The main Muslim holiday is Eid al-Adha: what you need to know about sacrifice, what not to do

Eid al—Adha is one of the main Muslim holidays. It marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. On this day, believers sacrifice to God in memory of the heroic deed of the Prophet Ibrahim, and also give alms and invite guests to a festive dinner. Read about the history, traditions and prohibitions of Eid al-Adha in the Izvestia article.

When is Eid al-Adha coming in 2025

Eid al-Adha is celebrated 70 days after Eid al-Adha (the holiday of the end of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan), on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah. The time of the celebration is calculated according to the Muslim lunar calendar, so its date changes every year. In 2025, the celebration will begin at sunset on June 5 and last until the evening of June 8.

At the same time, in some Islamic countries, the celebration of Eid al-Adha may last longer. For example, in Saudi Arabia, celebrations take two weeks.

How the Eid al-Adha holiday appeared: a history

On Eid al-Adha, Muslims remember the story from the 37th Surah (chapter) The Quran, which tells the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (known in the Bible as Abraham). According to legend, the man remained childless for a long time and was able to become a father only at the age of 86. The prophet loved his only son Ismail with all his soul and rejoiced watching him grow up.

Once in a dream, the angel Gibreel (Gabriel) appeared to Ibrahim and ordered him to sacrifice the long-awaited firstborn to the Almighty. And although the angel's words saddened the prophet, he could not go against the will of Allah. Ismail, having learned about the fate in store for him, accepted it with humility and voluntarily went with his father to the Mina Valley to perform the ritual.

When Ibrahim had already raised his knife to perform the sacrifice, God stopped him and ordered him to slaughter a ram instead of a boy. Thus, the prophet and his son passed the test, demonstrating the strength of faith and devotion to Allah. Subsequently, Ibrahim was rewarded for his feat with the birth of his second son, Ishaq.

Eid al-Adha: how is Eid al-Adha translated?

Eid al-Adha is the Turkic name of the celebration. In Arabic, it is called Eid al-Adha, which translates as "the feast of sacrifice."

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The rite of sacrifice: how and why to slaughter a sheep

The central event of Eid al-Adha is the ritual of sacrifice. Free Muslims who have reached the age of majority and do not have mental disorders participate in it, provided that their financial situation allows them to purchase a sacrificial animal. Most often, a ram is used for the ritual, but the slaughter of sheep, goats, buffaloes, cows, bulls or camels is also allowed.

At the same time, a number of strict requirements are imposed on animals. So, sheep, sheep and goats cannot be younger than one year old. The minimum age limit for buffaloes, bulls and cows is two years, and for camels — five years. In addition, the victim must be completely healthy. It is not allowed to slaughter an emaciated, lame, blind animal in one or both eyes. A victim is also considered unfit if they are missing most of their ears, tail, eyes, or teeth. At the same time, individuals without horns or with broken horns, as well as neutered animals, are allowed to be used in the ritual.

The sacrifice is performed on the evening of the first full day of the celebration. The animal is brought to the place of the ritual without violence. Then he is carefully laid on his side, and all those present recite takbir (exaltation of Allah), dua Qurban and the phrase "Bismillah Allahu Akbar" ("In the name of Allah, Allah is great!"). The victim's throat is then slit. When all the blood flows out of it, the carcass is butchered, and the skin is preserved, donated, or exchanged for something. It is forbidden to throw away or sell the skin of a sacrificial animal.

During the ritual, the victim is supposed to be treated as humanely as possible: not to frighten, not to cause unnecessary suffering, not to show her a knife and not to stab in front of other animals. It is believed that the Almighty will also be merciful to a person who has shown mercy.

The meat of the sacrificial animal is divided into three parts: one is distributed to the poor, the second goes to treats for guests, friends and relatives, and the third remains at home for consumption. At the same time, it is desirable that the part allocated to charity should be at least a third of the total amount of meat.

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The sacrifice on Eid al-Adha has a deep spiritual meaning. When God replaced the young man with a ram, he showed that believers do not need human sacrifices to approach him, it is enough to remain virtuous and keep the commandments. By slaughtering an animal on a holiday, Muslims pay homage to the feat of the prophet Ibrahim, and also demonstrate the strength of their faith, because, as stated in the Quran, neither the blood nor the meat of the sacrificial animal reaches Allah, but he feels the piety of the people participating in the ritual.

What else should Muslims do on Eid al-Adha?

Sacrifice is far from the only ritual that should be observed by a believer on Eid al—Adha. Preparations for the holiday begin in a month and a half. At this time, Muslims do not cut their nails and hair, do not shave, and do not hold feasts. Those who have the opportunity go to Mecca to participate in the Hajj.

On the eve of the celebration, on the day of Arafah, everyone who is not on pilgrimage is supposed to observe strict fasting. It is also customary on this day to ask for forgiveness from everyone whom a person has offended, willingly or unwittingly, and to give alms. It is believed that the day of Arafa is the time when God accepts all dua (personal prayers) and absolves sins, so it should be spent with prayer and good deeds.

In the early morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims perform a complete ablution, put on new clean clothes and go to the mosque for morning prayer. Then they return home, have breakfast, and go back to the mosque to preach. After that, many people visit the graves of their deceased relatives and restore order there. Then a sacrificial ceremony is performed.

In the evening, the housewives prepare the meat of a sacrificial animal. At least a third of the meals are distributed to the poor independently or through special funds. It is also customary to exchange treats with friends, acquaintances and neighbors. In the last days of Eid al-Adha, Muslims visit relatives, receive guests and give gifts to loved ones.

What do Muslims eat and give on Eid al-Adha?

The feast is one of the main elements of Eid al-Adha. It is believed that the richer and more diverse the treats are, the better the holiday will be.

On the first day, dishes from the liver and heart of a sacrificial animal are traditionally served at the table. On the second day, it is customary to eat soups cooked on the basis of animal heads and legs. The second course is a roast with a side dish of vegetables and rice. On the third and fourth days, ribs and shish kebab are prepared, as well as various national dishes — manti, pilaf, lagman, beshbarmak, etc. Various sweets are also placed on the table — pies, tortillas, biscuits, desserts made from almonds and raisins.

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Ramadan will begin on February 28 and end on March 29, and Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Adha the next day.

In addition, it is customary to give gifts to relatives and friends on Eid al-Adha. If a Muslim is invited to visit, he cannot come empty-handed, this will be regarded as disrespectful to the hosts. Sweets or fruits are most often brought: they symbolize joy and prosperity. It is also appropriate to give tea, incense, honey or a souvenir with Islamic symbols. Children can bring educational toys and books, women can bring a beautiful scarf or cosmetics, men can bring oil perfume or a stylish accessory.

When choosing a gift for Eid al-Adha, it is important to keep in mind the Islamic restrictions. Alcohol and food containing pork should not be given, including in small quantities, such as pork gelatin. Muslim men are forbidden to wear gold and silk, so you should not give them as gifts. In addition, it is recommended to refrain from donating objects depicting living beings (paintings, dishes, clothes, etc.), statuettes and symbols of other religions.

What not to do in Islam on Eid al-Adha

There are a number of prohibitions during Eid al-Adha. On a holiday, you can not go in dirty and untidy clothes, with unwashed face and uncombed hair. On all days of the celebration, it is forbidden to refuse alms and any other assistance to those in need, as well as to swear, swear, gossip, offend anyone.

Another important limitation of the holiday concerns work — hard work should be postponed for later. Eid al—Adha is a time of prayer and unity with family, not household chores.

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the traditions and meaning of the Muslim holiday Arafa Day.