Muslims celebrate Eid al Adha
Millions of Muslim faithfuls in Uganda will today join nearly 2 billion others worldwide to mark Eid al Adha which falls on the 10th day of Dhul al Hajj – the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar.
In Uganda, Eid prayers are expected to start at 7:30am through 9:00am in most mosques around the country.
In Islamic tradition, it honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah‘s command. Pilgrims performing the Hajj typically perform the tawaf and saee of Hajj on Eid al-Adha, along with the ritual stoning of the Devil on the Eid day and the following days.
The tradition for Eid al-Adha involves slaughtering an animal and sharing the meat in three equal parts – for family, for relatives and friends, and for poor people. The goal is to make sure every Muslim gets to eat meat.
Morocco bans slaughter of animals
In an unprecedented move, Morocco will celebrate Eid al-Adha this year without the traditional mass animal sacrifice. This decision was taken by King Mohammed VI, who, concerned about the alarming decline in the national livestock population and the economic difficulties faced by population, issued a directive urging citizens to refrain from performing the ritual.
Moroccan authorities immediately launched a national campaign to close livestock markets throughout the country following the issuance of the decree. Governors and local officials were instructed to ban the sale and slaughter of animals, temporarily close municipal slaughterhouses and, in some areas, even restrict the sale of utensils associated with the ritual sacrifice.
This decision responds to a critical reality: since 2016, Morocco has lost 38% of its sheep, falling from 11 million breeding females to 8.7 million in 2024.
War and hunger eclipse Eid al-Adha in Gaza
As millions of Muslims around the world prepare to mark Eid al-Adha with prayers, family gatherings, and sacrificial meals, the besieged coastal enclave braced for yet another day of hunger, displacement, and mourning.
For the second year in a row, Gaza’s residents said Eid has lost all meaning. Amid the ruins of war and deepening starvation, families who once celebrated with lamb feasts and joyful reunions are now scavenging for bread and shelter.
Israel’s genocidal war has transformed what was once a joyful holiday into a day of unbearable grief.
Since 7 October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children and wounded more than 125,000 others, according to the Gaza-based Palestinian health ministry.
More than 1.9 million Palestinians [almost 85 percent of Gaza’s population] are now internally displaced.
Observing the Day of Arafah
The celebration was preceded by the observance of the Day of Arafah or Yawm al-Arafah by both pilgrims to the holy land and those who stayed home.
Yawm al-Arafah literally translates to “Day of Standing.” This translation refers to Muslims participating in Hajj, in which they stand for extended periods and ask for God’s divine mercy.
Those at home observed the Day of Arafah by fasting, a voluntary but highly encouraged act of worship within the Islamic religion. While it is not compulsory for those not on pilgrimage, it is widely practisedby Muslims who are not performing the Hajj.
