Muslims Worldwide Celebrate Eid al-Adha
In Iran, too, millions of Muslims across the country flocked to mosques and open grounds on Friday to participate in celebrations marking the auspicious occasion.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the sacrifice feast, is celebrated to honor the dedication and willingness of Prophet Abraham (AS) to sacrifice his son as an act of submission on God's command.
Abraham was ready to sacrifice his beloved son, but seeing his commitment, Allah intervened and, instead, asked him to sacrifice something less dear to him.
It was then that Abraham sacrificed an animal for Allah. In commemoration of this, every year on the day of Eid al-Aadha Muslims sacrifice animals like sheep, goats and camels.
The animal is not completely consumed by the family instead it is divided in three parts. One is shared by the family, the other is distributed among relatives and neighbors, and the third part is given to the poor.
Every year, Eid al-Adha falls on a different date as it depends on the Islamic Lunar calendar. As per the calendar, Eid-al Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and falls approximately 11 days prior to the previous year’s Eid.
Just like Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha begins with a prayer of two rakats followed by a sermon. On the day of Eid al-Adha people come together and listen to a sermon at a mosque. They buy and wear new clothes for the festival and visit their families and friends.
