Eid-ul-Adha loosely translates as “the Festival of Sacrifice”, and it commemorates the willingness and readiness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son to demonstrate his devotion to Allah and His commandments. Allah ordered Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son (Ismail), through a revelation in a vision, which the Prophet intended to actualize despite his love for his son. At the point of sacrifice, Allah replaced the Prophet’s son with an animal which was slaughtered instead of Ismail. As a result, Muslims slaughter sacrificial animals (including sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull or a camel) annually to celebrate the festival. 

It falls on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic (lunar) calendar. It also coincides with the completion of the rites of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage observed by muslims in Makkah.