Eid al Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is the 2nd most important event for Muslims. It is one of the most famous celebrations among believers that is celebrated all around the world.
This festival is celebrated all around the world after the Hajj (Pilgrimage). Furthermore, it is a 3-day festival in which believers sacrifice an animal and celebrate the feasts in the evening.
Since Muslims are spread all around the world, this Eid is celebrated vastly. However, every nation has its ways of celebrating. With Travel Guide Ideas, know about Eid al Adha celebrations around the world.
Why Muslims Celebrate Eid Al Adha
Although the Eid-ul-Fitr is a reward to Muslims after a long month of fasting and devoting themselves to prayers, Eid al Azha has a different significance. It is to celebrate the bravery and honor the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
It is believed that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was asked to sacrifice his most beloved thing for Allah and he was ready to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (AS).
Upon seeing the great sacrifice, Allah showed his miracle and a lamb took the place of Prophet Ismail (AS). From that day onward, this great sacrifice is celebrated all around the world by the Muslims.
All the believers salute the courage of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and slaughter an animal (Goat, Sheep, Lamb, Camel) either raised by them or brought by them (only if they can afford it). This event is called Eid Al Adha.
Difference Between Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid al Adha
Eid ul Fitr is a festival that is said to be a reward from God for fasting. Furthermore, it is associated with Prophet Muhammad PBUH. After the month of Ramadan, the believers enjoy the three days long festivals of Eid Ul Fitr. Eid ul Fitr is a celebration that is observed by Muslims all over the world, and traditional food dishes play an important role in the festivities.
However, Eid al Adha is celebrated in the last month of the Islamic calendar, Zil Hajj. It is celebrated to honor the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). The festival is celebrated after the end of Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca).
During this festival, believers sacrifice the animals and celebrate the event.
What is Hajj?
Hajj is a religious pilgrimage that should be performed once in a lifetime by those who can afford it and hasn’t already done so. Every year, Muslims celebrate Eid al Adha after the completion of the Hajj.
Hajj and Eid al Adha Dates 2023
As per the Islamic Hijri Calendar Hajj 2023 will be performed from the evening of 25th June 2023 till the evening of 30th June 2023. However, the Eid al Adha (Bakrid) is said to fall on June 20 and June 30.
How Muslims Celebrate Eid al Adha In Different CountriesAlthough the main ritual of sacrificing animals is the same throughout the world, the other manners of festivals might differ. There are a few nations where slaughtering animals openly is banned.
Therefore, many countries in the world celebrate Eid Al Azha differently. There are a few nations where there are slaughterhouses, thus people sacrifice animals away from their homes. Furthermore, the meat is cooked into dishes you must make on Eid Al Adha.
Some countries, however, provide slaughter services., You can book the animal, give them the payment and they will deliver the meat. Travel Guide Ideas has mentioned different nations and how they celebrate Bakrid.
The UAE
Since the UAE (United Arab Emirates) is a Muslim country with a majority of Muslims in it, there is a public holiday for almost 3-4 days during the festivals of Eid al Adha.
The day starts with Muslims gathering for Eid prayer and listening to the sermons. Furthermore, the people attending the Eid prayer wish each other Eid Mubarak and leave for the Qurbani (Slaughter).
Although you are allowed to slaughter the animals in your own homes, there are several public slaughterhouses where you can take your animals and get them sacrificed by a professional.
In case you choose to have the ritual in your home, the cleanliness is your responsibility. The government of UAE emphasized keeping the environment clean and fines the ones who violate it.
Pakistan
Pakistan is another Islamic nation where the celebrations of Eid al Adha can be witnessed for almost 4 days. There is a public holiday in the entire nation and everyone gets out of their home to celebrate the festival.
After offering the Eid prayers, most of the people move back to their homes to sacrifice their animals. In big cities like Karachi, the authorities offer to sacrifice your animal and send the meat to your home.
However, it is preferred by most Pakistani to do this job themselves. Cow, goat, sheep, or camel are the most common animals slaughtered in Pakistan. There are Mandis decorated weeks before Eid with different animals. Most people go to these markets to buy themselves the animals.
Most people prefer to eat something cooked from the mead of the sacrificed animal first thing in the morning. It is one of the most common practices in Pakistan.
In addition, the excitement of Eid al Adha is extreme in Pakistan and is shared by mostly everyone since the majority of the population is Muslim. The animals are brought to homes almost a month before the festival.
However, the ones who do not have spaces in their homes keep the animals in public shelter houses. There are several places to visit in Pakistan on Eid. Many people choose to go to these locations to celebrate Eid.
Iran
Another Islamic nation that celebrated Eid al Azha to the fullest is Iran. this nation, with the majority of Muslims, celebrates Eid like above mentioned nations, however, there are a few things that make it different.
Most of the people here use communal slaughterhouses to keep the environment clean and avoid any disease and pollution caused by the open sacrifice of animals.
While people are offering prayers in the mosques, their animals are sacrificed. They, therefore, go to the slaughterhouses to collect the meat of their animals. However, you can watch the sacrifice ceremony of your animal if you wish to. There is no restriction on it.
Once the meat is collected, everyone changes to the special attired they got for Eid al Adha (Bakrid). There is a public holiday for the celebration in Iran too.
Turkey
Turkey is one of the most famous Islamic states with many tourists throughout the year. However, the festivals of Eid al Adha are also worth attending.
Like all other nations, the people here offer the Eid prayers in mosques first thing in the morning and slaughter their animals next. Furthermore, it is not allowed to sacrifice animals in the houses. The government of Turkey has a strict policy of doing the sacrifice in the authorized slaughterhouses.
It is a very common practice to visit family and friends on Eid. People also love to donate money to charity instead of purchasing sacrifice animals. However, those who choose to sacrifice mostly go for sheep instead of any other animals.
Indonesia
The Eid celebration in Indonesia is quite similar to that in Pakistan. Most people are seen sacrificing the animals either on the streets or in their garages.
Furthermore, there are many people on the streets watching the sacrifice, especially the kids. There are many other celebrations like hosting the feast after the rituals. These celebrations mostly go on for 3 days.
India
India has a minority of Muslims therefore the celebrations here are not similar to the ones you read above. In addition, people get out of their houses to offer Eid prayers only in the designated areas.
The cows are considered sacred animals in India, therefore, slaughtering them is out of the question. Muslims are normally permitted to sacrifice goats and sheep. These rituals are normally carried out in their homes.
Sacrificing animals on the streets is not allowed since it can cause some disruption among people of different opinions. Moreover, it is a common practice for Muslims of India to gather in Muslim societies and have feats after the rituals.
African Nations
There are a few Muslim countries in African Nations that celebrate the Eid al Azha festival to the fullest. The most common nations to have Eid holidays here are Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt.
After offering the Eid prayers and slaughtering the animals people go out to celebrate properly. There are feasts and parties held by people. Visiting family and friends is a common practice.
Furthermore, people take put meat portions for those who are not financially stable to buy an animal for sacrifice. Thus, everyone here participates in the Eid celebrations.
Egypt
Similar to all other countries, the day starts with people offering Eid prayers in the Mosques or Eidgahs. After that, the animals are taken to slaughter. The locals call the festivals ‘Eid-el-Kibr‘ in Egypt.
The people here do not just celebrate Eid but honor the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to the fullest. There is a greater amount of donation in money and in meat too.
The people go out of their way to find families who can not afford food on Eid and help them. This is the time when you see the best of humanity in Egypt.
European Countries With Muslim Minorities
European countries like the US, UK, and Canada celebrate Eid al Adha slightly differently from that of other Islamic nations. There is no public holiday. Therefore, if it is not a weekend, you will be expected to continue with your daily tasks as usual.
Instead of buying animals and taking care of them, there is an option of pre-booking your animals and getting them slaughtered at local Halal butcheries.
However, it is a common practice for them to skip the sacrificial ritual and instead send money back to their homeland and ask them to do the sacrifice on their behalf.
The celebrations, therefore, are more fun and energetic. People gather with their family and friends and have feasts. All the traditional Eid dishes are cooked and long fun conversations are made.
💡 Note: Most of the celebrations and parties of Eid are delayed to the weekend since there is no public holiday.
Etiquettes Of Qurbani
It is necessary to use a sharp knife to sacrifice the animal. Making the process slow and painful is strictly prohibited. Furthermore, it is also important to give water to the animal before slaughter.
Once the animal is sacrificed in the proper Islamic manner, the meat is divided into three parts. The first part is kept by the person himself. However, the 2nd part is for their relatives. The third part is separated from the poor people of the community who can not afford to buy animals.
The reason behind the distribution of the meat is to make sure no one misses out on the fun of Eid. Everyone needs to understand that we are all equal in the sight of God and it is our responsibility to take care of the ones who are underprivileged.
Significance Of Eid-Ul-Adha In Muslim Culture
Eid al Adha is one of the most important events for Muslims throughout the World. The significance of Eid al Adha is that it is to show how if you put your trust in Allah even in the hardest of times, he will surely bless you.
Prophet Ibrahim had his trust in Allah and therefore he rewarded him. Likewise, if you put your trust in Allah, he creates a way out for you even when there is no door left.
This festival of Eid is a great motivation for those who are going through a tough time. It is a day when you should put all your faith in Allah. He is the one who is going to take your worries away.
It is also a great day for people to donate to those who are in need. It is a common practice among Muslims to give meat to those people who do not afford to buy any animal. Therefore, it is a great way of helping those in need of assistance.
