• Eid al-Adha 2025 is expected on June 6 or 7, pending the Dhul Hijjah moon sighting on May 27, with millions preparing for prayer, sacrifice, and charity.
• The holiday honors Prophet Ibrāhīm’s (peace be upon him) obedience to Allah through the qurbani sacrifice.
As the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah draws near, Muslims around the globe are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the second and most sacred of the two major Islamic holidays. Observed annually on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah—the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar—Eid al-Adha commemorates the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him), who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command.
This year, Eid al-Adha is expected to fall on June 6 or 7, depending on moon sightings in different parts of the world. Saudi Arabia, which determines the official Hajj calendar, has called on Muslims to observe the moon on the evening of May 27, which will confirm the start of Dhul Hijjah and the day of Eid.
Known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” Eid al-Adha honors the moment when God replaced Ibrāhīm’s son with a ram, symbolizing divine mercy and the importance of submission to God’s will. In remembrance of this event, Muslims who are financially able perform the ritual qurbani (animal sacrifice)—typically a goat, sheep, cow, or camel—after Eid prayers.
“So when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, ‘O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you. So see what you think.’ He said, ‘O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, of the steadfast.’”
— Surah As-Saffat 37:102
As Ibrāhīm prepared to act on the dream, Allah intervened with mercy:
“Indeed, you have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.” — Surah As-Saffat 37:105–107
Muslims reenact this moment through the qurbani, not as a blind ritual, but as a profound expression of submission and humility before God.
“Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you.” — Surah Al-Hajj 22:37 The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said of this day: “The son of Adam does not do any action on the Day of Sacrifice which is more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood (of animal sacrifice) ...” — Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1493
The meat is then distributed in three parts: one-third for the family, one-third for friends and neighbors, and one-third for the poor and needy. This act underscores the values of charity, unity, and compassion that lie at the heart of the holiday.
The day preceding Eid, known as the Day of ʿArafah, is one of the holiest days in Islam. Falling on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, it is the day when pilgrims gather on the plain of ʿArafāt to stand in prayer and repentance—a moment described by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the essence of Hajj. For those not performing the pilgrimage, fasting on the Day of ʿArafah is highly encouraged.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Fasting on the day of ʿArafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”
— Sahih Muslim 1162
Eid al-Adha also coincides with the completion of Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if physically and financially able.
Over 2 million pilgrims are expected to gather this year from every corner of the world, despite ongoing global tensions and logistical challenges.
Hajj is not only a religious obligation but a deeply transformative spiritual journey that retraces the footsteps of Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him), Lady Hājar(peace be upon her), and Prophet Ismāʿīl (peace be upon him).
Pilgrims perform a series of sacred rites: they circle the Kaaba (Tawāf), run between the hills of Safa and Marwah to honor Lady Hājar’s (peace be upon her) desperate search for water, and gather in Mina to cast stones at pillars representing Shayṭān, as Prophet Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) once did when resisting his whispers.
Each stage of Hajj reminds Muslims of the values of obedience, trust in Allah, sacrifice, and perseverance, embodied by the blessed family of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him).
In cities across the Muslim world—from Jakarta to Cairo to Istanbul—mosques are being adorned, livestock markets are bustling, and community charities are ramping up efforts to ensure no family is left out of the Eid celebrations.
In India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, local authorities have issued guidelines for public Eid prayers and animal slaughter, while NGOs have launched online qurbani services for diaspora Muslims. In the West, growing Muslim populations continue to push for greater accommodation in schools and workplaces during this holy time, with some cities offering public Eid prayer spaces and recognizing Eid as a school holiday.
For many Muslims, this Eid comes amid hardship—be it war, displacement, or economic crisis.
In Gaza, Sudan, and Rohingya refugee camps, aid groups are working urgently to deliver sacrificial meat and holiday essentials.
For Muslims in the diaspora, especially converts or those without extended families, local mosques and online communities have stepped in to foster a sense of belonging.
Despite the challenges, Eid al-Adha remains a powerful reminder of sacrifice, obedience, and community. It is a day when Muslims pause to reflect on what it means to give for the sake of God, and to renew their commitment to justice, mercy, and faith.
