Eid ul-Azha

Eid ul-Azha is celebrated on the tenth day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah; right after the termination of the rites of Hajj. It is also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice” or the “Greater Eid”. It is an Islamic festival to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Ismail (AS) by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) as an act of obedience of Allah. But instead of Ismail a ram was sacrificed by Allah’s command. In remembrance and honor of this great sacrifice Muslims all over the world sacrifice a domestic animal, such as a cow, sheep, goat, or camel, by slaughter. This ritual observance lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Hajj and the great sacrifice are the remembrance of the trails, hardships and triumphs of the Prophet Ibrahim. The Quran says:

 "Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121) 

Of the many trials that Prophet Ibrahim had to face during his life time, the sacrifice of his only son Ismail was perhaps the hardest and the most difficult one. When he was given the command he didn’t think for a second and prepared himself to do it. He showed that his love for his Creator was more than anything compared. To honor his great sacrifice Allah made it customary for the Muslims to sacrifice animals on that particular day for eternity.

The meat from the sacrifice on Eid ul-Azha is be divided into three equal parts to be distributed to others. The family eats one third, another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors, and the other third is given to the poor & needy as a gift. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of beneficial and close to our hearts and that nothing is more important than to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need.