Eidal-Adha

In the Islamic Calendar, there are two days of great celebration known as Eid. Eid al-Fitr (also known as the Lesser Eid) falls at the end of the auspicious month of Ramadan while Eid al-Adha (known as the Greater Eid) is the festival that follows the great pilgrimage to Hajj at the time of Qurbani. The celebrations of Eid are a time to come together with family and friends, eat delicious food and give gifts to the younger members of your community.

This year, the Eid al-Adha 2020 date is anticipated to fall on Thursday 30th July, depending on the sighting of the moon. Although there is no fixed date in the Gregorian calendar as the Islamic Calendar follows the lunar cycle and changes by approximately 10 days every year, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the final calendar month, Dhul Hijjah.

To enable others living in poverty to enjoy Eid alongside their brothers and sisters, Orphans in Need work to distribute your donations for Eid al-Adha to those most in need, providing Eid gifts to orphans and food packs to families.

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha is celebrated in honour of the Prophet Ibrahim who willingly gave his son, the most precious thing in his life, for sacrifice in the name of Allah (SWT). At the last moment, Allah (SWT) recognising the Prophet’s devotion, swapped Ibrahim’s son with a ram and to this day, Muslims who are able, sacrifice an animal in the name of Prophet Ibrahim. Part of this sacrifice is providing food to people most in need and each Qurbani share is split into three, one for the family, one for friends and one to be given to those living in poverty.

Eid al-Adha translates to the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ or the ‘Festival of Offering’ and is considered the holiest of festivals in the Islamic Calendar and is one of the two days the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) declared to be official days of celebration.

When is Eid al-Adha?

The Eid al-Adha date in the UK standard Gregorian calendar changes year to year but, in the Islamic Calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the 12th month called Dhul Hijjah. The festival lasts between three and four days and doesn’t begin until the sighting of the moon has been confirmed after the annual Holy Pilgrimage to Hajj. The act of Qurbani takes place only after the morning Eid prayers have finished. Any animals that are slaughtered prior to the morning Eid prayers are not officially considered Qurbani.

Celebrating Qurbani and Eid al-Adha

At this holy time, it’s a tradition for communities to come together in celebration, to join in a congregation for prayers and to make a donation to enable others to enjoy this auspicious occasion. Friends and families wish each other a happy Eid with the phrase Eid Mubarak! This is a shortened greeting from “Eid al-Adha Mubarak” and Eid al-Fitr Mubarak” and is spoken as a blessing during both Eid festivals. Eid al-Adha is also a time of reflection, some choose to fast from the 1st of Dhul Hijjah until the festival of Qurbani and others follow in the way of the Prophet (PBUH) and choose not to cut their hair or nails until their sacrifice has been made. This year, help Orphans in Need reach more families and donate your Qurbani with us, or contribute to giving Eid gifts to our orphans and brighten a child’s Eid al-Adha celebration this year.