Eid ul Adha
Eid ul-Adha is the latter of the two Islamic holidays (the first being Eid ul Fitr) celebrated by muslims worldwide each year. It honours the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his only son Ismail (Ishmael) as test of absolute obedience to God’s command. At the very point Ismail was to be sacrificed, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead and thus Ibrahim fulfilled the enormous test.
Who Celebrates Eid ul-Adha in the UK?
With nearly 2.8 million Muslims living in the United Kingdom, which equals about 4.8% of the population, Islam constitutes the second largest religion in the country, after Christianity.
How is Eid ul-Adha celebrated in the UK?
On Eid ul-Adha, Muslims in the UK usually start the day by performing ghusl (bath), a full-body purification ritual. They then dress in their best outfits and attend a prayer service at an outdoor prayer ground or the local mosque. Afterward, it is customary to embrace and wish each other Eid Mubarak, which translates as “have a blessed Eid,” give gifts and visit friends and relatives.
One of the central rituals on Eid al-Adha is “Qurbani”, the act of sacrificing a sheep, goat, or cow in honour of Ibrahim’s test. The meat is then divided between family, friends, and the poor. Other Muslims give money to charity to give poorer families the chance to have an Eid feast.
Eid ul-Adha has a celebratory character, and the day may be rounded off by visiting funfairs or festivals held for the occasion in some British cities.
Eid ul-Adha Food
In contrast to Eid ul-Fitr, which is nicknamed the “Sweet Eid” for its variety of sweet dishes, Eid ul-Adha is often called the “Salty Eid” because the feast includes mainly savoury food.
Popular dishes include Kebab (boneless cooked meat), Haleem (a stew usually made from meat, wheat, and lentils), and Biryani (a spicy meat and rice dish originally from India). The meal is usually rounded off by a sweet dessert, featuring cakes, biscuits, or sweet pastries like Turkish baklava.
The Hajj – and its connection with Eid ul Adha
Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Adha on the last day of the Hajj. The Hajj is pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. It occurs every year and is the Fifth Pillar of Islam (and therefore very important).
All Muslims who are fit and able to travel should make the visit to Makkah at least once in their lives.
During the Hajj the pilgrims perform acts of worship and renew their faith and sense of purpose in the world.
This year it was reported around 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world visited Makkah for Hajj.
The Ka’bah
The Ka’bah (black cube) is the most important monument in Islam. Pilgrims walk around the Ka’bah seven times and many of them try to touch the Black Stone (deemed to be a stone from heaven) located at the corner. Contrary to popular belief, muslims do not worship the Ka’bah, nor does it actually house God, it is a symbol of faith and unity. The Kaba is the direction of their prayer, not the object of it. This misconception stems from the fact that Muslims are seen bowing and prostrating in front of the Kaba in pictures.