Eid al-Adha

12.02.00am GMT Fri 5th Dec 2008

Many Muslims across the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha on Monday 8th December. Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims.

Eid al-Adha is also known as the festival of sacrifice in commemoration of the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Muslims believe that the devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey god and spare his son. Muslims believe that as Ibrahim was about to kill his son god intervened and provided a lamb to be sacrificed instead.

This is why for three days from 10th Dhul-Hijjah (the date of Eid al-Adha) Muslims all over the world who have the means will sacrifice an animal honour of Ibrahim's obedience to god. The meat of the sacrificed animal is then shared out with family and friends, as well as the poorer members of the community.