Eid al-Adha - the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice, 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, and how it is observed
Eid al-Adha is the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Hijri calendar), coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son. Public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries.
Religious observancePublished October 10, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed in 7 countries
- When
- May - Jul
- Frequency
- Lunar calendar (date shifts)
- Days off
- 0 days - cultural observance only
- Public status
- Religious observance - schools / shops normally open
Eid al-Adha is the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah (the 12th and final month of the Hijri calendar), coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
The one-line summary
Islamic Festival of Sacrifice on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage. Commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son. 3-4 day public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries.
The Quranic narrative of Ibrahim
The Quranic account (Surah As-Saffat, 37:99-113) tells that Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was to sacrifice his son. Though the dream was a test, Ibrahim proceeded to fulfill it. As he laid his son down and prepared to strike, God called out to him that he had already fulfilled the vision; in place of the son, Ibrahim found a ram. Islamic tradition identifies the son as Ismail (Ishmael), the ancestor of the Arabs, in contrast to the Jewish and Christian traditions which identify the son as Isaac. The location of the intended sacrifice is identified with the area around the Kaaba in Mecca, which Muslims visit during the Hajj.
Origin and the Hajj connection
Eid al-Adha commemorates the Quranic narrative of Ibrahim (Abraham) being willing to sacrifice his son (Ismail/ Ishmael in the Islamic tradition; Isaac in the Jewish- Christian tradition) as an act of obedience to God. At the moment of sacrifice, God replaced the son with a ram. The festival coincides with the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which recalls the same narrative through the rituals of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
The Qurbani sacrifice
The central ritual of Eid al-Adha is the Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal (usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel). The animal must meet specific conditions: it must be a healthy adult, free of defect, and slaughtered according to Islamic law (Dhabihah), which involves a swift cut to the throat with a sharp blade while invoking the name of God. The meat is then divided into three portions: one third for the family, one third for friends and relatives, and one third for the poor and needy.
The animal choice has regional conventions: sheep and goats are most common in the Levant, Egypt, and South Asia; cattle sacrifice is more common in Turkey, Central Asia, and East Africa; camel sacrifice is traditional in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of East Africa. In some countries (notably Indonesia), the Qurbani is centralised and distributed through mosques and charitable organisations rather than performed privately.
The Hajj climax
The Hajj pilgrimage concludes on the days immediately preceding Eid al-Adha. Pilgrims gather at Arafat on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah (Day of Arafah), the most important day of the Hajj, and then move to Muzdalifah for the night. The morning of the 10th (Eid day) brings the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina (three pillars representing the devil, who Ibrahim rejected), followed by the Qurbani. The Hajj itself is obligatory once in a lifetime for those who are able; Qurbani, by contrast, is incumbent on every Muslim who has the means.
- 8 Dhu al-HijjahDay of Tarwiyah: pilgrims arrive in Mina
- 9 Dhu al-HijjahDay of Arafah: standing at Mount Arafat
- 9 (night)Muzdalifah: collecting pebbles
- 10 Dhu al-HijjahEid: stoning at Jamarat, Qurbani, Tawaf
How it is observed
Communal Eid prayers at mosques or open-air prayer grounds. Qurbani (the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal - usually a sheep, goat, cow, or camel - with the meat divided into thirds for family, friends/relatives, and the poor). Family gatherings, gift exchange, charity, and new clothes. The festival runs 3-4 days in most countries.
Regional variations
Eid al-Adha is known by many local names: Eid el-Kebir (Egypt, Sudan), Qurban Bayrami (Turkey, Central Asia), Hari Raya Haji (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia), Eid-e-Qorban (Iran), Bakra Eid (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh). Festival foods reflect regional tradition: lamb biryani and sheer khurma in South Asia, kebab and baklava in the Levant, kurban eti and Turkish delight in Turkey, ketupar lamb curry in Indonesia.
Legal status
Eid al-Adha is a 3-4 day public holiday in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, and most other Muslim-majority countries. Government offices, banks, and most businesses close. Stock markets are closed. It is not a US federal holiday.
Where it is contested
Eid al-Adha is broadly accepted within Muslim communities. Public debate centres on the modern logistics of the Qurbani in urban contexts, including animal welfare, the scale of waste, and the environmental impact of mass slaughter. Several Muslim-majority countries have introduced centralised slaughter facilities to address these concerns. Western debates occasionally focus on the holiday's impact on the timing of school or workplace calendars.
In other countries
Eid al-Adha is observed by Muslim communities worldwide, especially in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. The festival is widely observed in the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and the US Muslim diaspora.
Note on data sources
Nager.Date does not include Islamic holidays. Holiday Brief uses the Umm al-Qura calendar (Saudi Arabia), the Karachi calendar (Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia), and local moon-sighting reports as authoritative sources. Moon- sighting produces 1-2 day variations between countries.
Eid al-Adha by the numbers
Sources
- Umm al-Qura calendar (Saudi Arabia): ummulqura.org.sa
- Wikipedia, "Eid al-Adha": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Hajj": en.wikipedia.org
History of Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha (Festival of the Sacrifice) is the second of two major Islamic holidays, observed on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The holiday commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Eid al-Adha coincides with the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Eid al-Adha rituals
Eid al-Adha is marked by a special congregational prayer at dawn, followed by the ritual sacrifice (Qurbani) of an animal (typically a sheep, goat, or cow), with the meat divided among family, neighbours, and the poor. The ritual commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, with the animal standing in for the human sacrifice.
Eid al-Adha is a public holiday in most Muslim- majority countries, lasting three to four days in many countries. The festival is also observed by Muslim communities worldwide and is one of the most important dates in the Islamic calendar.
Hari Raya Idul Adha - ringkasan dalam Bahasa Indonesia
Hari Raya Idul Adha (atau biasa disebut "Hari Raya Haji" atau "Kurban") adalah hari raya Islam yang memperingati peristiwa pengorbanan Nabi Ibrahim AS yang bersedia menyembelih putranya Ismail atas perintah Allah, sebelum Allah menggantikan Ismail dengan seekor domba. Tanggalnya jatuh pada 10 Dzulhijjah, bertepatan dengan puncak ibadah Haji di Tanah Suci Mekkah.
Di Indonesia, Idul Adha menjadi libur nasional berdasarkan Keputusan Presiden Nomor 24 Tahun 2016. Umat Islam yang mampu secara idiomi solat Ied di masjid atau lapangan, kemudian menyembelih hewan kurban (sapi, kambing, atau domba) untuk dibagikan kepada keluarga, tetangga, fakir miskin, dan panti asuhan. Daging kurban harus dibagikan setidaknya 1/3 kepada yang membutuhkan, menekankan makna berbagi dan solidaritas sosial dalam Islam.