Eid al-Adha in 2026: dates and the spiritual meaning of the feast of sacrifice
In late spring, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of the main holidays of Islam, dedicated to the heroic deed of the Prophet Ibrahim. On this day, believers visit mosques, gather guests in the house, and sacrifice sheep or sheep. For more information about when the celebration is celebrated in 2026, its history and spiritual significance, see the Izvestia article.
What is the date of Eid al-Adha in 2026: the beginning and the end, a day off or not
Eid al-Adha 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 and approximately 70 days after Eid al-Adha, dedicated to the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan. The dates of the celebration are shifted annually by about 10-11 days relative to the Gregorian calendar.
In 2026, Eid al-Adha will begin on the night of May 26-27. The holiday falls on Wednesday, and the main celebrations will be held on May 27. As a rule, Eid al-Adha is celebrated for three days, so Muslims will celebrate it until May 29.
Believers during prayer near the Moscow Cathedral Mosque
In countries where the majority of the population are Muslims, the first day of the celebration is a non—working day. A similar practice exists in Russian regions with traditionally Muslim populations. Eid al-Adha is an official day off in Adygea, Tatarstan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia.
In a number of countries where Islam is established as the official religion, the duration of the celebration varies. Thus, in most countries Eid al-Adha is celebrated mainly for 4-5 days, while in Turkey and Qatar this period increases to 10 days. In Saudi Arabia, the holiday lasts for two weeks.
What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha is one of the main Muslim holidays, which commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son for the sake of obeying Allah. This event was described in the 37th surah of the Quran. It is also mentioned in the Bible, but Christians know this story as the parable of Abraham's sacrifice.
In Islam, Eid al-Adha marks the end of the Hajj, a pilgrimage involving a visit to Mecca and its environs at a certain time. Hajj belongs to the five pillars of Islam, which are the fundamental duties of every devout Muslim. Therefore, the pilgrimage to Mecca is considered obligatory for all believers who have the financial and physical capabilities for this.
The history of the Feast of Sacrifice
According to the Qur'an, the Prophet Ibrahim always showed boundless trust in Allah and showed willingness to fulfill any of his commands. At a rather old age, the prophet still had no children, so he turned to God and asked for a child. God heard his prayer — Ibrahim had a son named Ismail.
A few years later, when the boy grew up, Allah subjected the prophet to a serious test. One day, the angel Jabrayil (Gabriel) appeared to the prophet in a dream and ordered Ismail to be sacrificed. This vision was repeated for seven days, after which the man became convinced that the dream was prophetic and prepared to fulfill the command of the Almighty.
Ibrahim told his son to take a rope and a knife and go with him towards the Mina Valley, which is located in Saudi Arabia. Ismail took everything he needed and followed his father. On the way, the prophet told the boy about the order of the Almighty and the intention to make a sacrifice. The child agreed with the will of Allah.
Ibrahim tied his son's hands and feet and laid him on his right side. After saying goodbye to Ismail, the man raised a knife, but at the last moment the angel replaced the child with a lamb. So 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.
The Spiritual meaning of Eid al-Adha
On this holiday, Muslims remember the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to pass the test of faith and his absolute obedience to the will of God. The story of the sacrifice symbolizes devotion and unconditional trust in God. In addition, the ceremony itself and the subsequent distribution of meat among those in need speak about the importance of helping those who find themselves in a difficult situation.
At the same time, it should be remembered that Allah does not need the meat itself or the blood from it. The ritual of sacrifice is considered as a manifestation of faith and sincere worship of the Almighty, through which a Muslim can approach the Creator. It is believed that Eid al-Adha also helps to strengthen interpersonal ties, unite the Muslim community, and maintain peace and harmony in society.
Traditions of Eid al-Adha: what can and cannot be done
Preparations for the holiday begin long before its onset, usually 20 days in advance, while the most pious Muslims prepare for a month and a half. During this period, they lead an ascetic lifestyle: they avoid festive feasts, refuse haircuts and shaving, and do not wear new clothes.
Nine days before Eid al-Adha, many Muslims observe strict fasting. During this period, they refuse to eat and drink water throughout the day. It is believed that such a practice is not mandatory, but there is an opinion that the Almighty will generously reward those who can comply with the restrictions.
The morning of Eid al-Adha also begins in a special way: with the first rays of the sun, Muslims perform a complete ablution (ghusl). Then they put on new and clean clothes, preferably made of natural fabrics, recite takbir (special praise praising Allah) before the festive prayer and go to the mosque for the festive prayer — Eid prayer. This is followed by breakfast, and at the end of the meal, Muslims go back to the mosque to listen to the sermon of the Imam khutbah. It recalls faith, obedience to the Almighty, generosity and compassion.
The key event of the holiday is the ritual of sacrifice. Adult free Muslims without mental illnesses can participate in it, provided that their financial situation allows them to purchase a sacrificial animal. As a rule, a ram is used in the ritual, but sheep, goats, buffaloes, cows, bulls or camels are also allowed to be sacrificed.
There are clear requirements for choosing an animal. Sheep, sheep and goats must be at least one year old. For buffaloes, bulls and cows, the minimum age threshold is two years, and for camels — five years. The sacrificial animal must also be completely healthy and have no external flaws.
The ritual itself is performed on the evening of the first full day of the celebration. The animal is brought to the place of the ritual, then it is carefully laid on its left side, and all present recite takbir, dua Kurban (prayer) and the phrase "Bismillah Allahu Akbar" ("In the name of Allah, Allah is great!"). Only then is the victim's throat slit. When all the blood flows out of the animal, the carcass is butchered, and the skin is preserved, donated, or exchanged for something. At the same time, it is forbidden to throw away or sell the skin of a sacrificial animal.
Meat is usually divided into three parts. The first part is intended for those in need. The second one goes to treats for guests, friends and relatives. The third remains in the family home. It is desirable that the share allocated to charity should be at least one third of the total amount of meat.
What else can you do on Eid al-Adha?:
— spend more time in prayer;
— prepare dishes from the meat of a sacrificial animal;
— share animal meat with guests and loved ones;
— visit relatives and forgive all grievances in order to restore relations.
What not to do on a holiday
A number of prohibitions are also associated with Eid al-Adha. On a holiday, it is not allowed to wear dirty and untidy clothes, with unwashed face and disheveled hair. In addition, it is forbidden to refuse alms and any other assistance to those in need on all days of the celebration.
Another important limitation of the holiday concerns the observance of the rules of sacrifice. During the ceremony, one should not show aggression towards the sacrificial animal, show him a knife or torture him. Another prohibition is related to doing hard work. It is believed that during the holiday it should be postponed for later. Eid al—Adha is a time of prayer and unity with family, not household chores.
What else can not be done on a holiday:
— ignore the holiday prayer;
— swearing, gossiping, offending someone;
— to sort things out or fight with someone.
What is the correct name of the holiday?
Eid al-Adha is the Turkic name of the celebration. "Kurban" means "approach". In the Muslim tradition, this is the name given to everything that brings a person closer to God, and the ritual slaughter of an animal on a festive day implies a spiritual appeal to the Almighty. The word "bayram" is Turkic, it means "holiday".
Eid al—Adha also has another name - Eid al-Adha. The word "Eid" in Arabic means a holiday, and "al-Adha" is associated with the concept of "sacrifice" or "sacrifice." The result is a "feast of sacrifice."
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