There's a moment every Eid al-Adha morning — somewhere between the Takbeer coming from a neighbor's window and the smell of meat cooking by midday — when the day has a weight to it that Eid al-Fitr doesn't quite have. Both are joyful. Both bring family together. But Eid al-Adha asks something of you. It's structured around a sacrifice, literally and spiritually, and that gives it a different texture.
If you've ever wondered what actually happens across these four days — or you're trying to explain it to kids who know it's Eid but can't articulate why this one is different — this is for you.
The night before: Takbeer in the air
Eid al-Adha doesn't start on the morning of the 10th. It starts earlier — on the evening before, when the Takbeer begins.
From Fajr on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (the Day of Arafah) all the way through Asr on the 13th, Muslims recite:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illa Allah,
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahi al-hamd.
If you grew up in a Muslim household or neighborhood, you know this sound. It comes from mosques, from cars with windows down, from someone's phone speaker in the kitchen. For a lot of people, hearing it is the moment Eid actually starts in their chest — before any prayer, before any food.
Eid morning: what happens before the prayer
Your morning routine is ordered. Over time, performing this ritual allows for meditation on its meanings as well as developing mindfulness. Your ghusl (the ritual of bathing) is the first thing to do when performing this ritual. After bathing you need to wear the best clothing you have available (or as new of clothing as you can afford to buy).
The best clothes represent a Sunnah (based on what the Prophet (peace be upon him) did for every Eid) because we all want to wear our best outfit to Eid. In addition to these reasons, many families have children who have been waiting through the night to wear their Eid outfit.
When comparing Eid al-Fitr with Eid al-Adha, there may be some surprises. One of those i.e. the fact that you will not eat anything before the Eid Prayer on Eid al-Adha.
On Eid al-Fitr it is considered a Sunnah to eat prior to attending the Eid Salah, whereas on Eid al-Adha you will eat only after the Eid al-Adha Prayer. The preferred timing of when you may consume food is after completing the Qurbani (or animal sacrifice), as this indicates that today is a day of sacrifice versus a day of enjoyment.
The Eid prayer
Each prayer consists of 2 rakah and 3 extra takbir; 7 in the first rakah before reciting and 5 in the second rakah. These are specific to Eid prayers, which is why children may be confused when they first come to this prayer.
After the prayer are 2 khutbahs; the imam usually talks about what Eid al-Adha means, the story of Ibrahim, and what this day is calling Muslims to do. Many people leave after just praying and miss out on the khutbah, which is very common but is not encouraged. The khutbah is also part of the occasion.
Some communities will pray for Eid outdoors — in parks, on school grounds or in parking lots. Something about so many people praying all at one time in an open field captures the spirit of the occasion in a way that indoor prayer does not.
Qurbani — the act the day is built around
Qurbani (the slaughtering of animals for meat) begins after prayers. Muslims commemorate the faithfulness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) by sacrificing an animal (sheep, goat, cow or camel) on Eid al-Adha, the day when his son Ismail was spared. As per the story, Allah rewarded Prophet Ibrahim with a ram to slaughter instead. Each year after repeating this act, Muslims' beliefs are similarly shown.
The meat from the animal sacrificed is usually divided into three (a third is consumed by the sacrifice/s family, a third is given to relatives and friends, and a third is given to the poor).
This third that is given away is important as Qurbani is not only about taking care of one’s family but providing for others who may not have had access to meat before or after this event. The need for anyone providing a meal to those less fortunate is inherent in the system of Qurbani.
Many people living in the cities of Western countries arrange through charitable organisations for Qurbani to be carried out on their behalf, as charities often have access to places where there is great need.
This practice of Qurbani is a common and legitimate way for families to still follow tradition as Qurbani is performed two places, in their country of residency and in their country of origin. The children may experience some confusion by not being clear about why the family is doing Qurbani and they will be apprehensive.
Parents tell their children the story of Ibrahim (what God asked of him) prior to Eid. Therefore, children hearing the story of Ibrahim will experience #eid differently than those children who did not hear the story.
How it looks around the world
Eid al-Adha is one of those occasions where you can see how Islam travels and takes root in different cultures without losing its core. The prayer, the sacrifice, the generosity — those are universal. Everything around them varies enormously.
- In Egypt and the majority of the Arab world, all members of the family gather at their grandparent's home.,Many streets are adorned with decorations..Children wear new clothes..Everyone can smell grilled meat everywhere during the 4-day holiday.
- Across South Asia — specifically Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — people typically gather for meals that include (but are not limited to) biryani as well as Qurbani meat dishes in many different ways during the course of 3 days and dessert items (sweets). Each household has a unique vocabulary of foods for celebration during Eid al-Adha.
- In Turkey, this holiday is known as Kurbani Bayrami. Visiting elders is a big part of it — you kiss hands, you sit with the older generation. Children get holiday money, from relatives.
- In the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, Muslim communities typically gather at large Eid prayer venues in the morning, then scatter for family meals. The togetherness tends to be more concentrated — fewer days of extended celebration, but the morning prayer gathering can be genuinely moving.
Keeping kids connected to what the day actually means
Eid al-Adha can be harder to get kids excited about than Eid al-Fitr. There are fewer obvious treats, the day centers on a sacrifice which is abstract at best and confusing at worst, and if they're not included in what's happening, they end up on a device waiting for lunch.
A few things that genuinely help:
- Tell the story of Ibrahim before the day. Not a rushed version — the actual story, with the dream, the conversation with Ismail, the knife, the ram. Kids who know the story show up to Eid al-Adha differently.
- Assign them a job. They can help in preparing food for other neighbors, or prepare and pack up their Qurbani portions that will be donated, or help make cards for family members. When it comes to Eid, it’s engagement rather than mere observation.
- You can still give Eidi to younger children, it is part of Eid to give Eidi and children appreciate the Eidi you give to them much more than do adults.
- Let the children join you at the Eid prayer - even if they are fidgeting - the experience of an Eid prayer performed outdoors stays with a person throughout their life, most adults who cherish Eid can remember where they were at as children to have a love for the day, rather than being told about it.
The questions that come up every year
Can you fast on Eid al-Adha?
No. Fasting on either of the two Eids is haram — prohibited. The day is specifically for eating, gathering, and celebrating. What often gets confused with this: fasting on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (the day before, Arafah day) is one of the most virtuous voluntary fasts of the year for non-pilgrims. That day, yes. The day of Eid itself, no.
How long does Eid al-Adha last?
Four days. The 10th of Dhul Hijjah is the main day — the prayer, the Qurbani, the celebration. The 11th, 12th, and 13th are the days of Tashreeq, which are also days of celebration. The Takbeer continues through Asr on the 13th. Qurbani can be performed on any of the four days, not just the first.
Is it the same as Eid al-Fitr?
Same format — prayer, family, food, generosity. Completely different occasion. Eid al-Fitr is a reward after Ramadan, a celebration of fasting completed. Eid al-Adha is tied to the Hajj season and to Ibrahim's story. The mood is different, the rituals are different, and the Sunnah practices around each one differ in specific ways (like the eating-before-prayer question above).
What should kids wear?
Whatever is clean, modest, and their best. New clothes are a common tradition and there's nothing wrong with it — the Prophet (peace be upon him) dressed well for Eid. But there's no prescribed color or garment. The emphasis is on showing up clean, cared-for, and present.
The point of all of it
Eid al-Adha is four days built around a single idea: that submission to Allah — real submission, the kind Ibrahim demonstrated — is worth commemorating, repeating, and teaching to your children.
The prayer, the sacrifice, the food shared with neighbors and strangers, the family visits, the Takbeer filling the neighborhood at dawn — none of it is decoration. It all points back to the same thing. A man, a knife, a son, a ram, and a faith so complete it changed the shape of worship for everyone who came after.
That's the Eid worth celebrating.
