Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha (Eid al-Kabir)
The Festival of Sacrifice
Nov 14, 2009 Christine Benlafquih
Muslims worldwide observe two major religious holidays: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The first marks the end of Ramadan, while the second culminates the annual hajj season. Muslims also consider the weekly Friday congregational prayer (al-Jumuah) to be a holiday.
Of the Islamic holidays, Eid al-Adha is regarded as the most significant. For that reason it's also called Eid al-Kabir, "the greater festival" or "the big festival."
Significance of Eid al-Adha (The Festival of Sacrifice)
Eid al-Adha is a three-day holiday which commences on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah. The Arabic words Eid al-Adha translate to "The Festival of Sacrifice." The eid commemorates the occasion when the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him*) showed obedience to Allah through his willingness to sacrifice his only son.
Muslim heads-of-household who can afford to do so are required to demonstrate similar obedience on Eid Al-Adha by slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, goat or cow. One-third of the meat is to be given to charity, one-third is shared with friends and family, and one-third is retained for use by the family.
Zabiha - Ritual Slaughter in Islam
Many non-Muslims are put-off by the idea of a home slaughter, but scientific studies have shown that the Islamic method of slaughter (zabihah) is more humane and produces healthier meat than modern slaughterhouse methods.
In addition, Islam teaches Muslims not to be wasteful, so many Muslim cultures have developed their own food traditions on how to prepare the offal and specialty meats that typically get discarded in the West.
Islamic Account of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and the Sacrifice of His Son
The Qur'an (37:101-113) tells the story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) having a vision in which he saw himself sacrificing his only son, Ishmael. When Abraham (peace be upon him) shared this with Ishmael, the boy immediately told his father to do as he was commanded. It was only when Abraham (peace be upon him) was about to carry out the sacrifice that Allah commanded him to stop, indicating that his willingness to obey was fulfillment enough of the vision.
This is different than the Judeo-Christian account in the Old Testament (Genesis 22:1-13) which holds that God directly told Abraham to sacrifice his "only son, Isaac." Muslims consider this one of the contradictions of the Old Testament, since Isaac was Abraham's second and younger son, and therefore would not yet have been born when Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his "only son."
Other Traditions Observed During Eid al-Adha
The slaughter itself is a significant part of Eid al-Adha, but it's only one aspect of this Islamic holiday. It is also Islamic tradition to attend an early morning congregational Eid prayer and khutbah (sermon) before performing the slaughter. Many families choose to slaughter immediately afterward, but any time that day or in the two days following is acceptable.
Other Muslim traditions observed during Eid al-Adha include the distribution of meat to the poor, buying new clothes or gifts for children, paying visits to family and friends, preparing holiday sweets and cooking special dishes culturally associated with the holiday.
Related Reading:
To learn more about Muslim observances of holidays, you might also enjoy reading Day of Ashura and Mother's Day and Father's Day - An Islamic View.
* Muslims invoke Allah's blessings on the Prophets when their names are mentioned.
Many Mosques Hold Eid Prayers
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