fbpx

KidsKonnect

Eid al-Adha Facts & Worksheets

Eid al-Adha, also called the “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Feast of the Sacrifice,” is one of the major and most important holidays of Islam.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Seasonal and Holiday /Celebrations /Eid al-Adha Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Eid al-Adha Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Eid al-Adha, also called the “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Feast of the Sacrifice,” is one of the major and most important holidays of Islam. It is the second day of the Eid holidays observed by the Muslim community. The first day of the Eid holiday is called Eid al-Fitr.

See the fact file below for more information on the Eid al-Adha or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Eid al-Adha worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ORIGINS

  • Eid al-Adha recalls and honors the time when God appeared to Abraham, also referred to as Ibrahim, in a dream and gave him one of the known trials of Abraham’s life.
  • In the dream, God tested Abraham’s obedience when he commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son named Ishmael in Quran; Isaac in the bible.
  • Abraham willingly submitted to God’s will and prepared for the sacrifice. Shaitan, a devil, tried to discourage Abraham and his family from carrying out the commandment.
  • Satan also tempted him not to sacrifice his son but Abraham drove him away by throwing stones at him.
  • Abraham proceeded to God’s command, but when he was about to cut his son’s throat at Mount Arafat, God stopped him.
  • Instead, God gave him a sheep to sacrifice and kill in place of his son.
  • Abraham passed God’s test as he portrayed willingness to carry out the command even if he was asked to sacrifice his dearest possession.
  • Muslims revere and commemorate this ultimate act of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha.
  • The celebration also shows that one should never sacrifice a human life in the name of God.
  • Muslims all over the world celebrate their faith during Eid al-Adha and the celebrations last for four days.
  • Eid al-Adha is said to have a fixed date that is the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, which is the last month of the Islamic calendar.
  • However, the festival depends on the sighting of the new moon so the celebration varies from country to country.

TRADITIONS & PRACTICES

  • Eid al-Adha is a joyous celebration for Muslims.
  • The occasion marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
  • Muslims around the world celebrate the holidays in their own cultural way, but they have a central theme that is to remember Abraham and to celebrate with a feast with their family.
  • People dress up in their finest outfits and prepare for these days.
  • They bring and exchange gifts to their family members and friends.
  • The celebration kicks off with a significant prayer called “Salat al-Eid” followed by a sermon called “Khutbah”.
  • The sermon is followed by the tradition of sacrificing an animal.
  • After slaughtering and distributing the sacrificed animal, the rest of the day is for visiting family and friends, and exchanging greetings with fellow Muslims.
  • Greetings during Eid al-Adha are “Eid Mubarak” and “Eid Saeed” to offer best wishes.
  • Most of the time, fried liver is served for breakfast, then the sacrificed animal is served for lunch and dinner.
  • Kebab, curry, and haleem are the usual meat-based dishes served during Eid al-Adha.
  • During Eid al-Adha, Muslims are encouraged to perform pilgrimage to Hajj, Mecca, Islam’s most holy and important city located in Saudi Arabia.
  • Pilgrimage draws 2 million Muslims every year.
  • As a remembrance of Abraham throwing stones at Satan, stones are thrown at the symbolic pillars for the Stoning of the Devil during the Hajj rites as a symbol of the community’s rejection of Satan.
  • Sixteen mosques across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia offer a special “rain prayer” in order to bless and support drought-stricken farmers.

SACRIFICING AN ANIMAL

  • After the morning prayers at the local mosques, Muslims sacrifice an animal in order to pay tribute to Abraham’s trial.
  • Families or communities who can afford sacrifice slaughter animals such as camels, goats, or sheep in their local farms.
  • The sacrificed animal is called “Udhiyah” which literally means “the sacrificed” in Arabic.
  • Udhiyah should be of certain age and of the highest quality available to the community.
  • Muslims say Allah’s name and “bismillah” (means in the name of God) during the act of slaughter in order to remind them that life is sacred and taking it is a solemn act.
  • The animals should face towards Mecca and only the head of the family or an appointed individual holds a sharp knife and draws the blade across the animal’s throat.
  • It is essential that the Udhiyah should not feel any suffering aside from the initial pain of slaughtering.
  • The meat from the sacrifice should be distributed to other people.
  • One-third is for the immediate family and relatives.
  • One-third is for friends.
  • One-third is donated to the poor and to those who cannot afford it.
  • This tradition symbolizes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his dearest possession.
  • It symbolizes a Muslim’s ability give up blessings and share them with those who are close to their hearts and to those who are in need.
  • The sacrifice of animals has nothing to do with washing away Muslim’s sins using the blood, it is purely to willingly share what you have with others.

Eid al-Adha Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Eid al-Adha across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Eid al-Adha worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Eid al-Adha, also called the “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Feast of the Sacrifice”, which is one of the major and most important holidays of Islam. It is the second day of the Eid holidays observed by the Muslim community. The first day of the Eid holiday is called Eid al-Fitr.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Eid al-Adha Facts
  • Story of Abraham
  • Feast of Sacrifice
  • In Pictures
  • Eid Holidays
  • Eid Keywords
  • Religious Practices
  • Prayer and Pilgrimage
  • Animals as Sacrifice
  • Sacrifice in Religion
  • To Sacrifice is To Share

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we celebrate Eid Al Adha?

Eid al-Adha is a time to remember when Prophet Ibrahim was willing to obey God by sacrificing his son, Ismail. Even though it was hard, he was going to do it. But before he could, God gave him a ram to sacrifice instead. In the Christian and Jewish telling, Ibrahim was ordered to kill another son, Isaac.

What happens on Eid Al Adha?

Eid al-Adha is a major Muslim holiday that lasts for three to four days. Most Muslims will attend special prayers at different mosques and Islamic centers during this time.

How long does Eid al-Adha last?

Eid al-Adha is a four-day Islamic celebration that ends on Wednesday evening.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Eid al-Adha Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 28, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources