“Eid – Al – Adha” is another major holiday for Muslims. “Eid – Al – Adha” celebrates Abraham’s intended sacrifice of his son when he was ordered to show his commitment to Allah. After Allah was convinced that Abraham would indeed sacrifice Ismail in order to prove his faith, the angel Gabriel replaced him with a lamb according to the command of Allah. The name of the holiday means “The Feast of the Sacrifice”. A lamb or an animal is sacrificed in the same way that Abraham sacrificed the lamb. The meat of the lamb or the animal goes to the poor, to relatives and family members. The sacrifice (together with the distribution of the sacrificial lamb) is an expression of generosity; it is one of the five pillars of Islam, symbolizing obedience to Allah. On this day children receive gifts in order to commemorate the holiday, and special prayers are recited during the feast. “Eid – Al – Adha” begins on the 10th day of Dhu’l-Hijja, which is the last month of the Muslim calendar. It lasts for three days, and it takes place at the end of the annual Hajj or the celebration of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. For this celebration, Muslims from around the world make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims are required to try to perform Hajj at least once during their lifetime.
