About the Muslim holiday: Eid

Eid means celebration or festival. There is the small Eid (Eid Sagheer- or Eid Al-Fitir) and big Eid (Eid Kabeer or Eid Al-Adha).

Eid Al-Fitir (Fitir -- to break) comes after Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting, in celebration of the month coming to an end Eid Al-Fitir starts in celebration.

Eid Al-Adha (adha - sacrifice) is in celebration or remembrance of prophet Abraham's complete faith and trust in God that he was willing to sacrifice his only son.

Muslims get dressed in holiday clothes. After attending the special prayer (Salat Al Eid or Eid Prayer) they continue with visits to the homes of friends and loved ones. Visiting friends and family as well as exchanging greetings and gifts is common. Eid is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties.

It is a 3 day long celebration. Eid ul-Fitr is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking God (Allah) for the help and strength that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

It is a joyous occasion with important religious significance. Happiness is observed at attaining spiritual uplift after a month of fasting.

What is Eid al-Adha

At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid al-Adha. It lasts for four days.

During the Hajj, Muslims remember the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham.
Abraham was commanded to kill his only son Ismael. He was prepared go through with it as a act of faith and obedience to God. Showing that his love for God overpowered his love for any other. God sent a ram to be sacrificed in Ismael's place.

During the celebration Muslims remember Abraham's trials, by slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations.

After prayers and visiting friend and family, at some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter.