Eid al-Adha is just around the corner on the Islamic calendar as the Muslim community in Manchester ready themselves for a near-week full of celebrations.
It is celebrated as a public holiday in Muslim countries and is one of the biggest religious festivals in the world – it is also hotly-anticipated in the UK, too.
Mosques in Manchester have already revealed the official prayer times for the Muslim holiday, but are there any events taking place in the city to join in on the festivities? ManchesterWorld has you covered with everything you need to know.
What is Eid al-Adha?
In Islam there are two key Eid celebrations that take place, Eid al-Fitr and Eid ah-Adha.
Eid al-Fitr, which was celebrated earlier this year, signifies the completion of Ramadan.
Whilst Eid al-Adha signifies the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, to show his devotion.
As a result of the sacrifice, Allah replaced Ismail with that of a ram, which was to be slaughtered as a way to test the prophet’s willingness and commitment to obey his lord.
When is Eid al-Adha?
The day of Eid al-Adha always falls on the tenth day of the final and twelfth month of Islamic Lunar Calendar called Dhu-ah-Hijah.
It can be celebrated over the course of two to four days in total but this varies.
In 2022, Eid al-Adha is scheduled to start on Saturday, 9 July and come to an end on Wednesday, 13 July to mark the end of four days of celebration.
How is it traditionally celebrated?
The way that Eid al-Adha is celebrated varies depending on the country, but a majority of the time it will involve the act of Qurbani, also known as sacrifice.
It takes place directly following the Eid Salaah (prayers) and involves the slaughtering of an animal.
The sacrifice can either be a sheep, lamb, cow, goat, bull or camel and must be killed in a ‘halal’ friendly Islamic way
The animal must be in good health and over a certain age.
The Qurbani meat is then divided into different shares, one third is for you and your family, one third is for friends, whilst the final third is donated to those in need.
During the celebrations of this event, people come together with their families and loved ones wearing either new or their best clothes and attire, whilst also giving and receiving gifts.
What events are taking place for Eid al-Abha in and around Manchester?
The following are Eid al-Abha events taking place in Manchester over the course of the festival.
Eid in the Park 2022
- When: Saturday, 9 July to Sunday, 10 July
- Where: Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LA
- Price: FREE
One of the most popular Eid celebrations in the city, Eid in the Park is widely regarded for bringing around 10,000 Muslisms together.
In this open public space, you can take advantage of various things whether it be food, rides, stalls and much much more.
Car parking is available on-site and you are advised to bring your own prayer mat.
Eid Picnic in the Park
- When: Saturday, 16 July – from 1 pm to 4 pm
- Where: Queens Park, Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 4RU
- Price: FREE
This community event is the perfect way to bring Muslim women and children together in the name of Eid in 2022.
Bring a dish to this picnic and enjoy a plethora of different foods, as well as connecting with like minded people whilst playing games and having fun.
All are welcome to the event, all you need is your very own picnic blanket and a folding chair.
Gnawa Trance Music Night: Eid Special
- When: Saturday, 16 July – from 6 pm to 10 pm
- Where: The Resonance Centre, 599 Ashton New Road, Manchester, M11 4SG
- Price: from £29.70 per person, children under 16 are free
In what organisers dub as ‘an evening of magic’, come on down to The Resonance Centre for a night full of Gnawa trance music, community and connection, as well as a nourishing buffet dinner.
A dessert buffet is also available, further cementing this event as perfect for those who wish to celebrate Eid by enjoying good food.
There are two Eids in the Islamic calendar: Eid al-Fitr, which is known as the Lesser Eid or simply Eid, and Eid al-Adha. The two Eids are important celebrations for Muslim people across the world.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and was celebrated earlier in the year. Eid al-Adha is a time of celebration, commemorating the prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah for his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail.
To honour Ibrahim’s devotion to his son, Muslim people around the world observe Eid al-Adha. It is also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice and falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar.
When is Eid al-Adha this year?
Unlike many religious events, Eid al-Adha doesn’t happen on the same date each year. Instead, the time when the celebration takes place is determined by the sighting of the moon, which is also the case for many other festivals in the Islamic calendar.
This year, Eid al-Adha will begin on the evening of Saturday, July 9. It lasts for four days, and will therefore end on the evening of Wednesday, July 13.
That is because the month of Dhu al-Hijjah will begin on June 30 and Eid al-Adha takes place on the 10th day of that month. The dates of the Islamic lunar calendar vary each year depending on the moon – they shift approximately 11 days earlier each year.
What does Eid al-Adha celebrate?
Eid al-Adha celebrates a story that comes from both the Quran and the Bible. This is the tale of Ibrahim (known as Abraham by Christians and Jews).
In the story, Allah told Ibrahim to sacrifice his own son, Ismail, as a test of his devotion and obedience. Ibrahim loved his son, but he was committed to following Allah’s order.
Before the sacrifice could take place, Allah gave Ibrahim a lamb to kill in his son’s place. Ibrahim had successfully proven his devotion to Allah.
How is Eid al-Adha celebrated?
In many Muslim countries, Eid al-Adha is a public holiday. Some celebrations include sacrificing an animal, known as Qurbani, to commemorate the lamb given by Allah to Ibrahim.
Qurbani is seen as one of the most important aspects of the day and one of the most significant animal sacrifices of the year. In some families, a third of the meat of the sacrificed animal is consumed, while the rest is given to those in need.
Moulana Yunus Dudhwala, from the UK’s Halal Monitoring Committee, explained to The Mirror : “For Muslims, Qurbani is the most important sacrifice of the whole year. Abattoirs and butchers must remain vigilant and responsible in ensuring all laws pertaining to Qurbani are adhered to, so that this important spiritual day is not ruined by intentional or unintentional wrongdoing.”
People also gather for prayers and to spend time with their families. Family and friends exchange gifts and food, as well as exchanging the traditional greeting of “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid).
