Saturday 9th July 2022 has been officially declared a public holiday in Uganda to celebrate Eid al-Adha, here is what you need to know about this day.

Eid al-Adha is the second and biggest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam (the other being El-Fitir). It honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of obedience to Allah's command. Before Ibrahim could sacrifice his son, however, Allah provided him with a lamb which he was supposed to kill in his son's place because of his willingness to sacrifice his own son in the name of God. 

The day of Eid-ul-Adha falls on the tenth day in the final (twelfth) month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhu-al-Hijjah. The day that celebrations fall on is dependent on a legitimate sighting of the moon, following the completion of the annual Holy Pilgrimage of Hajj, which is an obligation for all Muslims who fit specific criteria, one of the important Five Pillars of Islam. 

Depending on the country, the celebrations of Eid-ul-Adha can last anywhere between two and four days. The act of Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the Eid Salaah (Eid Prayers), which are performed in congregation at the nearest Mosque on the morning of Eid.

The act of Qurbani consists of slaughtering an animal as a sacrifice to mark this occasion in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice for Allah SWT. This is also known as Udhiya. The days of animal sacrifice total three days, from the 10th to the 12th of Dhu-al-Hijjah.

The sacrificial animal must be a sheep, lamb, goat, cow, bull or camel; the sheep, lamb or goat consist of one Qurbani share, whereas a bull, cow or camel consists of seven shares per animal. The animal must be in good health and over a certain age to be slaughtered, in a “halal” friendly, Islamic way.

The Qurbani meat can then be divided into three equal portions per share; one-third is for you and your family, one-third is for friends, and the final third is to be donated to those in need.

Traditionally, the day is spent celebrating with family, friends and loved ones, often wearing new or best attire and giving gifts.

We wish you a happy Eid al-Adha, May Allah accept your sacrifice.

Source: muslimaid.org/, Wikipedia