The Two Types of Eid in Islam
Eid means ‘festival’ or ‘feast’ in Arabic. Muslim people celebrate two types of Eid: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The two Eids honour and celebrate two different events in Islamic faith.
Eid al-Fitr means the ‘feast of breaking the fast.’ After the holy month of Ramadan and one-month fast, the Muslim people celebrate with a great feast. Eid al-Fitr commemorates the revelation of Quran to Prophet Mohammad. The celebrations can last up to three days. In many Muslim countries, it is a national holiday, so schools, public and private offices and businesses are closed on those days. Muslim people celebrate together with family members and friends, enjoy food and sweets, pray and give to charity.
Eid al-Adha is a ‘festival of sacrifice.’ It ends the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that is mandatory to all affluent Muslims at least once in a lifetime. Eid al-Adha commemorates the story of how God asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of faith. Its Christian equivalent is the story of Abraham and Isaac. Even though Satan tempts Ibrahim to disobey God, he doesn’t let himself be diverted and carries on with the sacrifice. Ismail, on his part, is also willing to be sacrificed. But just as Ibrahim lifts a knife to kill his son, God’s voice bellows to kill a ram instead.
To remember Ibrahim’s sacrifice and to remind themselves of the need to submit to the will of God, Muslims slaughter an animal during Eid al-Adha every year. In countries where sacrifice is not allowed, they either choose the animal to be slaughtered or simply buy halal meat.
The Dates the Two Eids are Celebrated
Neither Eid al-Fitr nor Eid al-Adha have fixed dates. They are calculated on the basis of the Islamic lunar calendar. The calendar is shorter by 10-12 days than the Gregorian calendar. Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, after the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha on the 10th day of the 12th month in the Islamic calendar.
Common Customs during the two Eids
Eid al-Fitr is mostly a festive celebration with family and friends. It is a time when families come together, feast on great food and sweets and share gifts with children and elders. They go to mosque for prayers and give to charity. People greet each other with “Eid Mubarak,” meaning “Blessed Eid.” In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive trespasses and forget grudges held against others. There are many other traditions that vary from country to country.
On Eid al-Adha, pilgrims reenact Satan’s temptation of Ibrahim. During the pilgrimage, Muslims throw stones at a pillar, which represents Satan. In remembrance of how Ibrahim was given a ram to sacrifice as a substitute for his son, they sacrifice animals such as goats, cows, sheep or camels. The Qurbani (sacrifice) is a ritual that every healthy Muslim must take part in. The meat from the sacrifice is then divided into three parts. The first part is saved for the person who made the sacrifice, the second is a gift for friends or family members and the third is given to the poor.
If slaughtering the animal is impossible due to country’s regulations, the Muslims donate the Qurbani through various charitable organizations.
The Meaning of Sacrifice during Eid al-Adha
The meaning of Eid al-Adha can be summarized in two words: gratitude and sacrifice. The act of sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha is a gesture of gratitude to Allah for His innumerable blessings. The faithful Muslims strive to match the sacrifice of Ibrahim by giving up some valuable possessions. That is why after sacrificing the animal, they only keep a portion of it giving away the rest. They share the meat with family, friends and the less fortunate. Also, it is a moral obligation of the Muslims to spare the animal unnecessary suffering. That is why the killing is carried out following specific rules. The animal needs to be big, strong and healthy enough to be sacrificed. It also needs to be slaughtered with a sharp knife, so it doesn’t feel too much pain.
