Here’s all you need to know about the date, history, significance, and celebration of the Muslim festival of Bakrid or Bakreid. While Eid al-Fitr or Ramadan Eid is the most important festival in Islam that marks the end of the sacred month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, recite the Holy Quran, and offer prayers to Allah, Eid ul-Adha (also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban, or Qurban Bayarami) is the second major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims across the world and marks the commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s AS absolute dedication to Allah.
Date:
Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of the Dhul Hijjah month. The celebration date varies from country to country, depending on when the crescent moon is sighted to mark the onset of the month.
After confirming the sighting of the crescent Dhul Hijjah moon on June 06, 2024, Saudi Arabia has announced the celebration of Eid al Adha in the Kingdom on Sunday, July 16, 2024, which is also when the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, and other Arab states will be marking it, along with Canada, the United Kingdom, the USA, and other Western nations. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, other South Asian countries, and South Africa, Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated a day later, on June 17, 2024, as the crescent moon was sighted on June 07 in these regions.
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History:
The history of Eid-ul-Adha dates back to when Abraham or Prophet Ibrahim AS kept having a recurring dream of slaughtering his beloved son, Ismael, to fulfill the wishes of God. Ibrahim spoke to his son regarding this dream, explaining to him how God wanted him to make the sacrifice, and Ismael, who was just as much a man of God, agreed with his father and asked him to comply with the wishes of Allah.
Shaitan (the devil) tempted Ibrahim and tried to dissuade him from making the sacrifice but he tried to shun it away by pelting it with stones. Allah saw Ibrahim’s absolute devotion and sent Jibreel (Angel Gabriel), the Archangel, bearing a sheep for slaughter.
Jibreel told Ibrahim that God was pleased with his devotion to him and sent the sheep to be slaughtered in place of his son. Ever since then, cattle sacrifice is a major part of Eid-ul-Adha celebrations which not only commemorates Prophet Ibrahim and Ismael’s love for Allah but also shows that one is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of what they love dearly, for the sake of Allah.
Significance:
More than the act of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha is the celebration of Ibrahim and Ismael’s love for Allah, and the sacrifice is only meant as a gesture that shows that one is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Allah. It is the sacrifice of what one loves the most for God. Hence, in commemoration of the sheep sent by Allah through Jibreel AS, Muslims across the globe sacrifice a goat or sheep in the spirit of sacrifice.
It is obligatory for the meal prepared from the sacrifice to be distributed in three equal parts where one portion feeds the family, the second feeds the relatives, and the third goes to the poor and needy. It is believed that even though neither the meat nor the blood reaches Allah, the devotion of His people reaches him.
Celebrations:
On the tenth day of this month, Muslims around the world offer Eid al-Adha namaz at a mosque, after the sun has completely risen and just before it enters the Zuhr time (midday prayer time). The prayer is followed by a sermon or khutbah by the Imam.
The Muslim community across the world celebrates the Bakrid festival by sacrificing a goat, sheep, buffalo, or camel, honoring Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice. They start the festival by offering morning prayers in the mosque and follow their prescribed ritual of sacrificing, which is later distributed in three proportions: poor people, relatives, and themselves. They visit family and friends to offer wishes, share gifts, and rejoice together.
Celebrating Eid-al Adha by sacrificing cattle is very akin to the practice of self-sacrifice, which is an act of offering gratitude to Allah. It is believed that during a lifetime, we give up a number of things that are important to us for a bigger purpose, and in a similar way, the sacrificing of animals is a symbol of willingness to sacrifice to stay true on our path and not be lured by earthly love and affection. The celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha include women applying mehndi in various designs to add beauty to the entire essence of Eid celebrations, eating delicious food, giving charity to the poor, and sharing the joy with family, relatives, neighbors, and friends. Bakrid feast dishes include mutton biryani, mutton korma, mutton keema, bhuna kaleji among others, and desserts such as sheer khurma and kheer.
