Eid al-Adha Countdown

How many days until Eid al-Adha?

The Eid al-Adha countdown above ticks every second to 10 Dhu al-Hijjah — the day of the festival of sacrifice. The countdown uses the tabular Islamic calendar; local moon-sighting authorities may declare Eid a day earlier or later.

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha — Arabic for "the festival of sacrifice" — falls on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. It commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God, and God's intervention to provide a ram in the son's place.

Eid al-Adha is the greater of Islam's two Eids — lasting four days (10–13 Dhu al-Hijjah) and coinciding with the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Even Muslims not on Hajj observe the festival in their home countries.

Expected Eid al-Adha dates through 1451 AH

The story behind Eid al-Adha

The festival commemorates a story shared by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — though with a key difference about which son was involved. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Ibrahim received a divine command in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael). Both father and son submitted to the command. As Ibrahim was about to perform the sacrifice, God intervened and provided a ram in Ismail's place — testing Ibrahim's faith without requiring the actual sacrifice.

The festival celebrates this complete submission to God's will — the literal meaning of the word "Islam." Muslims commemorate it annually through the practice of qurbani (animal sacrifice), with the meat distributed to family, friends, and especially the poor.

How is Eid al-Adha celebrated?

The day begins like Eid al-Fitr — with the Eid prayer in congregation. After the prayer, families who can afford it perform qurbani (also called udhiyyah):

• A sheep, goat, cow, or camel is sacrificed in a humane manner per Islamic tradition.
• The meat is divided in three equal parts: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor.
• In many Muslim-majority countries, this happens at home or at community slaughterhouses; in Western countries, Muslims typically pay a charity to perform the qurbani on their behalf and distribute the meat.

The festival continues for three more days — the Days of Tashreeq (11–13 Dhu al-Hijjah) — during which Muslims visit family and friends, exchange gifts, and share meals. Special Takbeerat (declarations of God's greatness) are recited.

The connection to Hajj

Eid al-Adha is inseparable from the Hajj pilgrimage. The Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam — required at least once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able.

The Hajj timeline

• 8 Dhu al-Hijjah — pilgrims travel from Mecca to Mina (about 8 km), spending the night there in tents.
• 9 Dhu al-Hijjah — the Day of Arafah — pilgrims travel to the Plain of Arafat for a day of standing in prayer until sunset. This is considered the holiest day of the year for Muslims worldwide. Those not on Hajj are encouraged to fast on this day.
• 10 Dhu al-Hijjah — Eid al-Adha — pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat, then perform qurbani, then complete the tawaf (circumambulation) of the Kaaba.
• 11–13 Dhu al-Hijjah — Days of Tashreeq, with continued ritual at Mina before pilgrims complete their Hajj and depart.

Approximately 2 million pilgrims perform Hajj each year — making it the world's largest annual pilgrimage. Saudi Arabia issues Hajj visas through national quotas; demand consistently exceeds supply.

The Day of Arafah

The day before Eid al-Adha — 9 Dhu al-Hijjah, the Day of Arafah — is considered the holiest day of the Islamic year. According to Islamic tradition, on this day God forgives the sins of all Muslims who sincerely seek forgiveness.

For the 1.9 billion Muslims not on Hajj, fasting on the Day of Arafah is highly recommended. Many Muslims combine the fast with extra prayer, Quran recitation, and giving charity.

Eid al-Adha around the world

Eid al-Adha is observed by Muslims globally, with regional traditions:

• Turkey — known as Kurban Bayramı ("Sacrifice Festival"), 4-day public holiday, often extended to 9 days when combined with weekends.
• South Asia — Bakra Eid ("Goat Eid"), 3-day public holiday, large family meals featuring meat dishes.
• Indonesia — Idul Adha or Hari Raya Haji, 1-day public holiday, mass qurbani at mosques.
• Morocco — known as Eid el-Kebir ("the great Eid") to distinguish from Eid al-Fitr (Eid el-Saghir, "the lesser").
• Nigeria — among Muslim communities, Babbar Sallah, with public celebrations.
• Saudi Arabia — extensive holidays for both citizens and pilgrims; Mecca and Medina are the spiritual centre during this week.

Why is it called the greater Eid?

Eid al-Adha is called the "greater" Eid for several reasons:

• Length — 4 days vs 1–3 days for Eid al-Fitr.
• Hajj connection — coincides with one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
• Spiritual weight — commemorates one of the most significant events in Abrahamic tradition.
• Practical scale — qurbani feeds millions of poor people globally each year, making it one of the largest annual charitable redistributions in the world.