Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice

Ibrahim, his son and the ram

Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was sacrificing his son. He told him, and the boy answered: do as you are commanded, and you will find me patient, if Allah wills. They both submitted, and at the last moment Allah called out to Ibrahim that he had already fulfilled the vision (As-Saffat 37:102–105). Most scholars identify the son as Isma'il.

Eid al-Adha, on 10 Dhul-Hijjah, carries that story. The pilgrims offer their sacrifices in these days, and Muslims everywhere who can afford it do the same.

The Quran is clear about what the sacrifice is for: “Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you” (Al-Hajj 22:37).

Qurbani, the sacrifice

The sacrifice (udhiyah, or qurbani) is a sheep or goat, or a share in a cow or camel, which up to seven people can share. It is made after the Eid prayer; an animal slaughtered before the prayer is simply meat, not the Eid sacrifice (Bukhari and Muslim). Its time ends at sunset on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah according to many scholars, and on the 13th according to others.

Scholars differ on its ruling. The Hanafi school holds it is obligatory for an adult Muslim who has the means; most other scholars consider it a strongly emphasised sunnah. Either way, if you can afford it, don't leave it.

The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed two rams with his own hand, saying “Bismillahi wallahu akbar” (Muslim 1966). Many people today pay a trusted charity to sacrifice on their behalf, often where the meat is most needed. A common practice is to divide the meat into thirds, for your household, for relatives and friends, and for people in need. That is a recommendation, not a rule; the Quran simply says to eat from it and feed the poor (Al-Hajj 22:28).

If you intend to sacrifice, the Prophet ﷺ said not to cut your hair or nails from the start of Dhul-Hijjah until your animal has been sacrificed (Muslim 1977). Scholars differ on whether this is binding or recommended.

The Eid morning and the days after

The Eid morning is close to the one after Ramadan, with one difference: on Eid al-Fitr you eat before the prayer, and on Eid al-Adha the Prophet ﷺ would not eat until he had prayed (Tirmidhi).

• Bathe, wear your best clothes, and walk to the prayer saying the takbir.
• Pray the Eid prayer and stay for the khutbah.
• Make your sacrifice, or check that it has been done for you. Pay the butcher separately, not with meat or the hide; Ali was told to do the same (Bukhari and Muslim).
• Share meat, food and visits, especially with people who rarely get either.
• Keep saying the takbir after each obligatory prayer until Asr on the 13th.
• Enjoy the days that follow. The Prophet ﷺ called the days of tashreeq days of eating, drinking and remembering Allah (Muslim 1141).