Eid al-Hajj, or Eid al-Adha, is one of the most celebrated holidays in Muslim world, where different schools of Islam unite to honor the historic sacrifice of Prophet Abraham. Known as the feast of sacrifice, this festival is celebrated in tandem with the final rites of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 

With Eid preparations now in full swing, the aroma of sweet dishes is wafting across the Middle East as Muslims from Palestine to Yemen prepare a variety of delicacies that will be shared amongst families and friends on the day of Eid. 

Muslim girls in West Sulawesi, Indonesia, flock the streets as a customary tradition on Eid with torches, while men in China are spotted lighting incense at the symbolic Niujie Mosque. Women and little girls in Pakistan and India adorn their hands with Henna. 

A rather colorful, loud, and traditional practice fills the streets of Nigeria, where traditional palace guards of the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, fire locally made muskets to mark the end of Eid prayers.

About six million Muslims in Latin America celebrate Eid festivities with family and friends, dressing up in cultural attire and spending time with the Latino Muslim community. In neighboring North America, fun-filled Eid festivals in the US and Canada welcome Muslims of diverse backgrounds.

In Europe, where over 40 million Muslims reside, communities join in celebration and aid groups share Eid lunch with refugee groups. Down in Australia, Muslims perform Eid prayers and families take the day off to celebrate with loved ones.

More than being a mere holiday, Eid al-Adha is a testament to timeless Islamic teachings passed down through scripture and prophetic tradition. According to narration, when Prophet Abraham’s wife, Hajar, and her infant son, Isma’il, were left in the scorching desert of Makkah, Lady Hajar ran between the two hills of Safa and Marwa seven times in search of water. She then saw a fresh spring gushing forth by her son’s feet, now famously known as “Zam Zam,” which continues to flow until today. 

Muslims performing Hajj are required to walk between Safa and Marwa in honor of the woman who persevered in the desert with an unshakable faith in her Lord. At its core, Eid al-Adha is the celebration of true submission to God, even at the cost of losing everything. This lesson is best exemplified in the example of Prophet Abraham and Lady Hajar, who are timeless examples of true and complete submission to God’s will. 

The sacrifice of an animal on the day of Eid also signifies a poignant Islamic way of life, which revolves around selflessness and generosity. Muslims share the meat from their sacrifice with the poor and needy, implementing Islam’s emphasis on lending a hand to the less fortunate and considering their needs a priority. 

Finally, Eid al-Adha symbolizes unity and brotherhood, as people from all walks of life circumambulate the holy Kaaba in a simple white garment, reflecting their unity of submission and equality before God. This also serves as a reminder that at the end of the journey called life, humans will leave everything behind and face their Lord with nothing but their deeds.