Eid al-Adha in 2025: dates, the spiritual meaning of an important Muslim holiday
Eid al-Adha, a holiday of mercy and sacrifice, one of the most important in Muslim culture, is approaching. The dates of the holiday in 2025, the spiritual meaning of the celebration and how it is celebrated are in the Izvestia material.
When is Eid al-Adha celebrated in Russia in 2025
The Eid al-Adha holiday is not tied to a specific date, as it is celebrated according to the lunar Islamic calendar on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah - about 70 days after Eid al—Adha, marking the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Eid al-Adha are shifted annually by about 10-11 days relative to the Gregorian calendar.
In 2025, Eid al-Adha will begin at sunset on June 5. According to the Hanafi Madhhab (one of the four canonical legal schools in Sunni Islam), sacrifice can be performed immediately after the festive prayer on June 6 and before sunset on the third holiday, that is, until June 8. In the Shafi'i madhhab (another of the canonical legal schools in Sunni Islam), the time for sacrifice ends before sunset on the fourth feast day, June 9.
In countries with predominantly Muslim populations, the first day of the holiday is a non-working day. A similar practice exists in Russian regions with a traditionally Muslim population. Eid al-Adha is an official day off in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay—Cherkessia, and in some years in Adygea.
In some Islamic countries, weekends can last up to two weeks. Saudi Arabia is such an example.
Festive prayers will traditionally be held in Moscow during the holiday. The central venue, as usual, will be the Moscow Cathedral Mosque on Mira Avenue. The metropolitan authorities will organize additional prayer sites to relieve the load on the main mosques and ensure the comfortable participation of a large number of believers — up to 300,000 people gather in the capital's mosques every year.
In addition to religious events, cultural events will be held in Moscow. One of them will be the Kurban FEST on the square near the Memorial Mosque. It is designed for a wide audience and includes holiday programs, treats and concerts.
The Muslim community in Russia. Islam is the second largest religion in Russia after Christianity. According to various Muslim spiritual boards, more than 25 million people in Russia practice Islam. On the territory of the country, Muslims live mainly in Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. Islam is also practiced by some residents of Crimea.
The spiritual meaning of Eid al-Adha for Muslims
The name of the Eid al-Adha holiday is of Turkic origin. In Arabic, it sounds like Eid al-Adha and means "feast of sacrifice." Eid al-Adha became part of the religious practice of Muslims in the second year of the Hijrah (after the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina), said the Mufti of Moscow, Ildar Alyautdinov.
He explained that the tradition of slaughtering an animal on the day of the holiday is connected with the event that happened to the Prophet Ibrahim (Christians call him Abraham). By divine Revelation, he was ordered to sacrifice his son Ismail, who was born to Ibrahim in old age. Despite his love for his son and the long wait for his birth, Ibrahim informed Ismail of Allah's command, who agreed and went with his father to the place of sacrifice. When everything was ready, by the grace of God, Ismail was replaced with a sacrificial animal.
— This is how the Almighty showed that in order to get closer to God, human sacrifice is not required. In addition to sacrifice, on the first day of the holiday, Muslims perform collective prayer in mosques," Mufti Alyautdinov pointed out.
Eid al-Adha is a celebration of genuine submission and devotion to the will of Allah, reminding Muslims of Ibrahim's willingness to make the greatest sacrifice. This is a story about faith overcoming any challenges. The holiday embodies mercy and unity. The sacrificial animal (kurban) is divided between the family, relatives and those in need. It is an act of kindness, generosity, social solidarity, as well as a reminder of the need to help others and share the good.
The Eid al-Adha holiday is associated with the end of the Hajj to the homeland of Muhammad, to Mecca (Saudi Arabia). Here, in the courtyard of the Al-Haram Mosque, there is a shrine to Islam — the Kaaba, or reserved mosque.
The ritual of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha must be carried out carefully, it is forbidden to cause suffering to the victim. Then, according to the scriptures, the Almighty will show mercy to man. The rite is primarily an expression of faith and sincere worship, through which a Muslim approaches Allah. The spiritual meaning of Eid al-Adha for Muslims is to show devotion and piety to Allah, as well as to foster mercy, kindness and unity among people.
Eid al-Adha is a time of spiritual renewal and strengthening of faith, when Muslims slaughter an animal and distribute meat between family, relatives and those in need, taking care of their neighbors. This ceremony is not only a religious ritual, but also an expression of charity and social responsibility.
The holiday unites believers in the pursuit of goodness, compassion and devotion to Allah. Muslims believe that Eid al-Adha helps strengthen interpersonal ties, unite the community, and maintain peace and harmony in society. During this period, believers pay attention to prayer, charity, and visiting relatives and friends. Also, an important part of the holiday is the exchange of gifts and joint feasts with traditional dishes of sacrificial animal meat and sweets.
It is noteworthy that the name of the son whom Ibrahim was going to sacrifice is not specified in the Quran. According to Muslim tradition, the victim is considered to be the eldest son Ismail, whereas in Christianity it is believed that Abraham wanted to sacrifice his youngest and beloved son Isaac. At the same time, sacrifice is only one of the parts of the Muslim holiday associated with this event.
Eid al-Adha, or Eid al-Adha: a description in the Quran. The meaning of sacrifice, which became the basis of the Eid al-Adha holiday, is revealed in the Quran as an important religious rite of sacrifice associated with devotion to Allah.
How Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha: traditions of the holiday on June 5-9
Preparations for the holiday begin in advance — believers try to purify themselves spiritually and restore order in the house. Some Muslims, especially those who perform Hajj, follow special restrictions in the days before Eid al-Adha — they do not cut their hair or shave.
This year, 25,000 Russian Muslims representing almost all regions of Russia made the pilgrimage. Among them are about 5,000 participants in a special military operation, their family members, relatives and friends who also perform Hajj, Umakhanov said.
The holiday begins with the performance of prayer, which gathers believers in mosques and on special sites, this is the moment of unity of the Muslim community. After the prayer, the main ceremony is performed — the sacrifice of an animal (usually a ram, cow or camel). Everything happens according to strict religious and sanitary rules, said Senator Ilyas Umakhanov.
The sacrificial animal is chosen in advance. In some regions, jewelry is worn on selected animals — this is due to local traditions. For example, sometimes they are given bells, necklaces and amulets, or painted with bright paint. This custom is associated with the belief that this way they will be able to cross the abyss during Judgment Day, and jewelry will help to find them faster.
A key tradition is the obligatory division of meat into three parts: for family, for relatives, friends and neighbors, and necessarily for those in need. It's not just a ritual, it's an act of showing mercy and support. A festive table, visits to relatives, gifts to children and showing special respect to elders — all this creates a unique atmosphere of joy, unity and kindness.
During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, it is forbidden:
— to refuse to help those in need;
— swearing and swearing;
— engage in hard work;
— walking around in dirty clothes.
You should devote your free time to prayer and to your loved ones.
Believers begin to gather at mosques in the dead of the night. Additional ground transportation is being organized for their convenience, and part of the highways will be temporarily closed. During the holiday, services for donating meat to those in need will also be available in different regions of Russia. However, it is recommended to check user reviews before transferring funds to avoid fraud.
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