What is Eid-ul-Adha?

Eid ul-Fitr
There are two key Eid’s (Celebration Festivals) in Eid ul-Fitr is a very important festival in the Islamic
Islam: Eid-ul-Fitr, which signifies the completion of the calendar and was started by the Prophet Muhammad
Holy Month of Ramadan; and Eid-ul-Adha, the greater himself. It is also known as 'The Feast of Breaking the
Eid, which follows the completion of the annual Hajj Fast' and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark
pilgrimage, at the time of Qurbani (sacrifice). Although the end of Ramadan, a month in which Muslims fast
Eid-ul-Adha has no direct relation to the Hajj (sawm) during the daylight hours. Eid ul-Fitr takes
Pilgrimage, it is a day after the completion of Hajj and place on the first day of the tenth month of the
therefore has significance in time. The day of Eid-ul- Islamic lunar calendar, and Muslims are not permitted
Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelfth) to fast on that day.
month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhu-al-Hijjah.
Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting,
The day that celebrations fall on is dependent on a
but also thanking Allah for the Qur'an during the
legitimate sighting of the moon, following the
festival of Laylat ul-Qadr which remembers the night
completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj -
towards the end of Ramadan when the Prophet
which is an obligation for all Muslim’s who fit specific
Muhammad was given the Qur'an. Muslims also thank
criteria, one of the important Five Pillars of Islam.
Allah for the strength Allah has given them to exercise
The celebration of Eid-ul-Adha is to commemorate self-control throughout the previous month of fasting.
Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah SWT and his If necessary, they will ask Allah for forgiveness if they
readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. At the very point failed to keep the fast at any point.
of sacrifice, Allah SWT replaced Ismail with a ram,
In Muslim countries, Eid ul-Fitr is a national holiday. In
which was to be slaughtered in place of his son. This
the UK, Muslims may take the day off work or school
command from Allah SWT was a test of Prophet
to join in the celebrations. The festival is marked in
Ibrahim’s willingness and commitment to obey his
the following ways:
Lord’s command, without question. Therefore, Eid-ul-
Adha means the festival of sacrifice. Depending on the  The festival day begins with the first sighting of
country, the celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha can last the new moon at the beginning of the tenth
anywhere between two and four days. The act of month of the Islamic calendar.
Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the Eid  Muslims wear their best clothes, decorate their
Salah (Eid Prayers), which are performed in homes and spend time celebrating with their
congregation at the nearest Mosque on the morning friends and family.
of Eid.  Some Muslims may give money to the poor so
The act of Qurbani consists of slaughtering an animal that they can also enjoy the day.
as a sacrifice to mark this occasion in remembrance of  Communal celebration services are held both
Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice for Allah SWT. This is also outdoors and in mosques, there are processions
known as Udhiya. The days of animal sacrifice total through the streets and a special celebratory meal
three days, from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu-al-Hijjah. is eaten - the first daytime meal Muslims will have
The sacrificial animal must be a sheep, lamb, goat, had in a month.
cow, bull or a camel; the sheep, lamb or goat consist  Eid ul-Fitr is a time for families, friends and
of one Qurbani share, whereas a bull, cow or camel neighbours to gather together and share food.
consist of seven shares per animal. The animal must
be in good health and over a certain age in order to be “You shall complete the number [of fasting days] and
slaughtered, in a “halal” friendly, Islamic way. The you may glorify Allah for his guiding you, and that you
Qurbani meat can then divided into three equal may be thankful." Qur’an 2
portions per share; one-third is for you and your
family, one-third is for friends, and the final third is to
be donated to those in need. Traditionally, the day is “Ibrahim was truly an example: devoutly obedient to
spent celebrating with family, friends and loved ones, Allah and true in faith. He was not an idolater, he was
often wearing new or best attire and the giving of thankful for the blessings of Allah, which shows him
gifts. and guided him to a straight path. We gave him
blessings in this world and he is among the righteous
in the hereafter.” Qur’an 16
 The festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha
(Also Use pages 48-49 of the OUP GCSE Islam textbook)

Indicate whether these statements are true or flase.

2. Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the Sweet Festival or the Sugar Feast. false

3. Eid-ul-Fitr is both a celebration and a thanksgiving. true

4. Muslims fast during Ramadan because that is when Muhammed first received true
Allah’s revelation (the Qur’an), while he fasted and prayed in a cave.

5. Eid-ul-Fitr must be celebrated over one, two or three days, often with outdoor
festivals.

6. At Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims are usually reminded to forgive those with whom they
have had disagreements.

7. The celebration of Eid ul-Fitr includes parties and the sacrificing of an animal.

8. Some Muslims remember the dead at Eid-ul-Fitr.

9. Eid-ul-Adha is often known as the Greater Eid.

11. Allah stopped Ibrahim from sacrificing his son, Ismail, because he had learned false
that the rights of boys outweigh those of rams.

12. Only those who have successfully completed the Hajj celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. false

13. At Eid-ul-Adha many Muslims eat an animal that has been slaughtered using the
halal methods. true

14. At Eid-ul-Adha some Muslims give away a third of the slaughtered animal to the true
poor, but others give away money instead.

15. Community celebrations are important except for those in hospital, who are not false
permitted to take part in the celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha.

a) For all the FALSE statements above, write a corrected version of the statement in your book.
b) Give two Muslim festivals (2 marks)
c) Explain two ways in which the festival of Id-ul-Adha influences Muslims today (4 marks)
d) Explain two beliefs about the importance of Id-ul-Fitr (5 marks)
e) Use bullet-points to list arguments for and against this statement: “Celebrating festivals is
the most effective way to bring the ummah together.” (You might want to argue for different
ways the ummah is brought together)