The importance of Eid ul-Adha for Muslims around the world
Eid ul-Adha is one of two holy days celebrated in the religion of Islam.
THIS Sunday, Muslims from around the world celebrate Eid ul-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.
It is the second of two major holy days in the religion of Islam, which follows Eid ul-Fitr, celebrated at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.
An added significance of Eid ul-Adha is it comes at the end of Hajj or Pilgrimage, one of the pillars of Islam, and is celebrated on the tenth day in the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
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Muslims start the special day with morning prayers and those who can afford it will also slaughter an animal, which could be a camel, cow or sheep.
The meat is then distributed among the less fortunate and also shared between family and friends.
Eid ul-Adha commemorates the sacrifice of the prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Judaism and Christianity.
It is said Ibrahim was visited by God in a dream and asked to sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience. However, as the prophet was about to sacrifice his son, God replaced his son with a sheep.
A version of this story also appears in two other holy books, namely the Bible‘s Old Testament and the Torah.
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