,000 people come to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. On holidays, people stand in rows in her courtyard, all four levels of the temple are filled, the expert adds.

Traditionally, the morning prayer is recited from 6:30-7:00 a.m. Believers start arriving at mosques in the dead of the night. For the convenience of believers, additional types of ground transportation will be organized, as well as automobile traffic will be partially blocked. In addition, during the holiday, services will be available in different regions of Russia where you can donate meat to those in need. However, experts warn that before transferring money, it is important to check the reviews of other users so as not to run into scammers.

Believers are happy to receive congratulations from Orthodox Christians and Catholics. When meeting a Muslim, you can wish: "A blessed holiday!" or "Eid Mubarak!".