Hijri Calendar
Eid al-Adha
ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā
The "festival of sacrifice" on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and marking the climax of Hajj.
What is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha is the "festival of sacrifice", the greater of the two Islamic festivals. It is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, coinciding with the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and God's mercy in ransoming the boy with a ram. Muslims mark it with the Eid prayer and the ritual sacrifice (udhiyah) of livestock.
The Story Behind Eid al-Adha
Prophet Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was sacrificing his son. Recognising it as a command from God, both father and son submitted. As Ibrahim prepared to carry it out, God called to him that he had fulfilled the vision, and ransomed the son with a great sacrifice (Quran 37:102-107). Eid al-Adha celebrates this supreme example of submission and trust.
When is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and continues through the days of Tashriq (11th-13th). The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, immediately precedes it as the pinnacle of Hajj.
How is Eid al-Adha Observed?
- Eid prayer — two rakahs in congregation, followed by a sermon
- Udhiyah (sacrifice) — slaughtering a sheep, goat, cow, or camel
- Sharing the meat — divided among family, friends, and the poor
- Takbir — recited from the day of Arafah through the Tashriq days
- Best clothes and gatherings — celebration and visiting
The Sacrifice (Udhiyah)
Those who can afford it offer a sacrificial animal as an act of worship, not for its meat or blood but for the devotion behind it: "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you" (Quran 22:37). The meat is traditionally divided into three: for one's household, for relatives and friends, and for the needy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the udhiyah obligatory?
Scholars differ: it is an emphasised sunnah for most, and obligatory according to the Hanafi school, upon those who have the means.
How is Eid al-Adha different from Eid al-Fitr?
Eid al-Fitr follows Ramadan and centres on charity (Zakat al-Fitr); Eid al-Adha coincides with Hajj and centres on the sacrifice. Eid al-Adha is also longer, spanning the days of Tashriq.
Etymology & origin
Adha (أضحى) comes from the root Ḍ-Ḥ-W (ض-ح-و), referring to the forenoon (ḍuḥā) — the time after sunrise when the sacrifice is offered — and to uḍḥiyah, the sacrificial animal. Eid al-Adha is therefore "the festival of sacrifice", named for the offering made in the morning of the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son.
References
- Quran:
- 2:196, 22:37, 37:102, 37:107, 108:2
- Hadith:
- Bukhari 968 (order of Eid prayer then sacrifice); Bukhari 5545 (whoever slaughters before the prayer must repeat); Muslim 1977 (one who can afford but does not sacrifice); Abu Dawud 2438 (best days are the ten of Dhul-Hijjah); Tirmidhi 1493 (virtue of the sacrifice)
Related terms
Ayyam al-Tashriq
The three days following Eid al-Adha (11th-13th Dhul-Hijjah), days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God, during which fasting is forbidden.
Day of Arafah
The 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the pinnacle of Hajj when pilgrims stand at Arafat; fasting it for non-pilgrims expiates the sins of two years.
Dhul-Hijjah
The twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar, in which the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha take place; its first ten days are especially blessed.
Eid al-Fitr
The "festival of breaking the fast", celebrated on the first of Shawwal to mark the end of Ramadan, beginning with a special congregational prayer.
Hajj
The fifth pillar of Islam: the pilgrimage to Mecca performed during Dhu al-Hijjah, obligatory once for every able-bodied financially capable Muslim.
Yawm an-Nahr (Day of Sacrifice)
The 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the greatest day of Hajj, on which pilgrims perform the sacrifice, stoning, and circumambulation; coincides with Eid al-Adha.