Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is the second of the two major festivals in the Muslim calendar. Its name means the festival of sacrifice, and it falls during the season of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. It is a time of devotion, gratitude, and above all, generosity to others.

What it commemorates

Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), known in the Jewish and Christian traditions as Abraham, and his willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to him in obedience to God. In the account shared by Muslims, God spared his son and provided a ram in his place. The festival honours that spirit of faith, trust, and submission to God.

When it happens

Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, at the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage. As with the Islamic calendar generally, the date moves about ten to eleven days earlier each year against the ordinary calendar, and is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon.

How it is observed

The day begins with a special Eid prayer in congregation, just as at Eid al-Fitr. What distinguishes this festival is the tradition of sacrifice, known as Qurbani, in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him). An animal is sacrificed and the meat is shared, traditionally in three parts:

• For the family: a share kept for one’s own household.
• For friends and neighbours: a share given to friends, relatives, and neighbours.
• For those in need: a share given to the poor, so that everyone can share in the day.

In Ireland and across the world, many Muslims arrange Qurbani through charities, which carry out the sacrifice and distribute the meat to families in need, often in some of the poorest parts of the world. Beyond this, the day is marked much like the earlier Eid: prayer, new or best clothes, visiting family, shared meals, and gifts for children.

A connection to Hajj

Eid al-Adha coincides with the final days of Hajj, the pilgrimage that every Muslim who is able makes once in a lifetime. Even for those not on pilgrimage, the festival links Muslims everywhere to that great annual gathering in Mecca, and to the shared history of their faith.

Eid al-Adha in Ireland

As at Eid al-Fitr, Muslim communities across Ireland gather for Eid prayers in mosques and in larger hired venues able to hold the crowds. The emphasis on charity and sharing makes it a particularly outward-looking celebration, and a natural moment for the wider community to learn about and share in the generosity at its heart. The Council publishes Eid prayer venues and times ahead of each Eid.