The Origin and Cultural Characteristics of Eid al-Adha in Islam

Eid al-Adha is one of the main festivals of Islam, which is a translation of the Arabic word "Eld-uzu Haya", also known as "Eid al-Adha", meaning "sacrifice" and "offering of sacrifice", and is also one of the main rituals of Hajj. It is also called "Eid al-Adha", which means "Sacrifice" and "Sacrifice", and it is also one of the main rituals of Hajj. Let's learn more about Eid al-Adha in Islamic culture.

The origin of Eid al-Adha

Ancient Arabian religious legend says that the Prophet Ibrahim had a dream about Allah in the night, and ordered him to slaughter his son Isma'il in order to test his loyalty to Allah. When Ibrahim obeyed the order to raise the knife the moment, Allah sent an envoy with a sheep rushed to the scene, the order to slaughter the sheep instead of offering the son. From then on, the custom of slaughtering an animal every year for the sacrifice was formed among the Arab peoples. After the emergence of Islam, the prophet Ibrahim was recognized as the holy ancestor, and inherited this ritual, and the Islamic calendar of December 10 as Eid al-Adha. China's use of the Gregorian calendar and the Islamic calendar each year there is a difference of eleven days, so each year Eid al-Adha's Gregorian date is not fixed. Muslims in China who speak Chinese commonly call Eid al-Adha "Little Eid al-Fitr".

The cultural characteristics of Eid al-Adha

1, the meeting ceremony, Muslims gathered in the Grand Mosque or public **** place, held a grand ceremony and celebration.

2. Slaughtering of livestock, Muslims in general before the festival to prepare the livestock to be slaughtered at that time, the livestock requirements must be healthy, divided into three kinds of camels, cows and sheep, according to the family's financial situation to decide. The meat is divided into three parts, which are kept for personal use, given to friends and relatives, and given to the poor.

According to traditional rules, Muslims bathe and dress early in the morning on Eid al-Adha, go to the mosque to worship and visit the graves of their ancestors. Before the festival, Muslims clean their houses, make various kinds of cakes, deep-fry deep-fried noodle cakes, bake naan, and make new clothes to get ready for the festival. After worshiping in mosques, Muslims return home to kill cows and slaughter sheep, cook meat, give alms to the poor and entertain guests. Young men and women talk and laugh, sing and dance, to carry out a variety of celebratory activities, the festival is full of joyful atmosphere.