Eid al-Adha 2027: The Festival of Sacrifice

Arafah Day

The Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah) falls the day before Eid. Hajj pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah for the central rite of pilgrimage. For non-pilgrims, fasting on this day is among the most recommended acts in the Islamic year — the Prophet ﷺ said it expiates sins of the previous and coming year.

Eid Prayer

The day begins with a special congregational Salat al-Eid in an open ground or mosque — two rak'ah with additional takbirat, followed by a khutbah. Men, women, and children all attend. From Arafah Day through the last Tashreeq day, Muslims recite the Takbir al-Tashreeq after each obligatory prayer.

Qurbani (Animal Sacrifice)

Muslims who are able sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow, or camel — known as Qurbani. The meat is divided into thirds: for the family, for relatives and friends, and for those in need. Many donate to charity organisations that carry out the sacrifice on their behalf in countries where meat is most needed.

Eid Greetings

The traditional greeting is Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك — Blessed Eid) or Eid Sa'id (Happy Eid). The reply is Wa antum mubarak. The celebration continues through the Tashreeq days (11–13 Dhul Hijjah) with visits to family, gifts for children, and communal feasting.

What is the connection between Eid al-Adha and Hajj?

Eid al-Adha falls on 10 Dhul Hijjah — the same day Hajj pilgrims perform the central rites of their pilgrimage in Mecca. After standing on the plain of Arafah, pilgrims stone the Jamarat pillars in Mina, perform their Qurbani, shave their heads, and complete the Tawaf al-Ifadah around the Kaaba. For non-pilgrims worldwide, the connection is the Day of Arafah (9 Dhul Hijjah): fasting on this day expiates sins of the previous and coming year according to Prophetic tradition. The word Qurbani comes from the Arabic qurb — closeness — reminding Muslims that the sacrifice is an act of spiritual nearness to God, not merely a ritual.

How is Eid al-Adha observed in different countries?

While Qurbani and Eid prayer are universal, regional customs vary widely. In Turkey, Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) is a four-day public holiday with meat distributed to neighbours and the poor. In South Asia, cattle and goat markets fill city outskirts in the days before Eid. In Morocco, each family's sheep is slaughtered by the head of household immediately after Eid prayer. In West Africa, the holiday is called Tabaski and the ram sacrifice is central. In Indonesia and Malaysia, worshippers in new clothes fill mosques and open fields for the early morning prayer. Celebrations extend through the three Tashreeq days (11–13 Dhul Hijjah).

How is Qurbani meat distributed and who receives it?

The Qurbani animal is divided into three equal parts: one third for the family performing the sacrifice, one third for relatives and friends, and one third for those in need — the poor and hungry. This distribution is obligatory, not optional. Muslims who are financially able (possessing nisab — the minimum wealth threshold for Zakat) are required to perform Qurbani or have it done on their behalf. Many Muslims today donate through Islamic charities that slaughter animals in high-need countries — such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Syria — ensuring the meat reaches people who rarely eat meat otherwise. The sacrifice must be of a specific age and health: a sheep or goat must be at least one year old; a cow or buffalo at least two years; a camel at least five years.

What is special about the Day of Arafah for Muslims not on Hajj?

The Day of Arafah — 9 Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid al-Adha — is one of the most blessed days in the Islamic year for all Muslims, not just Hajj pilgrims. The Prophet ﷺ said fasting on this day expiates sins of the previous year and the coming year. While pilgrims are forbidden to fast on Arafah (as they need energy for the Hajj rites), non-pilgrims are strongly encouraged to fast. It is a day of intensive du'a (supplication), as the Prophet ﷺ described it as the day Allah descends to the lowest heaven and boasts to the angels about the pilgrims. Muslims worldwide are encouraged to increase dhikr (remembrance of God), recite the Takbir al-Tashreeq, seek forgiveness, and make du'a — even if they are not in Mecca.