Eid-ul-Adha

Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice, is a festival which comes about ten weeks after Eid-ul-Fitr, on the tenth day of Dhul Hajj, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It marks the completion of Hajj - a pilgrimage made to Mecca by Muslims from around the world which, like prayers and fasting, is a form of worship.  On this day, Muslims who can afford to sacrifice an animal are required to do so after the Eid prayer.

This sacrifice is done in remembrance of the obedience of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) and his son Hadhrat Ismail (as) to God’s commandments. Hadhrat Ibrahim had a series of dreams in which he saw himself sacrificing his eldest son, Ismail and he assumed that it was the will of God that he should sacrifice the life of his son. It is mentioned in the Qur’an:

"And when he (Ishmael) was old enough to run along with him (Abraham), he said, ’O my dear son, I have seen in a dream that I offer thee in sacrifice. So consider what thou think of it!’ He replied, ’O my father, do as thou art commanded; thou wilt find me, if Allah please steadfast in my faith.’ "

 Just as Hadhrat Ibrahim was about to do so, God commanded him to stop and an animal was substituted instead.

"And when they both submitted to the Will of God, and Abraham had thrown him down on his forehead, we called to him ’O Abraham thou hast indeed fulfilled the dream.’ Thus indeed do we reward those who do good."

(37:103-105)

The act of sacrifice seeks to remind the person who offers it, that just as the animal being sacrificed is inferior to him, he too is inferior to God and should be prepared to sacrifice himself and his personal interests for the sake of God when necessary.

On Eid day, all Muslims join in congregational prayer, which is held before noon. The Eid consists of two congregational Raka’at: In the first Raka’at, the Imam raises his hands to his earlobes seven times, saying Allahu Akbar each time and then drops his arms by his side. After the seventh Takbeer, he folds his arms as is usually done in the standing position (Qiyam) and proceeds with the prayer. In the second Raka’at, the same routine is carried out, however this time, there are five Takbeerat. The Eid prayer is often followed by a sermon delivered by the Imam.

On Eid, the practice of the Holy Prophet was to go to the mosque by one route and return by another route, as well as to recite the following prayer during the journey:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallahu wallhu akbar Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd.

Translation:

Allah is the Greatest; Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of worship except Allah; Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest and all Praise belongs to Him.

Eid Schedule Highlights

Baitul Futuh Mosque, London

Eid congregation at Baitul Futuh

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V delivering the Eid Sermon

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V leading silent prayer