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- Eid al-Adha Sacrifice Holiday: important traditions and strict prohibitions of Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha Sacrifice Holiday: important traditions and strict prohibitions of Eid al-Adha
Eid al—Adha is one of the main Islamic holidays. In 2026, it will begin on the evening of May 26, after sunset, on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah. Eid al-Adha reminds believers of devotion to Allah, mercy, helping others and willingness to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the Almighty. Read more about the traditions and features of the holiday in the Izvestia article.
Eid al-Adha in 2026: beginning and end, exact dates
In 2026, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of May 26, at sunset. On this date in 2026, Arafa Day falls (the 9th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah), one of the most important days of the Hajj, during which pilgrims stand on Mount Arafat. On the eve of the holiday, Muslims who do not perform Hajj are advised to fast.
The main celebrations and festive prayer will be held on the morning of May 27 (the 10th day of the month of Dhul-Hijjah). The collective prayer is performed when the sun rises to a height of "one spear" above the horizon (about half an hour after sunrise), after which the faithful begin the sacrificial rite.
The festive prayer is performed once, and the ritual of slaughtering animals can be carried out for three days — in 2026 it will be on May 27, 28 and 29.
As the mufti of the Chelyabinsk region, Sheikh Vugar-Hazrat Akperov, explained to Izvestia, the end time of the ceremony depends on the geographical location of the region. For example, in Vladivostok, the holiday will end a few hours earlier than in Moscow. This is due to the fact that in the Islamic calendar, new days do not come at midnight, but after sunset.
How does the name of the Eid al-Adha holiday translate?
The name of the Eid al-Adha holiday (Arabic. Eid al-Adha) translates as "the feast of sacrifice." However, in Islam, the concept of "Kurban" is much broader than just the slaughter of an animal: it is the name given to everything that helps a person spiritually approach God.
Eid al-Adha marks the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj is obligatory for every Muslim who has the opportunity to perform it at least once in his life. It is believed that in this way he will fulfill his duty to the Almighty and can hope for the forgiveness of former sins.
Eid al-Adha: the history and meaning of the holiday
The history of the holiday dates back to the Islamic tradition of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). He had no children until a very old age. God gave him a son, Ismail, when Ibrahim was about 86 years old. When the child grew up, Ibrahim received a revelation from the angel Jabrayil — he was told to sacrifice his son for the sake of Allah.
Ibrahim told his son about the command of the Almighty, and Ismail humbly accepted this ordeal. According to legend, he asked his father to take him away from home so that his mother would not see what was happening, and also to turn away his face so that paternal love would not prevent him from fulfilling the will of Allah. In addition, Ismail asked to sharpen the knife well to avoid suffering.
According to legend, along the way, Ibrahim was stopped three times by Shaitan, who appeared to him in human form. Each time, the prophet drove him away by throwing stones. In memory of this, during the Hajj, the jamarat ceremony is performed — the symbolic stoning of Shaitan.
When Ibrahim and Ismail arrived at the place of sacrifice, the prophet laid his son on his side and put a knife to his throat, but the blade did not harm Ismail. Ibrahim tried again, but the knife could not cut through the skin again. Then, according to legend, the prophet drew a blade across the stone and cut it in two.
So the father and son proved their obedience to the Almighty and successfully passed the test. As a ransom, they were sent a ram, which was sacrificed instead of Ismail.
For Allah, human life is priceless, Mufti Akperov noted. He stressed that the Almighty does not need either the blood or the meat of the victim, as the sincerity and devotion of the believer are important to Him.
"Because insects get blood flowing into the ground, people eat meat, and God gets the piety and obedience of his slave,— he stressed.
Eid al-Adha was established around 623, in the second year of the Hijrah (the migration of Muslims from Mecca to Medina). Since then, Muslims have been making sacrifices on the days of the holiday in memory of the Prophet Ibrahim's submission to the will of Allah. Ibrahim is also revered in Judaism and Christianity, which is why Islam, Christianity and Judaism are called the Abrahamic religions.
Festive prayer: is it possible for women to participate
On the morning of May 27, Russian Muslims will participate in a collective festive prayer (Eid prayer). The exact time of the beginning of prayer is determined by the muftis of the regions. So, in Moscow and the Moscow region it will start at 07:00.
Separate surahs (chapters) are recited during the festive prayer The Quran, as well as the taqbir, the words of praise of Allah, are repeated many times ("Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa-Llah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil-hamd"). Then the imam delivers a festive sermon (khutbah).
According to the provisions of various Islamic schools, the participation of men in festive prayer varies from "desirable" to "obligatory." There is no such strict requirement for women. However, as Mufti Akperov noted in a conversation with Izvestia, women are allowed and even encouraged to participate in the festive prayer.
— A woman is the foundation of a family, a mother who gives birth and raises children. She can take part in the festive prayer and explain to the children the importance of the holiday. After the prayer, the imam delivers a sermon and instruction, and it is also desirable for women to hear it," the mufti said, adding that mosques usually have separate halls for women.
He also recalled that in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, the festive prayers of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Adha can be performed not only in mosques, but also in open areas — in specially designated places under the open sky.
Eid al-Adha sacrifice on May 27-30
The sacrifice can be performed only after the festive prayer. If the ceremony was performed earlier, the ritual sacrifice (Kurban) is not counted. Only certain types of animals are suitable for slaughter: camels and camels, cows and bulls, rams, sheep, goats and goats. Birds, wild animals and other types of livestock are not used for the ceremony.
The sacrificial animal must reach the prescribed age (at least six months for a ram, a year for a goat, at least two years for a cow and at least five for a camel). He should also have no obvious physical disabilities. A blind, sick, severely emaciated, lame, or severely wounded animal should not be sacrificed.
According to Mufti Akperov, the place of the ceremony should be closed from prying eyes.
— If there are necessary conditions at the mosque, farmers are invited: people buy sheep and perform the ceremony there. If this is not possible, believers go to specially designated places. It is very important that the process does not take place in full view of outsiders, especially children, who may perceive it as animal cruelty," he explained.
During the sacrifice, a short dua (prayer) or words are recited.: "Bismillah, Allahu akbar" ("In the name of Allah, Allah is Great").
As a rule, one animal is sacrificed from one family. Meat is traditionally divided into three parts: one is kept for oneself, the second is treated to relatives and friends, and the third is distributed to those in need as sadaqah (alms). It is forbidden to sell meat of a sacrificial animal.
A sacrifice can also be performed on behalf of another person if there is a corresponding intention (niyat).
— Let's say if a person is on his OWN. Today, many of our compatriots, both Christians and Muslims, spend holidays in the area of a special military operation. If someone knows that this person does not have relatives who could make a sacrifice on his behalf, this can be done with the appropriate intention - so that the reward for Eid al—Adha is dedicated to this person," Akperov said.
What not to do on Eid al-Adha
The month of Dhul Hijjah, on the 10th day of which Eid al-Adha is celebrated, is one of the sacred (forbidden) months in Islam. During this period, it is especially important for believers to avoid quarrels, scandals, conflicts and showdowns.
On the contrary, Muslims are encouraged to pay more attention to good deeds, prayer, charity, and helping others. It is believed that any good deeds multiply these days.
What is prepared on Eid al-Adha?
Festive dishes made from fresh sacrificial meat are traditionally prepared on Eid al-Adha. It is stewed, fried, baked and served with rice, potatoes, legumes and vegetables. Soups, pilaf, shish kebab, lagman, manti, beshbarmak, chuchvara and other national dishes often appear on the festive table.
Since Muslims belong to different nations and cultures, the main festive dishes on their table may vary. For example, etchpochmak (triangles) and gubadia pie are popular among the Tatars, pilaf and manti are popular among the peoples of Central Asia.
As a rule, sweet pastries, dried fruits and treats for guests are also placed on the table. At the same time, alcohol consumption is prohibited in the Islamic tradition.
How to properly congratulate on Eid al-Adha
The traditional and most common Muslim greeting on this day is "Eid Mubarak!", which translates as "Blessed holiday!" or "I wish you a blessed holiday!".
— In Islam, congratulations are a kind of prayer and good wishes to the person you are congratulating, — Mufti Akperov explained.
You can also congratulate believers in Russian by saying: "I congratulate you on the holiday! May the Lord accept both your sacrifice and ours. May the Almighty accept all our good deeds!"
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
