Muslims across the United Kingdom have gathered in parks and open spaces to perform special prayers and celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. The festival, which runs for three days, commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. In the UK, the ritual sacrifice (Qurbani) is adapted through charitable donations or accredited local slaughterhouses, with meat distributed to families and those in need. Celebrations include wearing fine clothes, exchanging gifts, and sharing festive meals, while global observances were also noted in the US, Netherlands, and Uganda amid various circumstances.
Muslims have gathered in parks across the UK to celebrate Eid al-Adha today, which marks the 'Feast of Sacrifice'. Hundreds of Muslim faithful attended prayers in fields across the UK to celebrate the second day of Eid al-Adha this year, which began on Tuesday evening and will last three days until Saturday.
It is one of the two most important festivals in the Islamic calendar, and a significant cultural event for the UK's nearly four million Muslims. Eid al-Adha follows the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage period and reflects on the legacy of the Prophet Ibrahim and his obedience to Allah. Muslims around the world take part in Qurbani after the Eid prayer, which is a ritual sacrifice - traditionally of livestock.
British Muslims do not perform Qurbani themselves due to UK law, instead adapting the practice by usually appointing an Islamic charity as their agent, including Muslim Aid or Islamic Relief UK. British Muslims donate to the charities, who then purchase the livestock and carry out the sacrifice in countries experiencing poverty or conflict.
Alternatively, they use halal butchers to arrange for the sacrifice to happen locally in accredited UK abattoirs and then be distributed to food banks or homeless shelters across the country. Hundreds of Muslim faithful attended Eid al-Adha prayers in Manchester today.
Pictured: A drone view of Platt Fields Park A crowd gathered in south-east London yesterday amid the hottest May day on record to celebrate the festival A couple posed in their finery in London on the second day of the celebrations The festival commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail out of obedience to God, before God provided a ram to sacrifice instead. The event follows the Islamic lunar calendar, meaning the exact date it is held each year varies.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah - the final month of the Islamic year. The day of Eid al-Adha often begins for many Muslims with a ghusl - a cleansing bath or shower - followed by dressing in one's finest clothes. Devoted Muslims then attend special communal prayers at their local mosque or in large outdoor parks - as was seen at Manchester's Platt Fields Park this afternoon.
A central element of the festival is Qurbani - the ritual sacrifice of livestock such as sheep or lamb. In the UK, this can only take place in official, accredited slaughterhouses. The meat will then be divided into three equal portions - one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for the poor and needy. The rest of the festival will be spent visiting friends and family, exchanging gifts for Muslim children, and enjoying large festive meals.
Greetings of 'Eid Mubarak' (meaning 'Have a blessed Eid') are often shared. In America, New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined fellow Muslims in praying in the Bronx Borough An aerial shot of Muslim worshippers taking part in prayers on a football ground in the Netherlands Amid an increase in Ebola cases, Muslim worshippers in Uganda headed to the National Mosque - some taking precautions with face masks More than 1.7 million Muslims completed the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, this year Major celebrations often take place in areas with large Muslim populations including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford, Luton and Blackburn.
Local communities often organise large-scale open-air festivals, food markets, and family gatherings. While the celebrations will take place across this week, from Tuesday, May 26 to Saturday, May 30, the day of Eid is celebrated today, Wednesday, May 27. Across the world, scenes of celebrations and community were pictured, from New York City to Sierra Leone. In America, New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani prayed alongside fellow Muslims in the Bronx Borough at Macombs Dam Park on Tuesday.
In the Netherlands, Muslim worshippers gathered on a football ground in Alphen ann den Rijn on Wednesday. Amid a rise in Ebola cases, Muslims in Uganda flocked to the National Mosque to perform prayers, some taking precautions by wearing face masks. In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, more than 1.7 million Muslims completed the Hajj and became pilgrims. The holiest day in the Islamic year is the Day of Arafah, which is held one day before the festival of Eid al-Adha
Eid Al-Adha UK Muslims Islamic Festival Qurbani Hajj Prophet Ibrahim Prayer Gatherings Charitable Sacrifice
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