Eidul Adha, also known as the “Festival of the Sacrifice,” is a major Islamic holiday celebrated with great enthusiasm by Muslims across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and numerous Gulf and European countries.
The festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.
In Saudi Arabia, Eid prayers echoed through the sacred halls of Masjid-e-Nabvi and the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Following an overnight vigil in the open skies of Muzdalifa, the gathered pilgrims commenced their journey towards Mina, marking the next phase of their spiritual journey.
In Mina, their actions will symbolize pivotal moments in Islamic history – throwing stones at Jamarat Al-Aqba as a rejection of temptation, sacrificing animals to echo Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion, and shaving their heads as a gesture of renewal. The pilgrims will then return to Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifada and Sai, crucial pillars of the Hajj.
Eidul Adha Celebrations Across the Muslim World
Eidul Adha festival extends its reach beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia, touching Muslim communities across the globe. Muslims are also marking this sacred day in the Islamic calendar in. Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia, Iran, and Malaysia.
Earlier this week, millions of pilgrims assembled on the rocky slopes of Mount Arafat, a key site in the Hajj pilgrimage. They gathered to pray and to listen at a sermon delivered from the Nimara mosque amid a scorching Saudi Arabian summer.
Sheikh Yusuf bin Muhammad bin Saeed, delivering the sermon, urged unity and cohesion among the Ummah. He emphasized that language, race, or differences should not give rise to discord among Muslims. His call resonated with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, promoting unity in diversity among the global Islamic community.
