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On one fateful night, the Prophet Ibrahim experienced a vivid dream-vision. In the dream, God Almighty appeared before Ibrahim and commanded him to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail as an act of obedience and submission.
As Ibrahim’s devotion to God was nothing short of absolute, he took Ismail to the top of Mount Arafah and steeled himself to make the ultimate sacrifice. But just as he was about to slaughter Ismail, the archangel Jibril appeared before the patriarch with a ram in tow. Jibril then revealed that Ibrahim’s faith had been vindicated and that the ram was to be sacrificed as a ransom for his son.
Reflecting on Ibrahim’s obedience, devotion and submission, Muslims around the world have since honoured Eid Adha as the Day of Sacrifice. As we draw nearer to the commemoration of this inspiring event, here are the dates, calendar and guide to celebrating Eid Adha 2023.
Eid ul Adha 2023 Saudi Arabia date
The Kingdom’s Supreme Court has yet to determine the exact date of Eid ul Adha 2023. So far, the expected date is 28 June 2023 with the moon sighting still needing to be conducted around said date.
Eid ul Adha 2023 public holiday in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) has announced that the public holiday for Eid ul Adha starts on 28-30 June 2023.
Eid ul Adha prayer time
The times for the special prayers on Eid ul Adha have not been disclosed as we are still waiting for the official dates from the moon sighting.
Later, on Eid al-Adha day, Muslims will offer prayer at mosques and musallahs, outdoor places of worship, across Saudi Arabia. The Eid prayer in Saudi Arabia is usually held 10 to 15 minutes after sunrise, and worshippers are encouraged to reach the mosque or musallahs by sunrise to avoid crowds.
How is Eid ul Adha 2023 celebrated in Saudi Arabia?
Eid Adha is a public holiday celebrated throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that lasts for three days. For those participating in the Hajj pilgrimage, the Eid Adha signifies the conclusion of their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The main observance of Eid Adha is the symbolic reenactment of Ibrahim’s obedience. The sacrifice may extend to a cow, sheep, lamb, goat, ram, and even camel. The bounty obtained from the sacrifice must be allocated accordingly; the individual, group of individuals or family providing the sacrifice is entitled to a third of the meat, while their friends and relatives are entitled to another third. The remaining third strictly belongs to the needy and less fortunate.
By taking part in this Feast of Sacrifice, Muslims in Saudi Arabia pledge their willingness to submit to the will of the Creator not just by way of performing the Qurban or sacrificing an animal, but also by committing themselves to other acts of charity. It is customary for Saudi Arabian Muslims with the financial means to donate sums of money, food and clothes to the homeless and the poor during Eid Adha.
Though on a smaller scale than that of the Eid Fitr, Muslims do take advantage of the celebration to dress up and visit family and friends offering and receiving presents in the process.