by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: November 13, 2009   Last Updated: November 17, 2009

Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most important Islamic holidays of the year. It falls on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijja. The date is dependent on the visibility of the moon. It is a festival that marks the end of Hajj, the sacred pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Both Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha are symbolic of sacrifice that Ibrahim was willing to make in order to obey Allah

*The importance of sacrifice -
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Eid-ul-Adha is popularly known as the Festival of Sacrifice because it commemorates Ibrahim's unselfish willingness to make an act of sacrifice (Qurbani) by offering his only son as a sacrifice to Allah. Ibrahiim loved his son with every fiber of his being, but he knew how important it was to obey Allah's command, and if that meant sacrificing the life of his only child, then that was what he had to do.

*The story of Abraham's sacrifice -

Historically, Eid-ul-Adha is traced back to the story in which Allah (God) instructed Ibrahim (who is dreaming this,) to raise the foundations of Kaaba, which is the most sacred shrine in Mecca. Muslims believe that even though Ibrahim endured a multitude of trials and tribulations as he traveled to Mecca. Allah spoke to Ibrahim once again in a dream, instructing him to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

Ibrahimand Ishmael continued on their way to Mina to prepare for the sacrifice. Along the way, they encountered the devil who did all he could to lead Abraham astray. The devil kept trying to entice Ibrahim to disobey Allahs commandment by not killing his son.

Ibrahim was unshakably steadfast in his desire to remain true to Allah. He ultimately succeeded in driving the devil away. Just as Ibrahim was preparing to sacrifice his own son, Allah stepped in and gave him a sheep to sacrifice in his son's place.

This story is the same story that is recounted in Genesis in the Old Testament and in Hebrews in the New Testament, but Ishmael is called Issac in the Bible.

*The message -

The festival serves to remind all people that Allah will be merciful and will bestow benefits upon those who are faithful. It also stresses the importance of making personal sacrifices for Allah or to help others. That is why all of the meat from sacrifices performed by people on the Hajj pilgrimage is given to the needy.

*How Muslims commemorate this event -

Muslims commemorate Ibrahim's heroic act of sacrifice by actually slaughtering a camel, a goat or a sheep themselves. After doing this, the butchered animal is divided three ways. One third

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