Eid al-Adha: The Complete Guide to the Festival of Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is the greater of the two Islamic Eids. It falls on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, coinciding with the conclusion of Hajj. This day commemorates one of the most powerful acts of submission in human history: Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son in obedience to Allah.

The Story of Ibrahim and Ismail

Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) ﷺ saw a recurring dream, a dream that comes only from Allah for a prophet, in which he was commanded to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) ﷺ. Both father and son submitted completely. As Ibrahim laid Ismail down and prepared to fulfil the command, Allah called out: "O Ibrahim, you have fulfilled the vision." A ram was sent in Ismail's place. From that day, the sacrifice (Qurbani / Udhiyah) became a ritual that Muslims around the world perform every Eid al-Adha, not for the meat or blood, but as a symbol of submission, gratitude and trust in Allah.

The Four Days of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is not one day, it spans four blessed days during which Qurbani can be performed and the takbirat are recited.

The Eid Takbir

From Fajr on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) until Asr on the 13th, Muslims recite the Eid Takbir aloud after every fard prayer:

How to Perform the Eid Prayer

1. Ghusl & new clothes, Take a full bath, apply perfume, wear your best clothes (the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ).
2. Do not eat before the prayer, Unlike Eid al-Fitr, on Eid al-Adha the sunnah is to delay eating until after the prayer, ideally eating from your Qurbani meat first.
3. Walk to the masjid or musalla, Recite the takbir on the way. Take one route there and a different route back (sunnah).
4. Pray two rak'ahs, With seven additional takbirs in the first rak'ah (Hanafi/Shafi'i: 7) and five in the second (Hanafi: 5, Shafi'i: 5). The Hanafi position is 3 extras in each rak'ah. Follow the imam.
5. Listen to the khutbah, Two short sermons follow the prayer. Listening is part of the Eid worship.

Qurbani / Udhiyah: The Rules

On whom is it obligatory?

According to the Hanafi madhab, Qurbani is wajib (obligatory) on every adult Muslim who possesses the nisab (the threshold of wealth) on the days of Eid. According to the Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali madhabs, it is sunnah mu'akkadah (a strongly emphasised sunnah) on those who can afford it.

Which animals?

• Sheep or goat, counts for 1 person
• Cow, buffalo, ox, can be shared between up to 7 people
• Camel, can be shared between up to 7 people

Animal conditions

• Free of major defects (no blindness in both eyes, severe lameness, severe emaciation, missing more than one third of an ear or tail)
• Minimum age: sheep 6 months (if well-grown), goats 1 year, cattle 2 years, camels 5 years
• Healthy and well-cared-for

How to distribute the meat

The sunnah is to divide the meat into three equal parts:

• One third for your own family, eat from it on Eid day
• One third for friends, neighbours and relatives, as a gift
• One third for the poor and needy, the highest priority

If you have more than enough, you may give more to the poor. If you are in need, you may keep more for your family. The principle is generosity, not strict thirds.

Sunnahs of the Day

• Wake early and perform ghusl
• Wear your best clothes
• Apply perfume (for men)
• Recite the takbir aloud on the way to prayer
• Do not eat until after the Eid prayer
• Walk to the prayer ground (if possible)
• Take different routes to and from the masjid
• Greet others with: "Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum" (May Allah accept from us and from you)
• Visit family and strengthen ties
• Feed the poor from your Qurbani meat

The Deeper Meaning

Eid al-Adha is not about meat, it is about submission. Every Muslim who sacrifices an animal is asked: What would you give up for Allah? Ibrahim ﷺ was prepared to give his most beloved possession. Our Qurbani is a small physical reflection of that internal willingness, to surrender our desires, our wealth, our wills to Allah.

It is also a day of community. Across the world, billions of Muslims wake on the same day, pray the same prayer, sacrifice for the same purpose, and feed the same poor. Few rituals on earth bind humanity together as Eid al-Adha does.

Make This Eid Easier with DeenPal

DeenPal sends you the exact Eid prayer time for your location, helps you track the days of Dhul-Hijjah, reminds you to recite the takbirat after every prayer, and lets you ask Rafiq AI any fiqh question about Qurbani, from which madhab to follow to how to share a cow with friends.