Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha. Falling on the 10th day of the holy month of Dhu al-Hijjah, Eid is the “Festival of Sacrifice” and coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca. It honours Abraham’s willingness to slay his son Ishmael at Allah’s request, a supreme act of faith. The prophet, distressed by the order, asked Ishmael what he should do and the boy advised him to follow through with the commandment. Satan tried to dissuade Abraham from slitting the boy’s throat but was driven away by the prophet pelting stones, an act recreated by pilgrims on the Hajj. Recommended Everything you need to know about the Hajj When Abraham held the blade to his son’s neck on Mount Arafat, the angel Gabriel appeared to prevent him from going through with it, saying he had already demonstrated his love for god. A goat was slaughtered in the boy’s stead. Today, the same animal – or a sheep, cow or camel, depending on the region – is sacrificed in memory of the story. The Qu’ran quotes the Prophet Muhammad as saying: “On the 10th of al-Hijjah, there is no better act in the view of Allah than shedding the blood. Hence you should offer it in good spirit.” The point of the sacrifice is to kill something dear to man as an offering to the divine, as Abraham was prepared to do, serving as a reminder to followers of Islam not to become preoccupied by their possessions or lose sight of their spiritual compass. As Allah says in the Qu’ran. “It is not their meat, nor their blood, that reaches god. It is their piety that reaches god.” The sacrificed animal is cut into thirds: one portion is given to the impoverished, another to friends and relatives and the last retained and eaten by the family. Carrying out this sunnah (Islamic custom or sacred duty), can be controversial in practice, however, particularly in relation to where it is undertaken. A man holds a ram at a market in Istanbul, Turkey, ahead of the annual Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha or 'Festival of Sacrifice' (Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty) In Egypt, the Cairo governor’s office is currently working to stop people from enacting the slaughter on the city’s streets on hygiene grounds, fearing the spread of disease through the discarded entrails and blood and the meat itself becoming tainted by exhaust fumes or close proximity to garbage. City spokesman Khaled Mostafa described the sacrifice as “barbaric and unacceptable” as he introduced a strict prohibition, fining private citizens or vendors who kill animals in public at pop-up livestock markets 5,000 Egyptian pounds (£218), well above the average monthly wage, according to The New Straits Times. In the UAE, slaughter must be carried out at accredited public abattoirs. Doing otherwise incurs a fine of 5,000 Emirati dirhams (£1,060). A Yemeni boy stands among a herd of sheep in a livestock market in the capital Sanaa as people buy provisions in preparation for the Eid al-Adha celebrations (Mohammed Huwais/AFP/Getty) Elsewhere, cities like Chittagong in Bangladesh have set aside temporary areas where the sacrifice can be carried out under tarpaulin canopies, employing 5,000 cleaners to ensure the zones remain sanitary. In India, a further complicating factor in the slaughter of cattle for Eid is causing grave offence to Hindus, to whom the cow is a sacred beast. States like Jharkhand have issued orders telling all deputy police commissioners their officers must intervene to prevent the killing of cows in their districts. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation offers strict guidelines on the slaughter of animals, stressing it must be carried out in abattoirs, which in turn must be “situated away from residential areas” and calling for “a well-planned, well-executed and controlled cleaning and sanitation programme”.<doc-sep>Every year, as Muslims all across the globe unite to celebrate Eid al-Adha, sacrificing a sheep or goat remains an integral part of it. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi) Every year, as Muslims all across the globe unite to celebrate Eid al-Adha, sacrificing a sheep or goat remains an integral part of it. (Express Photo By Shuaib Masoodi) Eid al-Adha, also known as the ‘festival of sacrifice’, is one of the most important Islamic holidays. It marks the obedience of Ibrahim (Abraham) towards god as he willingly agreed to sacrifice his son. But, according to tradition, Allah, impressed by his devotion sent his angels and asked him to sacrifice an animal instead of his son and it set the precedent of animal sacrifice on this day. Only recently The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had decided to start an online process for a limited period between August 21 and September 4 to make the procedure of individuals getting an animal to sacrifice easier. However, according to a report in The Free Press Journal, this has raised the ire of the Bombay High Court. On Sunday (August 19) it told the court that it would be more careful and stringent while granting permissions. Every year, as Muslims all across the globe unite to celebrate Eid al-Adha, sacrificing a sheep or goat remains an integral part of it. The animal is generally bought by them days before the occasion, and is treated as a pet and even well-fed before sacrificing it. Later, the meat of the animal is divided among the family, relatives and friends, and the poor in equal parts. According to Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, an Islamic spiritual scholar and founder of Centre for Peace and Spirituality International, the sacrifice is symbolic that reminds us of the real sacrifice required throughout life. “This sacrifice is of our negative emotions such as malice, hatred, negativity and pride. Sacrifice of the animal does not remain confined to physically sacrificing an animal, rather it should produce deep spiritual feelings in a person. He must think that he too has to sacrifice his negative attitude and other wrong habits for the sake of God”. A report in Carbonated TV quotes the corresponding extract from Quran. “Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: “Oh my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!” (The son) said: “Oh my father! Do As thou art commanded: Thou wilt find me, if Allah so wills one practicing patience and constancy!” So when they had both submitted their wills (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice), We called out to him, “Oh Abraham! Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!” Thus indeed do We reward those who do right. For this was obviously a trial and We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice”) (Surat As-Safat 37: 102-107).”<doc-sep>STREETS were turned red with blood as goats, sheep, cows and camels were slaughtered in front of crowds to mark the Islamic 'Festival of Sacrifice'. Today Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Adhar - 'Greater Eid' - the tenth day of the holy month, coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca. 20 Streets across the world will be adorned in the red of blood today as Muslims celebrate the 'Festival of Sacrifice' Eid al-Adha Gruesome photos depict the ritual bloodshed of animals in the name of a global Islamic tradition that has been branded "cruel and abhorrent". Beheaded cows and goats leave streams of blood as they are dragged through the streets of countries including Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and Malaysia to the applause of worshippers observing an annual holy rite of passage. Children stand as spectators to huge beasts making a last and desperate bid for freedom before falling under the bloody blades of butchers. The custom is undertaken to replicate the willingness of the prophet Abraham to murder his son Ishmael (Isaac in Christianity) under Allah's orders. 20 Cows, sheep, goats and camels are slaughtered in front of crowds in emulation of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son 20 Muslims worldwide are separated over the practice, with some seeing it as a key component of the Koran and others saying it is barbaric 20 A volunteer sharpens his knife during a sacrifice ritual in Jakart, Indonesia Credit: Reuters 20 Pakistani Muslims slaughter a camel after prayers in Peshawar Credit: AFP or licensors 20 Millions of Muslims descend upon Mecca each year after completing the Hajj pilgrimage from Medina Credit: EPA In the Koran, Allah instructed Abraham to sacrifice his own son to demonstrate his loyalty and obedience to God. Modern Muslims believe that by slaying beasts and carving up their corpses, they are reminding themselves that they should not be distracted by material possessions and should instead provide their utmost devotion to Allah. The slain mammal is then cut into thirds, with one third given to the poor and hungry, one given to family friends and relatives and the final piece enjoyed by the family who owned the animal. This Islamic 'sunnah' (custom or tradition) is observed in countries all over the world - but it is often a fiercely controversial practice depending on in which country it is followed. 20 Families watch in expectation as a cow buckled before slaughter in Shah Alam, Malaysia Credit: AFP or licensors 20 Two Muslim boys embrace during festivities in Bangalore, India Credit: EPA 20 Sacrificial cows lie dead on Bintan island in Riau Islands province, Indonesia Credit: Alamy Live News 20 UK Muslims gather for mass prayer in Small Heath Park, Birmingham What is Eid al-Adha festival? Eid al-Adha means 'Greater Eid' and marks the end of the Islamic pilgrimage Hajj, the annual trip from Medina to Mecca undertaken by Muslims from all over the world. The date is one of the holiest in the Muslim calendar in which millions of Muslims convene to feast and celebrate in their best clothing. 20 Butchers attempt to subdue a distressed cow in Peshawar, Pakistain Credit: EPA 20 Inner-city Eid al-Adha worshippers work as a team to slay a cow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Credit: EPA 20 A Moroccan boy joins in the festivities in the city of Sale Credit: Getty - Contributor 20 Slaughtered goats are lined up in Karachi, Pakistan In 2018 Eid al-Adhar will begin in the evening of August 21 and end four days later on August 25. The festival normally lasts for four days but public holidays vary around the world - with Arab countries observing a nine-day public holiday. Why are animals slaughtered during the event? Muslims spend Eid al-Adhar honouring the Koranic legend of Abraham willingly obliging to sacrifice his son Ishmael under Allah's orders - a supreme act of faith. In the story, Abraham is initially distressed by the instruction and turns to his marked son Ishmael for advice. Ishmael strongly advises his father to honour Allah's wishes. 20 Muslims honour the actions of the prophet Abraham, who in the Koran displayed a true willingness to murder his son Ishmael Credit: AFP or licensors 20 Muslims believe that by sacrificing livestock they are demonstrating their own Abrahamic desire to submit to Allah Credit: Reuters 20 Worshippers feast together and don their best outfits to honour the yearly event Credit: Getty - Contributor 20 A camel awaits slaughter in Peshawar, Pakistan Credit: EPA However, when stood atop Mount Arafat with blade poised in hand above his son's throat, Abraham spots the angel Gabriel, who tells father Abraham he can do away with killing his son because he has already demonstrated his love for Allah. A goat was slaughtered in the boy's stead and today Muslims copy the act by slaughtering the same or a similar animal. Where is the animal sacrifice legal in public? Many Islamic countries still follow the tradition of slaughtering animals publicly, but are nevertheless aware of the dangerous health and hygienic complications this can give rise to such as the spreading of disease through the discarded entrails and blood and the meat itself becoming tainted by exhaust fumes or close proximity to garbage. In the UAE (United Arab Emirates including Dubai and Abu Dhabi) people are allowed to honour the tradition at government-sanctioned public abattoirs, or risk facing a £1,000 fine. 20 A government-endorsed public abattoir in Abu Dhabi, UAE Credit: EPA 20 An Egyptian vendor uses force to move a camel in a market northwest of Cairo Credit: AFP or licensors MOST READ IN WORLD NEWS BETRAYAL OF TRUST Woman, 22, 'lured off street by paramedic and gang raped in ambulance' Latest FERRY DISASTER More than 150 feared dead after overloaded ferry 'breaks in two' and sinks CLINGING TO LIFE Hotel owner left critical after catching deadly from Aussie mouse plague CRYPTO KILLER Bondage-obsessed Bitcoin trader ‘went crazy’ & strangled lover to death SLIPPERY CHARACTER Massive deadly snake lurks in Aussie back garden... can YOU spot it?<doc-sep>Eid al-Adha 2018: Prayers offered at Great Mosque of Mecca top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Thousands of Muslims across the world will be preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha tonight, the holiest festival in the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adhar lasts four days until August 25 and is filled with prayer, celebration and time spent with loved ones. Marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, the festival commemorates the obedience of Ibrahim. Upon being asked by Allah to sacrifice his son, Ibrahim willingly did so. However, God saw his obedience and instead sacrificed a goat to save the son. Muslims will sacrifice goats, sheep, lambs and cows to represent Ibrahim’s commitment to God. There will also be gifts and cards exchanged, as well as prayers and well wishes expressed. Below are some prayers and greetings to say during Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha begins tonight and lasts for four days One of the main greetings is Eid Mubarak which means ‘blessed Eid’ or ‘have a blessed holiday’. In response, you can say ‘Kahir Mubarak’ which wishes the person who greeted you well. Another response is ‘JazakAllah Khair’ which translates to ‘May Allah reward you with goodness’. Other messages to send or say during Eid al-Adha are: Celebrations for Eid al-adha involve attending Mosque, giving gifts and sharing a meal with family May the magic of this Eid bring lots of happiness in your life and may you celebrate it with all your close friends & may it fill your heart with wonders. Eid Mubarak May Allah flood your life with happiness on this occasion, your heart with love, your soul with spiritual, your mind with wisdom, wishing you a very Happy Eid. Sending you warm wishes on Eid and wishing that it brings your way ever joys and happiness. Remember me in your prayers. In every shared smile and laughter; In every silent prayer answered; In every opportunity that comes your way – may Allah bless you immensely! Eid Mubarak<doc-sep>
Eid al-Adha 2018: Prayers offered at Great Mosque of Mecca Muslims across the world are now preparing for the festival of Eid al Adha, which sees four days of celebration centred around sacrificing animals. From August 21 to August 25, Muslims celebrate their most holy occasion with sacrifice and celebration. Dressing in their finest clothes, Islam dictates that animal meat is to be shared in three portions. Taking place alongside the festival is the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in which millions of Muslims across the world participate in a journey to the holy city of Mecca. Why is Eid al Adha the ‘festival of sacrifice’? Eid al Adha is a festival surrounding the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to obey the word of God. Asked by Allah to sacrifice his most prised possession, the prophet was forced to kill his own son. However, Allah replaced him with a goat at the last second, sacrificed in his place. Eid al Adha 2018: Why is Eid al Adha the 'festival of sacrifice'? Muslims celebrate this with a ritual sacrifice every year, which must be prepared in specific ways to meet the Islamic convention. Only certain types of animal can be sacrificed during Eid and these are largely dependant on the region of participants. In the Islamic world, camels may be sacrificed but in other countries sheep, goats, and cows are more common. The rules of the Qurbani must be applied when it comes to sacrifice, as goats and sheep must be at least one year old, cattle must be two years old and camels five. Muslim dominated countries generally allow sacrifices in a number of places but in the UK and elsewhere, rules are much more strict. Congregational prayer must take place before any sacrifices Where is it legal to sacrifice animals in public? Islamic convention dictates that Qurbani sacrifices must be done after prayer, which for Eid is congregational. After this, Muslim set aside venues for sacrifice and some is even done on city streets. Egypt has seen controversy recently as the Cairo governors office has tried to prevent ritual sacrifice on the streets. The Bangladesh city of Chittagong sets aside areas under a tarpaulin canopy where the sacrifices are allowed to take place. UAE sacrifices for Eid al Adha are done in slaughterhouses