🕋 Eid al-Adha: A Quranic and Prophetic Perspective

🌙 What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha (عيد الأضحى) means “Festival of Sacrifice.” It is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates the supreme act of obedience and devotion by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.), who was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail (A.S.) in submission to Allah's command.

📖 What Allah Says About the Sacrifice in the Qur’an

The command and the essence of sacrifice are described in Surah As-Saffat (37:100-111):

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ
"Then, when [his son] reached [an age of] working with him, he said, 'O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.'..."
— Qur’an 37:102

وَفَدَيْنَاهُ بِذِبْحٍ عَظِيمٍ
"And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice."
— Qur’an 37:107

The "great sacrifice" refers to the replacement of Ismail (A.S.) with a ram from Jannah by Allah, highlighting His mercy.

🕋 Why Is It Called “Adha”?

The word “Adha” (أضحى) comes from the root ضحى, meaning "to sacrifice in the forenoon." The act of slaughtering (udhiyah) during this time after the Eid prayer symbolizes submission, gratitude, and remembrance of Allah’s mercy.

🧎‍♂️ How to Perform the Eid al-Adha Prayer

The Eid prayer is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah (highly emphasized Sunnah) according to most scholars.

🔹 Number of Rak‘at:

2 Rak‘at (units of prayer).

🔹 Additional Takbirs:

First Rak‘ah: 7 extra Takbirs after the opening Takbir (Takbir al-Ihram).
Second Rak‘ah: 5 extra Takbirs before reciting Surah Al-Fatiha.

"The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say seven Takbirs in the first rak'ah and five in the second rak'ah on the day of Eid."
— Abu Dawud 1149, Sahih

📢 Importance of Takbir: Saying “Allahu Akbar”

The takbir ("Allahu Akbar") is one of the most emphasized Sunnahs during the days of Tashreeq (11th–13th Dhul-Hijjah), beginning after Fajr of 9th Dhul-Hijjah (Day of Arafah) and continuing until Asr of 13th Dhul-Hijjah.

وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
"...and proclaim the greatness of Allah for having guided you, so that you may be grateful."
— Qur’an 2:185

Saying “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa Lillahil Hamd” is a means of glorifying Allah’s greatness.

🍽️ Eat Before or After the Prayer?

🐐 On Eid al-Adha:

It is Sunnah to eat after the prayer, specifically from the meat of the sacrifice.

"The Prophet (ﷺ) would not eat until he returned from the Eid prayer and then eat from his sacrifice."
— Musnad Ahmad (22475), Hasan

⚠️ This is different from Eid al-Fitr, where the Prophet would eat dates before the prayer.

🕌 Khutbah (Sermon): Before or After the Prayer?

The Eid khutbah is delivered after the prayer.

"The Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the Eid prayer before giving the khutbah."
— Bukhari and Muslim

It is recommended to stay and listen, though it is not obligatory as with Jumu‘ah.

🐑 Sacrifice (Udhiyah / Qurbani): Its Ruling and Meaning

✅ Is It Obligatory?

Wajib according to Hanafi school for those who can afford.
Sunnah Mu’akkadah according to other schools.

"So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]."
— Qur’an 108:2 (Surah Al-Kawthar)

“The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘The son of Adam does not do any deed on the Day of Sacrifice more beloved to Allah than the shedding of blood (of the animal).’”
— Tirmidhi 1493, Hasan

🕯️ Deeper Spiritual Meaning from Qur'an and Hadith

1. Obedience Over Logic:

Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) did not question the dream, nor did his son Ismail (A.S.) hesitate. This signifies unconditional submission to Allah.

2. Sacrifice is Symbolic:

"It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him."
— Qur’an 22:37

Allah does not need the meat or blood but values the intention and devotion.

3. Remembrance of Allah:

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا صَوَافَّ
"...And mention the name of Allah over them (animals) when lined up for sacrifice..."
— Qur’an 22:36

✨ Celebration Guidelines from Sunnah

Ghusl (ritual bath) before prayer.
Wear best clothes, not necessarily new.
Use perfume for men.
Take different routes to and from Eid prayer.

— Bukhari (986)

Congratulate others:

"Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum" (May Allah accept from us and from you).

Here’s an additional section in English to include in your Eid al-Adha article, covering the virtues of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, the prohibition of cutting hair and nails, and the importance of fasting on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah), with authentic references from the Qur’an and Hadith:

🌟 Virtues of the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah

The first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are among the most blessed days in the Islamic calendar. Allah has taken an oath by these days, which shows their immense significance:

“By the dawn, and by the ten nights…”
— Surah Al-Fajr 89:1–2
(The majority of mufassirun say these ten nights refer to the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah)

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari 969

These days are a golden opportunity for:

Increased prayer and dhikr
Fasting
Sadaqah (charity)
Qur’an recitation
Making takbir frequently:
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd”

✂️ Refraining from Cutting Hair and Nails

For those intending to offer a sacrifice (Udhiyah), the Prophet ﷺ gave specific guidance:

“When the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not cut his hair or trim his nails until he has offered his sacrifice.”
— Sahih Muslim 1977

This is a symbolic way of sharing in the sanctity of the sacrificial act, reflecting humility and obedience to Allah.

🌄 Fasting on the Day of Arafah (9th Dhul-Hijjah)

The Day of Arafah, the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, is one of the greatest days in Islam. It is the day when Hajj pilgrims stand on the plain of Arafah, and the Prophet ﷺ highly recommended fasting for those not performing Hajj:

“Fasting on the Day of Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.”
— Sahih Muslim 1162

It is a day of:

Seeking forgiveness
Du‘a and dhikr
Fasting to gain immense spiritual reward

🕌 Summary: What to Do in the First 10 Days

Action	Reward / Benefit
Fast on 9th (Arafah)	Sins of 2 years forgiven (except for Hajj pilgrims)
Takbir, Tahleel, Tahmid	Increases closeness to Allah
No cutting hair/nails (if sacrificing)	Sharing in the sacredness of Udhiyah
Offer sacrifice	Great act of obedience (Sunna Mu’akkadah or Wajib)
Perform extra worship	Most beloved days for righteous deeds

📚 Summary of Key References

Theme	Quran Reference	Hadith Source
Sacrifice of Ibrahim	Surah As-Saffat 37:100-111	Sahih Bukhari, Tirmidhi
Importance of Takbir	Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185	Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Bukhari
Udhiyah significance	Surah Al-Hajj 22:36-37	Tirmidhi 1493
Timing of Khutbah	-	Bukhari, Muslim
Eid prayer method	-	Abu Dawud 1149
Eating after prayer	-	Musnad Ahmad

💠 Conclusion

Eid al-Adha is not merely a festival—it is a renewal of faith, obedience, and gratitude. It reflects the essence of Islam: complete submission to the will of Allah. It calls us to be mindful of our inner intentions, purify our hearts, and uplift the poor through sharing the meat of the sacrifice.

Eid al-Adha: A Quranic and Prophetic Perspective