Eid al-Adha, also known as the ‘Feast of Sacrifice' or the ‘Greater Eid,' is a four-day Islamic feast that takes place during the Islamic month of Thul Hajj and commemorates Abraham's commitment to God. During the Islamic month of Thul Hajj, Muslims across the world celebrate the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the ‘Feast of Sacrifice,' during which the Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle. Also called the ‘Greater Eid,' the four-day feast is an important religious holiday to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha prayer after dawn on the first day of Eid and then slaughter the cattle. It is customary in Islam for wealthy families to purchase and slaughter the sacrifice animals, and then to distribute some of the meat to the less fortunate. In Mecca, Islam's holy city, the situation is different. The pilgrims ‘stone the devil' during the first three days of Eid in Medina. ‘Stoning the devil' is one of the main pillars of the pilgrimage. Then, pilgrims should slaughter the cattle. In Islam, Hajj, which means pilgrimage, is an individual duty that every Muslim who is financially and physically able should complete at least once during his or her lifetime. Pilgrims gather around the Kaa'ba when they arrive in the holy city and then walk between Mount Safa and Mount Marwa. On the 8th of Thu el-Hijja, the pilgrims should head to Medina, where they ascend Mount Arafat to ask God for the mercy on the following day. On the 10th day of Thul Hijja, Eid al-Adha begins. During these sacred days, Muslims and pilgrims all over the world repeat the phrase, “Allahu Akbar,” or ‘God is Greatest.'
