Eid al-Adha | Definition, Context & Wishes
Eid al-Adha is the second of the two main holidays in Islam. It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God.
To wish someone a happy Eid al-Adha, you can say “Eid al-Adha Mubarak!” Or, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to find the right words for your message.
What is Eid al-Adha?
There are two Eids (“celebrations” or “festivals”) in the Islamic calendar. The first is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The second is Eid al-Adha, which commemorates Abraham’s obedience to God.
The Prophet Abraham dreamed that God commanded him to sacrifice his favorite son, Ishmael. Prepared to ritualistically slaughter Ishmael, Abraham only stopped when the angel Gabriel appeared before him, offering a ram to sacrifice instead.
Eid al-Adha celebrates this story. Given its theme, an important part of Eid al-Adha is a ritual animal sacrifice, known as qurbani or udhiyah. All Muslims who can afford it are encouraged to sacrifice a livestock animal (a ram, sheep, goat, cow, etc.).
The meat is then shared in three equal parts: some for the family, some for friends, and some for people in need. Some Islamic traditions consider the qurbani mandatory, while others see it as an established custom.
In some countries where animal sacrifice may be frowned upon, like the United States, Muslims may instead donate money to charitable organizations or commission a slaughterhouse to perform the sacrifice on their behalf.
Eid al-Adha traditions vary across the Islamic world. But apart from the qurbani, Muslims typically gather at mosques to pray together and at home to have a savory feast with their families.
This is because Eid al-Adha is generally considered the more important of the two Eids. And “salty” refers to the tradition of serving savory dishes, in contrast to the sweet treats of Eid al-Fitr.
Eid al-Adha meaning
Eid al-Adha means “Festival of Sacrifice” in Arabic. The original Arabic word is “عيد الأضحى” (romanized as “Īd al-ʾAḍḥā”). This refers to the story of Abraham and Ishmael.
“Eid” means “celebration” or “festival” in Arabic. So, while Eid al-Adha is the “Festival of Sacrifice,” Eid al-Fitr is the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.”
When is Eid al-Adha?
Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijja, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar. It is sometimes celebrated over the next three days, called the Tashreeq days.
The Islamic calendar is lunar, but the more widely used Gregorian calendar is solar. This means that the date of Eid al-Adha on the Gregorian calendar changes each year.
Moreover, the exact date of Eid al-Adha can vary based on location. Each new Islamic month begins with the sighting of the crescent moon, which can be affected by local conditions.
Eid al-Adha 2025
Eid al-Adha 2025 will begin on the evening of Saturday, June 6th, which corresponds to the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja. For those who celebrate the Tashreeq days, Eid al-Adha will conclude on Monday, June 9th.
Eid al-Adha Mubarak
“Eid al-Adha Mubarak!” is the most common greeting to wish someone a happy Eid al-Adha. It means “Blessed Eid al-Adha!”
Instead of “Eid al-Adha Mubarak,” you can also use these greetings.
| Arabic greeting | Transliteration | Translation |
| عيد أضحى مبارك | ʿĪd Aḍḥā Mubārak | Have a blessed Eid al-Adha / Festival of Sacrifice |
| تَقَبَّلَ اللهُ مِنَّا وَمِنكُم | Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum | May Allah accept [this worship] from you and us |
| عيد سعيد | ʿĪd Saʿīd | Happy Eid |
| N/A | Bakrid Mubarak | Blessed Bakrid (“Bakrid” is a name used for Eid al-Adha in South Asia) |
Happy Eid al-Adha
You can also wish someone a happy Eid al-Adha in English. A few greetings you could use are:
- Happy Eid al-Adha!
- Wishing you and your family a joyful and blessed Eid.
- May your sacrifices be appreciated and your prayers accepted.
- Eid Mubarak! May peace, love, and joy be with you always.
- Sending warm wishes for a joyous Eid filled with love and togetherness.
- May the sacrifice of Eid al Adha remind you of God’s Mercy.
- May Eid al Adha remind you that the most beautiful things come from sacrifice.
- May Allah accept all your worship in these days of Dhu al-Hijjah and bless you with what your heart desires.
Frequently asked questions about Eid al-Adha
- When was Eid al-Adha 2024?
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Eid al-Adha 2024 was Sunday, June 16th. It started at sunset on Saturday, June 15th. The Islamic calendar is lunar, so these dates may vary based on moon sightings in different locations.
Given that the Gregorian calendar is solar, the dates of Eid al-Adha in other years will be different.
Eid al-Adha means “Festival of Sacrifice” in Arabic. To translate Arabic terms to English, try QuillBot Translate.
- What’s the meaning of Eid?
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The meaning of “Eid” in Arabic is “festival” or “celebration.”
The word “عيد,” romanized as “ʿīd,” is often translated as “Eid,” given that many English speakers are familiar with the concept.
There are two Eids: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son to God.
If you want to translate other Arabic words, use QuillBot Translate.
- How many months are in the Islamic calendar?
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The Islamic calendar, also known as the “Hijiri calendar,” has 12 months. Two examples are Ramadan and Dhu al-Hijjah, when Eid al-Adha takes place.
Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, its months change each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar (e.g., Ramadan can take place in May, June, July, etc.)
The names of the Islamic months have different meanings. For example, Dhu al-Hijjah means “the one of pilgrimage.”
To translate the names of months or other words in Arabic, try QuillBot Translate for free.
- What is qurbani?
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“Qurbani” (also known as “udhiyah”) is the sacrificial slaughter of an animal during the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.
The qurbani commemorates how the Prophet Abraham was willing to slaughter his son out of obedience to God.
The qurbani typically involves a goat, sheep, or other livestock animal. It is an obligation for all Muslims who can financially afford it. After the sacrifice, the meat of the animal is distributed among the family, friends, and those in need.
“Qurbani” translates as “sacrifice.”To translate more Arabic terms, use QuillBot Translate.
- What is udhiyah?
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“Udhiyah” is the practice of ritually sacrificing an animal on the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. It is also known as “qurbani.”
Udhiyah commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as commanded by God.
The udhiyah usually involves a livestock animal like a goat or cow. The meat is later divided up and shared among each family, their friends, and those in need.
Both “udhiyah” and “qurbani” translate as “sacrifice,” though with slightly different connotations. To translate more Arabic words, use QuillBot Translate for free.
