Hawzah News Agency - (London - UK) - Muslim communities across the UK are soon set to celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the most important of two main Muslim holidays.
While its exact start date is not yet known, some astronomers have suggested it will arrive at the end of next month, on July 31.
With an estimated 2.8 million Muslims living in the United Kingdom, many people across the country are expected to take part in the Islamic celebrations.
However those of us who are not familiar with Islamic religious observances may be asking ourselves, what exactly is Eid ul-Adha? And how is it celebrated?
The name of the holiday ‘Eid ul-Adha’ means ‘the celebration of the sacrifice’.
This name refers to a tale of sacrifice mentioned in the Quran, in which God asks the Prophet Ibrahim in a dream to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.
Those familiar with Christianity will notice parallels between this story and that of Abraham and his son Isaac found in the bible, called the ‘binding of Isaac’.
The Quran explains that at first, Ibrahim ignored the dream, but after it had reoccurred for several nights in a row he decided to follow God’s orders to prove his faith.
As he tried to decide his course of action, Muslim’s believe that the devil had tried to convince him not to kill his son.
In response, Ibrahim threw rocks at him. This is considered a significant act and one that is now copied by pilgrims at Hajj who throw stones at pillars.
As Ibrahim began to carry out God's command, God swapped his son for a goat, which Ibrahim was allowed to sacrifice instead.
How is it celebrated in the UK?
Muslims in the UK usually start the celebrations by performing a full-body purification ritual known as ‘ghusl’, before attending a prayer service at a mosque.
One of the main rituals that occur on Eid ul-adha is the sacrificing of either a sheep, goat, or cow. However, under British law the animal must be killed in an official slaughterhouse.
The meat is then shared between family, friends, and the underprivileged, while some Muslims will also choose to donate money to charity or to poorer families.
Mosques sometimes arrange communal meals or hold lectures on aspects of Islam and Islamic history.
During the day Muslims will wish each other “Eid Mubarak”, a phrase which roughly translates to “have a blessed Eid”.
It is also customary to give gifts to children, as well as visiting relatives and even visiting funfairs with the family.