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Eid-ul-Adha

/ ˈiːdʊlˌɑːdə /

noun

  1. an annual Muslim festival marking the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. Animals are sacrificed and their meat shared among the poor
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Eid-ul-Adha1

from Arabic id ul adha festival of sacrifice

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More About Eid Ul Adha

What is Eid-ul-Adha?

Eid-ul-Adha is a major Islamic festival that commemorates the story of Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael (Ishmael) when Allah commanded him to. When Ibrahim showed that he would obey, Allah provided a sheep for Ibrahim to sacrifice instead.

For this reason, Eid-ul-Adha traditionally involves sacrificing a sheep or goat. The meat is then divided among family, friends, and those in need.

Eid-ul-Adha lasts for four days. Many Muslims observe the festival by dressing up, attending services at their mosque, gathering with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and making charitable donations.

Eid-ul-Adha occurs on the last day of Hajj, a pilgrimage that Muslims are obligated to undertake once in their lives.

Eid-ul-Adha can also be spelled ʾId al-Adha or Eid-ul-Adha. It’s often referred to simply as Eid. However, Eid can also refer to another festival, Eid-ul-Fitr, which happens at a different time. Eid-ul-Adha is sometimes called Big Eid, the Festival of Sacrifice, and the Great Festival.

One traditional greeting for Eid-ul-Adha is Eid Mubarak, roughly meaning “Happy Eid” or “Blessed Eid.”

When is Eid-ul-Adha?

In 2024, Eid ul-Adha will begin on the evening of June 16 and end on the evening of June 19. In 2025, Eid ul-Adha will begin on the evening of June 6 and end on the evening of June 9.

Eid-ul-Adha always begins on the tenth day of Dhu ʾl-hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, the date on which Eid-ul-Adha is observed varies from year to year.

More information and context on Eid-ul-Adha

The name Eid-ul-Adha comes from the Arabic ʿīd al-aḍḥā, meaning “festival of sacrifice.” The word Eid means “festival” or “feast.” The first records of the name Eid-ul-Adha used in English come from the 1700s.

The Jewish Torah and the Christian Old Testament also include a version of the story in which a sheep is sacrificed in place of a child (in these versions, the names Abraham and Isaac are used).

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Eid-ul-Adha?

How is Eid-ul-Adha discussed in real life?

Eid-ul-Adha is one of the two major festivals in Islam, along with Eid al-Fitr.

Try using Eid-ul-Adha!

True or False?

Eid-ul-Adha is the same as Eid-ul-Fitr.

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eidosEid-ul-Fitr