Eid Adha Top Facts About This Important Islamic Festival in 2020

1. What is Eid Adha?

Eid Adha, also known as the “festival of Sacrifice”, is the most important festival in the Muslim Calender. Eid ul Adha is a festival celebrated by Muslims all over the world in remembrance of the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim(A.S) made to show his strong and unwavering faith in Allah

2. What is the origin of Eid Adha?

Eid al-Adha celebration honours when God appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son.

According to the Quranic verse- Surah As-Saffat (37:102), Ibrahim (AS) showed a willingness to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (A.S) but Allah it is a merciful act, replacing his son with a lamb at the very point of the sacrifice. This command from Allah SWT was a test of prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to obey Allah’s command, without questioning him. Hence, Eid-ul-Adha becomes the festival of sacrifice.

The verse further said that Allah was so pleased with Ibrahim’s (A.S.) submission to Him that this strong act of faith and sacrifice was made a permanent part of a Muslim’s life.

3. How is Eid Adha celebrated in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, Eid Adha begins with Muslims dressing most elegantly. With new cloth, shoes and Muslims caps or turban to perform Eid prayers in open fields. After the Eid prayers, everyone comes back home to perform the most important ritual of the celebration by sacrificing an animal such as ram, cow, sheep, or goat to symbolize Prophet Ibrahim’s preparedness to sacrifice his only son to Allah’s will.

However, the animal to be slaughtered for the sacrifice must meet some required standard which includes quality, age, and health status. If the animal does not meet these required standards, the sacrifice might be deemed unacceptable.

The meat from the sacrifice is divided into three-part, one part is shared within the family, the second part is shared among family, friends and relatives, while the third part is distributed to the poor and the less privileged.

In households that sacrifice a ram, women prepare elaborate meals, meat and drinks, while families, friends, and neighbours gather together to celebrate.

The festival is popularly known as Odun ileya, among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, and Eid-el-Kabir among the Hausa and Fulani people of the country.

One of the popular activities associated with the festival in the Northern part of Nigeria is the Durbar in the northern city of Kano. The Durbar festival features a procession of horse riders dressed in ornaments, the Emirs sparkling in colourful ceremonial robes, and wrestlers combating themselves to contest in the pleasure of the emirs and thousands of crowds, and Kakaki players creating a sonorous melody with their instruments.

4. What is the Importance of Eid Adha to Muslims

Eid Adha signifies Muslims faith in Allah. It is a festival that reminds Muslims of the need to strengthen their faith in Allah and be their brother’s keeper. It symbolizes a thanksgiving Day where Muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their gratitude to Allah for helping them to fulfil their spiritual obligations before the Eid

5. How does Muslims relate to non-Muslims on Eid Adha

During the festive period, Muslims relate in kindness, inviting non-muslims to a get-together in commemoration of Eid Adha celebration. Food, meat, and drinks are shared to celebrate the “Festival of Sacrifice”.

6. How do Muslims wish each other Happy Eid Adha?

“Eid Mubarak”- meaning blessed celebration is the most common greeting. But you can make your greetings better by sending colourful, emotional and personalised cards to your colleagues, friends, family, relatives and loved ones.

7. What is Eid Adha?

Eid Adha, also known as the “festival of Sacrifice”, is the most important festival in the Muslim Calender. Eid ul Adha is a festival celebrated by Muslims all over the world in remembrance of the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim(A.S) made to show his strong and unwavering faith in Allah

8. What is the origin of Eid Adha?

Eid al-Adha celebration honours when God appeared to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son.

According to the Quranic verse- Surah As-Saffat (37:102), Ibrahim (AS) showed a willingness to sacrifice his son Prophet Ismail (A.S) but Allah it is a merciful act, replacing his son with a lamb at the very point of the sacrifice. This command from Allah SWT was a test of prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to obey Allah’s command, without questioning him. Hence, Eid-ul-Adha becomes the festival of sacrifice.

The verse further said that Allah was so pleased with Ibrahim’s (A.S.) submission to Him that this strong act of faith and sacrifice was made a permanent part of a Muslim’s life.

9. How is Eid Adha celebrated in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, Eid Adha begins with Muslims dressing most elegantly. With new cloth, shoes and Muslims caps or turban to perform Eid prayers in open fields. After the Eid prayers, everyone comes back home to perform the most important ritual of the celebration by sacrificing an animal such as ram, cow, sheep, or goat to symbolize Prophet Ibrahim’s preparedness to sacrifice his only son to Allah’s will.

However, the animal to be slaughtered for the sacrifice must meet some required standard which includes quality, age, and health status. If the animal does not meet these required standards, the sacrifice might be deemed unacceptable.

The meat from the sacrifice is divided into three-part, one part is shared within the family, the second part is shared among family, friends and relatives, while the third part is distributed to the poor and the less privileged.

In households that sacrifice a ram, women prepare elaborate meals, meat and drinks, while families, friends, and neighbours gather together to celebrate.

The festival is popularly known as Odun ileya, among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, and Eid-el-Kabir among the Hausa and Fulani people of the country.

One of the popular activities associated with the festival in the Northern part of Nigeria is the Durbar in the northern city of Kano. The Durbar festival features a procession of horse riders dressed in ornaments, the Emirs sparkling in colourful ceremonial robes, and wrestlers combating themselves to contest in the pleasure of the emirs and thousands of crowds, and Kakaki players creating a sonorous melody with their instruments.

10. What is the Importance of Eid Adha to Muslims

Eid Adha signifies Muslims faith in Allah. It is a festival that reminds Muslims of the need to strengthen their faith in Allah and be their brother’s keeper. It symbolizes a thanksgiving Day where Muslims assemble in a brotherly and joyful atmosphere to offer their gratitude to Allah for helping them to fulfil their spiritual obligations before the Eid

11. How does Muslims relate to non-Muslims on Eid Adha

During the festive period, Muslims relate in kindness, inviting non-muslims to a get-together in commemoration of Eid Adha celebration. Food, meat, and drinks are shared to celebrate the “Festival of Sacrifice”.

12. How do Muslims wish each other Happy Eid Adha?

“Eid Mubarak”- meaning blessed celebration is the most common greeting. But you can make your greetings better by sending colourful, emotional and personalised cards to your colleagues, friends, family, relatives and loved ones.

13. Are there greeting cards for Eid Adha?

Yes, there are lots of uniquely and carefully designed colourful Eid Adha ecards at Hope Spring ecards that allow you to personalise and send “Eid Mubarak” greetings to your loved ones, friends, family, and colleagues in a special way. Hope Spring Eid Mubarak cards are faster and environmentally friendly. The platforms allow you to donate the cost of getting and sending a traditional card to water charity.

Celebrating 2020 Eid Adha is a special way by sending and donating to the cost of transporting a traditional paper card to provide water to unprivileged communities in West Africa.

14. Some important facts about Eid Adha Islamic Festival

• Eid al-Adha is celebrated to honour and commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as per God’s order. God provided Abraham with a sheep to sacrifice at the last second instead.
• Eid al-Adha takes place at the end of Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia), one of the five pillars of Islam. Every year, approximately 3 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.
• During Eid al-Adha, men, women and children dress in their finest attire, and those who can afford to sacrifice an entire halal animal — often a sheep or a cow, and in some regions a camel — and donate the meat to neighbours and those who are less fortunate.
• The meat is divided into three parts: the family keeps one third; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the last part is given to those in need. The idea is that no impoverished person is left without meat on the table during Eid al-Adha.
• The sacrificed animal is referred to as Udiyyah (meaning “the sacrificed” in Arabic) and has to meet a certain set of rules, which include being of a certain age and the highest quality available.