One of the two major festivals of Islam, Eid Al Adha is a time to celebrate culture with family, friends and neighbours. Also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, it is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, on dates subject to change each year.
As the day of Eid Al Adha is subjected to the appearance of the moon, its exact date varies from country to country. The moon-sighting process starts on the 29th day of Dhul Qaadah. If the moon is spotted on the 29th, then the next day is declared as the first day of Dhul Hijjah and Eid Al Adha is set to be celebrated on the 10th of the month. This year, the tentative date of the festival is Monday 12th August 2019.When is Eid Al Adha 2019?
Why is Eid Al Adha celebrated?
This festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to submit to Allah’s commands by sacrificing his son as an act of obedience. At the last moment, his son was replaced with a lamb by Allah. In honour of the event, Muslims sacrifice animals. The event symbolizes our desire to give up objects that are important or near to our hearts. It also signifies our readiness to abandon our bounties, in order to reinforce friendship ties and assist people in need. The festival aims to enhance the virtue of a Muslim in his actions.
Where and How will Eid Al Adha celebrated be celebrated in 2019?
One of the most important festivals in the Islamic faith, Eid Al Adha is observed by 1.6 billion Muslims across the globe. It marks the conclusion of the sacred worship of Hajj or pilgrimage to Makkah. The mode of celebrating this festival is fundamentally the same everywhere. On the day of Eid Al Adha, obligatory prayer is performed in congregation following the regular morning prayer. Greetings and salutations are exchanged between friends, family and neighbours.
The best Halal animals are then sacrificed to reflect the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham. The meat is divided into three parts and then distributed accordingly – for their family, for relatives and friends, and for the poor and needy. Men, women and children dress in their finest attire during the 3-day festivities. Preparing a variety of traditional red-meat dishes is customary. Elders often offer kids ‘eidia’ (cash) as a goodwill. Traditional Eid Al Adha gifts also involve dates, chocolates and sweet treats that friends and family members present to each other upon visit.