Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, and its date moves about eleven days earlier each solar year. It coincides with the main days of the Hajj in and around Mecca: while pilgrims in Mina perform rites linked to the pilgrimage, Muslims elsewhere begin the morning with a special Eid prayer, usually shortly after sunrise, often in a mosque, prayer hall, or open field. Before and after the prayer, people greet one another with “Eid Mubarak” and recite the takbir, “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illa Allah.” In many countries, the holiday lasts three or four days.

A central practice of Eid al-Adha is the udhiyah or qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of a sheep, goat, cow, or camel by those who can afford it, commemorating Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. The meat is commonly divided among the household, relatives or neighbors, and people in need, so the day combines worship, charity, and a very practical sharing of food. Meals are meat-centered and vary by region: some families grill liver or kebabs soon after the slaughter, while others serve dishes such as biryani, mansaf, or Egypt’s fatta. Through the day, families visit, eat together, and continue exchanging Eid greetings.

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