Overview:
Eid-Ul-Adha (a.k.a. the Feast of Sacrifice or Day's Sacrifice) is observed following the Hajj -- the annual pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia.
An obligation of every Muslim, as referred to within the Five Support beams of Islam, is to take Hajj at least one time once throughout their lifetime, unless of course they're avoided by finances or sickness. "The Hajj includes several events, designed to represent the fundamental concepts from the Islamic belief, and also to commemorate the tests of prophet Abraham and the family...The pilgrimage also allows Muslims from all across the globe, of various colors, languages, races, and nationalities, to get together inside a spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood to worship the main one God together." 1
It's the second of these two major Muslim holy days. Another is Eid-ul-Fitr which follows Ramadan -- a lunar month of partial fasting.
Just when was it celebrated?
Eid-Ul-Adha is observed following the conclusion from the Hajj. The very first day of the celebration takes place around the tenth day's Duhl-Hijja, the recently from the Muslim year. In many areas, the Feast of Sacrifice is well known over a few days. 2
Islamic several weeks can start sunset at the time once the lunar crescent seems following the new moon, and could be sighted through the unaided eye . "Visibility is dependent on a lot of factors including the weather, the altitude from the moon at sunset, the closeness from the moon towards the sun at sunset, the interval between sunset and moonset, atmospheric pollution, the standard from the eyesight from the observer, utilization of optical helps etc." 3 Consequently, even though the phases from the moon could be predicted precisely, the moon's visibility in a given place on the planet can't be believed ahead of time. Thus, the feast day happens to be celebrated on several days in various parts of the planet.
Since the date from the Feast of Sacrifice is dependent upon a lunar calendar, it's observed about 11 days earlier every year. Based on the Gregorian calendar:
Year EId al-Adha
1417 H 1997-APR-17
1418 1998-APR-07
1419 1999-Marly-28
1420 2000-Marly-16
1421 2001-Marly-05
1422 2002-February-22
1423 2003-February-11
1424 2004-February-01
1425 2005-JAN-21
1426 2006-JAN-10
1427 2006-12 ,-31
1428 2007-12 ,-20
1429 2008-12 ,-08
1430 2009-November-28
1431 2010-November-17
1432 2011-November-07
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Its significance:
"The celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha is within commemoration from the command give by Allah to Prophet Abraham (may Allah enjoy a him) to sacrifice his first born boy Ishmael to Him. The fulfilment [sic] of the noble command of Allah by Abraham signifies his belief in Allah...." 7
"Eid-Ul-Adha is really a day's remembrance. Even just in probably the most pleased occasions, the Muslim constitutes a new beginning during the day with a session of congregational hopes to Allah in an area. Muslims make use of the opportunity pray to Allah and also to glorify His title to show the remembrance of His sophistication and favours. Muslims keep in mind the deceased by praying for his or her souls to relaxation in peace. The desperate and vulnerable in society will also be appreciated by showing them sympathy and consolation." 4
Muslims all over the world celebrate
"this feast of commitment, behavior training and self-sacrifice to Allah. They put on their best clothing and attend Salatul-Eid (Eid Prayer) each morning. This really is then a brief sermon, then everybody socializes. Next, people visit each other peoples houses and take part in festive foods with special dishes, drinks, and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets about this happy occasion. Additionally, such as the pilgrims in Makkah (Mecca), the Muslims, who are able to afford to do this, offer domestic creatures, usually sheep, denoting Ibrahim's sacrifice." 4,5
A few of the meat is offered towards the poor -- frequently 1 / 3. The relaxation is shared one of the family, relatives and buddies.
Additionally, Eid-Ul-Adha is a period when Muslims pray for forgiveness from God and strength of belief. They, consequently, forgive others, delivering any feelings of enmity or ill feeling towards others. 2 Many Muslims exchange handmade cards at this time around. 6
Misunderstanding through the media:
In 2003-February, a rumor spread there will be a terrorist attack around the U.S. on Eid-Ul-Adha. Some news services garbled the storyline and referred to your day of Sacrifice as a period when passions and the opportunity of violence were in their height through the Muslim community. Actually, it's a time when Muslims focus on spiritual matters as well as their forgiveness of individuals who've harmed them. To assert that lots of Muslims will turn to violence about this day could be similar to declaring that lots of Christian believers will end up violent at The holiday season, or Easter time.
