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Unlock This CourseEid-ul-Adha ("the festival of sacrifice") is the second of the two main Muslim festivals. It begins on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, and lasts about three days. It falls at the end of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah that every Muslim who is able should make once in their life. Muslims who are not on Hajj celebrate at home, so the festival joins the whole ummah (the worldwide Muslim community) together.
The festival remembers events in the lives of the prophet Ibrahim and his family. The spec spells the names Ishmael and Hagar. This lesson uses the spellings Muslims use: Isma'il and Hajar.
Key terms:
Muslims believe Allah tested Ibrahim by commanding him, in a dream, to sacrifice his son. Most Muslims understand the son to be Isma'il. Ibrahim was willing to obey. The Qur'an (37:102) says the son agreed too, saying he would be patient. When they had both submitted, Allah told them they had passed the test and gave a ram to sacrifice in the son's place (37:107).
You met Shaytan, the tempter, in the lesson on sin. Muslims remember that Shaytan tried three times to persuade Ibrahim to disobey Allah. Each time Ibrahim refused and sent him away. Pilgrims copy this at Hajj by throwing pebbles at three pillars at Mina. The next lesson explains this.
Muslims also remember Hajar, Ibrahim's wife, and her child Isma'il. Left in the dry valley of Makkah with little water, Hajar ran seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa, searching for water for her child. Muslims believe Allah then caused water to spring up near Isma'il. This is the Zamzam Well, which still gives water today.
For Muslims these events show complete trust in Allah and submission to him. The word Islam itself means submission to Allah.
In the UK many Muslims arrange qurbani through a charity. The charity buys the animal in a country where people are in need, and the meat is given to poor families there.
Eid-ul-Adha falls on the same days as the final rites of the Hajj. On these days pilgrims copy Ibrahim's refusal of Shaytan and make their own sacrifice of an animal. Muslims at home share in this by doing their own qurbani.
Muslims agree that Eid-ul-Adha is a very important festival, but they stress different things:
Importance today: many Muslims say Eid-ul-Adha reminds them to put Allah first, to give generously and to feel part of the worldwide ummah.
All Muslims keep the two Eids, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Muslims differ about other celebrations. Many celebrate the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid) with prayers and talks, but others do not, because they say the Prophet himself did not hold such a celebration. Shi'a Muslims also keep Ashura, a day of mourning for the death of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet. Some Sunni Muslims fast on that day. Some Muslims say festivals renew faith and bring people together. Others say festivals matter less than daily prayer and good living.
(a) Outline two ways in which Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why the events of Ibrahim's life are important to Muslims at Eid-ul-Adha. [6 marks]
(c) "Giving money to charity is as good as sacrificing an animal at Eid-ul-Adha." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. [10 marks]
(a) Muslims go to special Eid prayers in the mosque or outdoors (1), to thank Allah together as a community (1). Those who can afford it sacrifice an animal (qurbani) (1) and share the meat in three parts, with family, friends and the poor (1).
(b) Muslims believe Ibrahim was willing to obey Allah's command to sacrifice his son (1), so he is an example of complete submission and trust (1). The son also agreed, which shows the same faith (1). Ibrahim refused Shaytan's three temptations (1), which teaches Muslims to resist temptation (1). The ram given in the son's place shows Allah's mercy (1), and qurbani copies this today, which means the poor are fed (1).
(c) Plan: Agree: charity feeds the poor, and the Qur'an says the meat and blood do not reach Allah but taqwa does (22:37); money can reach more people than meat. Disagree: Ibrahim's example is about sacrifice and obedience, so the animal is part of the worship; the sacrifice is shared with family and the poor; pilgrims at Hajj sacrifice too. Divergent view: some scholars say qurbani is a duty and others that it is strongly recommended; some Muslims prefer to give through charities. Possible conclusion: charity is valuable, but qurbani is the act of worship that copies Ibrahim, so money alone is not quite the same.
In part (b), tie each event to a lesson for Muslims, using "which shows" or "so Muslims". Naming Ibrahim, Shaytan and the Zamzam Well helps you reach the top level.