Eid al-Adha: Muslims around the world celebrate 'big Eid'
3 Sept 2017 10:35 PM IST
Millions of Muslims across the globe — including in countries like India, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia and Pakistan — are celebrating Eid al-Adha, Islam's most revered observance.
Known as the Feast of Sacrifice or "big Eid," it is one of the two major religious festivals of Islam. The other, Eid al-Fitr, occurs at the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting.
In Pakistan, the faithful crowded into mosques and prayer grounds on Saturday to offer prayers and sacrifice goats and cows. Security was tight, as religious extremists have carried out bombings across the country in recent years.
"Today, we are here to offer Eid prayers," said Saleem Ahmed at a ceremony in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, Reuters reported. "The security arrangements were very good. May Allah approve our prayers." Eid al-Adha commemorates the Koranic tale of the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. Before he could carry out the sacrifice, God provided a ram as an offering.
In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill another son, Isaac.
Next Story
