Afghan Culture Eid al-Adha: Your Questions Answered What is Eid al-Adha? One of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha, or Festival of the Sacrifice commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s loyalty to Allah through his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. When is Eid al-Adha? Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of the twelfth month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar. The timing of the festival depends on the first sighting of the new moon, meaning some countries will celebrate it on different days. This year the festivities will begin around Thursday 30th July, and end on Monday 3rd August. Eid al-Adha also coincides with the last day of the Hajj, a five-day pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslim’s undergo to cleanse the soul of sins. Any Muslim who has the financial means is expected to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lives, as it constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. How is Eid al-Adha celebrated? The story of Prophet Ibrahim in the Quran states that Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream, commanding him to sacrifice his son as a sign of his devotion and submission. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram, which was slaughtered in his place. As such, during Eid celebrations, the act of Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the Eid Salaah (Eid Prayers), in which a sacrificial animal – a sheep, goat, lamb, cow, bull or a camel – is slaughtered, to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah. The Qurbani meat is then divided among family, neighbours, and those in need. Traditionally, the day is spent with family and involves the exchanging of gifts, and feasting. Eid Murabak! The most popular greeting during Eid is "Eid Mubarak", which translates as Blessed Eid. And with that, we'd like to wish a joyful and blessed Eid al-Adha to all our supporters! Let us know how you’ll be celebrating Eid this year - we’d love to hear from you. Want to support our work? Give the gift of a brighter future in just a few short clicks: Please select a donation amount: * £20 [single] Could buy 20 apple trees for a family, giving them a new source of income and nutrition. £70 [single] Could pay for tailoring training and a sewing machine for a vulnerable woman, enabling her to start a small business. £100 [single] Could buy a waterproof tent to be used as an emergency shelter when disasters strike. £5 [dd] Could provide a class of women with literacy lessons, enabling them to live with dignity and independence. £10 [dd] Could provide schools with proper toilets and access to clean water, encouraging attendance and reducing illness. £15 [dd] Could pay for first aid kits and training in remote villages, saving lives in areas where the nearest hospital is hard to reach. Other Set up a regular payment Donate