Eid ul-Adha

What is Eid ul-Adha?

Eid ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul Ḥijjah, during the Hajj season. It commemorates the willingness of Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) to sacrifice his son Ismāʿīl (عليه السلام) in obedience to Allah. Allah replaced the sacrifice with a ram, and this act of submission is remembered every year through the Qurbānī (animal sacrifice).

It is the greater of the two Eids and is celebrated over 3 days (10th, 11th, 12th Dhul Ḥijjah — some scholars include the 13th).

Sunnah Acts of the Day

• Ghusl — bathe before the prayer.
• Wear your best clothes.
• Do not eat before the prayer — unlike Eid ul-Fitr, the sunnah is to eat after the Eid prayer (ideally from the meat of the sacrifice).
• Recite the Takbīrāt-e-Tashrīq — this is wājib in the Hanafi school. Recited once aloud after every farḍ prayer, from Fajr on the 9th of Dhul Ḥijjah (Day of ʿArafah) until after ʿAṣr on the 13th of Dhul Ḥijjah.

• Take a different route home.
• Exchange greetings — the same greeting as Eid ul-Fitr: تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ (Taqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkum).

Qurbānī (The Sacrifice)

• Qurbānī is wājib in the Hanafi school on every sane, adult Muslim who possesses the niṣāb (the wealth threshold for Zakāt) on the days of Eid.
• It can be performed on the 10th, 11th, or 12th of Dhul Ḥijjah (after the Eid prayer on the 10th).
• The meat is traditionally divided into 3 parts: one-third for the family, one-third for relatives and neighbours, one-third for the poor.
• The animals: sheep, goat (1 share each); cow, camel (up to 7 shares each).
• Say "Bismillāh, Allāhu Akbar" at the time of slaughter.

How to Pray Eid Salat (Hanafi)

1. Make your intention: "I intend to pray 2 rakʿahs Eid salat with 6 extra takbīrāt, behind the Imam."
2. The Imam says the opening takbīr (Allāhu Akbar) — raise your hands to your ears and fold them.
3. Recite Thanāʾ (opening praise) silently.
4. The Imam says 3 extra takbīrāt — for each one, raise your hands to your ears then drop them to your sides. After the 3rd extra takbīr, fold your hands.
5. The Imam recites al-Fātiḥah and a sūrah aloud — listen silently.
6. Complete the rakʿah as normal (rukūʿ, sujūd).

7. The Imam stands and recites al-Fātiḥah and a sūrah aloud — listen silently.
8. After the recitation, the Imam says 3 extra takbīrāt — for each one, raise your hands to your ears then drop them to your sides (do not fold after the 3rd).
9. The Imam says a 4th takbīr and goes into rukūʿ — follow into rukūʿ.
10. Complete the rakʿah as normal (sujūd, tashahhud, durood, duʿā, taslīm).

After the prayer: The Imam delivers the khuṭbah. It is sunnah to listen.

The Day of ʿArafah

For those not on Hajj, fasting on the 9th of Dhul Ḥijjah (the Day of ʿArafah) is highly recommended.

The Spirit of Eid

Eid ul-Adha is about submission to Allah, generosity, and sacrifice. It is a reminder that true devotion means being willing to give up what we love most for the sake of Allah.