This year June is the month for the four-day long Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha (or the Feast of Sacrifice). The tradition for Eid al-Adha involves slaughtering a sheep and sharing the meat in three equal parts – for family, for relatives and friends, and for the poor of the community.

It honours the story of the prophet Ibrahim (known in the Christian Old Testament as Abraham) who offers to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. Before Ibrahim can carry out this act,  Allah produces a lamb for him to sacrifice instead.

The second Eid festival of the calendar year, Eid al-Adha is a very important event throughout the Muslim world. Families sacrifice their best halal domestic animals (usually a camel, goat, sheep, or ram depending on the region) as a symbol of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son. The goal is to make sure every Muslim gets to eat meat. Some Muslims may give money to charity to give families the chance to have a proper Eid feast. Mosques and community groups will often arrange communal meals
The Eid al-Adha prayers take place at the mosque or in an open field, any time after sun-rise. Once the sun has risen fully in the sky, Muslims will pray ahead of the Dhuhr prayer at noon.

People dress up in their best clothing and at the end of the prayers and the sermon by the Imam, greet each other using the celebratory phrase “Eid Mubarak,” and exchange gifts and share food with friends.   Sweets and gifts (including ma’amoul, pastries filled with dates or nuts) are exchanged, and there are visits to extended family members.
Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar (and the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage period). Because this is based on the lunar cycle, the date shifts from year to year, moving forward around 11 days annually. The date is set when the closest new moon is seen.  

Eid al-Adha is marked by a three-day public holiday in Morocco, but many hotels and restaurants will remain open.

Liz Hoggard

Travel Journalist