Eid-al-Adha is just around the corner!
Do you know the story of Abraham? God promised Abraham he would have an heir, and after many years of waiting, God miraculously gave Abraham a son. Then, through a vision, God tested Abraham’s faith by telling him to sacrifice his beloved son. Right as Abraham was about to obey God’s command, God sent a ram to take his son’s place.
Eid-al-Adha is the celebration of this incredible story.
On June 6-10, our Muslim friends around the world will be celebrating Eid-al-Adha through prayer gatherings, animal sacrifices, sharing meals, exchanging gifts, wearing colorful traditional clothing, and reflecting on this story of sacrifice and faithfulness. This holiday is full of unity, charity, self-sacrifice, faith, and cultural pride.
Eid-al-Adha in the United States
In the US, Muslims of all backgrounds and cultures come together for prayer at local mosques. Typically, these gatherings involve carnivals and other celebrations as well. Everyone gathers in homes afterward for meals, often distinguished by a recently butchered goat or sheep, and then Muslim families give out the leftover meat to people in their communities.
Eid-al-Adha in Southeast Asia
Muslims in Southeast Asia begin their celebration of Eid-al-Adha by a congregational prayer in fields or at mosques. Then, they perform the ritual of Qurban by sacrificing animals in shared spaces amongst homes with neighbors. With the meat from the animals, they give to the poor and the orphaned and to people in their communities to make dishes like tiyula itum, which is a type of beef or goat stew.
Eid-al-Adha in Europe
In Europe, Eid-al-Adha is celebrated within family units and in small communities by spending time together and meditating on Abraham’s story. Animal sacrifice is less common in these regions because of certain regulations, but Muslim families don’t let that stop them from being charitable with the vulnerable during this holiday. Instead of meat, they give zakat, donating a portion of their wealth to the poor.