Eid ul Adha
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.
Rites of Eid-ul-Adha
- Take a ritual bath and use perfume (perfume use is only for men)
- Do not shave your head or body
- Wear your finest clothes
- Do not eat before the Eid prayer
- Chant the Takbir before the Eid prayers (Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar lā ilāha: illā-llāh Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar walillāhi l-ḥamd)
- Perform the Eid prayer in congregation. The prayer consists of two rakahs with seven Takbirs in the first rakah and five Takbirs in the second rakah. It may be performed from the time the sun comes up fully to the time of dhuhr prayers. Lekki Central Mosque observes the Eid prayers on its grounds (Hakeem Dickson Link Road, Lekki Phase One, Lagos Nigeria). The prayers start at 9am prompt.
- Listen to the khutbah; however, this is a Sunnah and not obligatory. Abdullah Ibn As-Sa’ib (radi Allahu anhu) said: I prayed the Eid prayer with the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and when he finished the prayer He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “We will be delivering a Khut’ba. Whoever wishes to stay for the Khut’ba may stay. Whoever would like to leave may leave.”
- Slaughter the sacrificial animal in remembrance of the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim. The animal must be in good health, fully grown, and must be slaughtered in a Halal way. The meat can be divided into the equal portions: one-third for you and your family; one-third for your friends; and one-third for charity.