Eid al-Adha 2014 Celebrated By Muslims Across The World

42 Pictures Of Muslims Celebrating Eid al-Adha
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Muslims celebrated one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar this weekend.

One of two feast festivals, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic calendar’s last month, Dhu al-Hijjah.

The three-day holiday commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim — or Abraham as he is known in the Bible — to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead.

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Indian Muslims offer prayers during Eid al-Adha at the Vasi Ullah mosque in Allahabad, India, on Monday

Muslims slaughter sheep, cattle and other livestock, and give part of the meat to the poor.

The holiday also saw more than two million pilgrims take part in one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims celebrated the first day of Eid on Sunday, including Iraqi Shiites and the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million. Pakistan celebrates on Monday.

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Muslims perform a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday

In Mina, a desert tent city just outside the Saudi holy city of Mecca, pilgrims cast pebbles in a symbolic stoning of the devil. Male pilgrims changed out of their white pilgrim robes and shaved their heads as a sign of renewal. Women clipped a lock of hair.

Though pilgrims will repeat the stoning ritual for two more days, they can now be referred to as "hajjis," a term of honour for completing the pilgrimage. The roughly five-day hajj is meant to cleanse the faithful of sin and required of all able-bodied Muslims to perform once in their lives.

"I feel good and satisfied with who I am and for the chance to come to the hajj this year," said Palestinian pilgrim Mona Abu-Raya. "I am so happy that I am here."

Eid al Adha 2014
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Indian Muslims greet each other after offering prayers during Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, inside the Vasi Ullah mosque in Allahabad, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Indian Muslims offer prayers to mark the festival of Eid al-Adha at Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Muslims in the country celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by slaughtering sheep, goats and cows. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A Kashmiri Muslim man stretches his arms as he prays during Eid al-Adha in Srinagar, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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An Indian Muslim man offers prayers on Eid al-Adha at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorating the prophet Abraham's offering for his son to god, where able Muslims offer either a goat, sheep, cow, buffalo, or camel during feast rituals. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Indian Muslims offer prayers during Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, at the Taj Mahal monument in Agra, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Pawan Sharma) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Muslim devotees hug each other after offering prayers on Eid al-Adha in Kolkata, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha, a Muslim feast of sacrifice to commemorate the prophet Abraham's offering of his son to god. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Indian Muslims offer special prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine ahead of Eid al-Adha, in Ahmadabad, India, Sunday, Oct.5, 2014.Muslims are marking the Eid al-Adha, that commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. On the start of Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter sheep, cattle and other livestock, and give part of the meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A young sheep vendor feeds a sheep as he awaits customers at a market ahead of the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha, in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sunday, Oct.5, 2014.Muslims are marking the Eid al-Adha, that commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. On the start of Eid al-Adha, Muslims slaughter sheep, cattle and other livestock, and give part of the meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 06: Muslim pilgrims walk in an area close to the Jamarat Bridge used by Muslims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the Hajj at the third day of Eid al-Adha in the Mina district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Dilek Mermer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Iraqi Shiite Muslim women attend the Eid al-Adha prayer, inside the party headquarters of the Supreme Islamic Council, in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha by sacrificing sheep, goats, cows and camels, to commemorate the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail, on God's command. The holiday started on Sunday in Iraq. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 06: Muslim pilgrims are seen in an area close to the Jamarat Bridge used by Muslims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the Hajj at the third day of Eid al-Adha in the Mina district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Dilek Mermer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Ammar al-Hakim, foreground, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prays during the first day of Eid al-Adha in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha which commemorates the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham as he is known in the Bible, to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. The holiday started Sunday in Iraq. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 06: Muslim pilgrims walk near the Jamarat Bridge used by Muslims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the Hajj at the third day of Eid al-Adha in the Mina district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Dilek Mermer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 06: Muslim pilgrims walk on the Jamarat Bridge used by Muslims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the Hajj at the third day of Eid al-Adha in the Mina district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Dilek Mermer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 06: Muslim pilgrims walk on the Jamarat Bridge used by Muslims during the stoning of the devil ritual of the Hajj at the third day of Eid al-Adha in the Mina district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Dilek Mermer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Pakistani Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Adha prayers outside a mosque in Karachi on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are celebrating the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO/Asif HASSAN (Photo credit should read ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ASIF HASSAN via Getty Images)
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Pakistani Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Adha prayers at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are celebrating the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorates Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO/Arif ALI (Photo credit should read Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ARIF ALI via Getty Images)
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RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN - OCTOBER 6 : Pakistani muslims tie the legs of sacrificial animals on the first day of Eid al-Adha in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Muhammad Reza/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Pakistani people board on train to go home to celebrate the Muslim Festival of "Eid al-Adha" with their loved ones in Lahore, Pakistan, October 5, 2014. Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate the Eid al-Adha, a festival to sacrifice cattle, goats and sheep in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God, the festival marking the end of Hajj when millions of Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Photo by Rana Sajid Hussain/Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM (credit:Pacific Press/ABACA)
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Kashmiri Muslims wash their sheep before they sacrifice during Eid al-Adha in Srinagar, India, Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. Eid al-Adha is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan) (credit:Mukhtar Khan/AP)
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Pakistani people board on train to go home to celebrate the Muslim Festival of "Eid al-Adha" with their loved ones in Lahore, Pakistan, October 5, 2014. Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate the Eid al-Adha, a festival to sacrifice cattle, goats and sheep in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God, the festival marking the end of Hajj when millions of Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Photo by Rana Sajid Hussain/Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM (credit:Pacific Press/ABACA)
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Pakistani people board on train to go home to celebrate the Muslim Festival of "Eid al-Adha" with their loved ones in Lahore, Pakistan, October 5, 2014. Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate the Eid al-Adha, a festival to sacrifice cattle, goats and sheep in commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God, the festival marking the end of Hajj when millions of Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Photo by Rana Sajid Hussain/Pacific Press/ABACAPRESS.COM (credit:Pacific Press/ABACA)
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RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN - OCTOBER 6 : Pakistani Muslims perform Eid al-Adha prayers in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on October 6, 2014. (Photo by Muhammad Reza/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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A Muslim girl stands with women offering prayers to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday on a street in Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith.(AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Kosovo boy sits next to his father offering Eid al-Adha prayers outside Sultan Mehmet Fatih grand mosque in the capital Pristina, Kosovo, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, to mark the end of the hajj pilgrimage by slaughtering sheep, goats, cows and camels to commemorate Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God's command. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu) (credit:Visar Kryeziu/AP)
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SURAKARTA, INDONESIA - OCTOBER 6 : Indonesian junior high school students learn how to perform the Hajj procedures during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, on October 06, 2014. (Photo by Agoes Rudianto/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Egyptians celebrate after the early morning prayers marking Eid al-Adha, a three-day Muslim holiday that started Saturday across much of the Middle East, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. It commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim â or Abraham as he is known in the Bible â to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. Parents often buy new clothes for their children for the holiday. (AP Photo/Hussein Tallal) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Muslims perform a morning prayer marking the Eid al-Adha holiday on a street in Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014. Traditionally Muslims all over the world slaughter cattle and goats, with some distributing the meat to the needy, during the holiday which honors the prophet Abraham for preparing to sacrifice his son Ishmael on the order of God, who was testing his faith. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Nepalese Muslims perform congregational Eid al-Adha morning prayers at the Kashmiri Mosque in Kathmandu on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and in commemoration of Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO/Prakash MATHEMA (Photo credit should read PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PRAKASH MATHEMA via Getty Images)
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A man wearing a clown suit rides a motorcycle as Egyptians celebrate following the early morning prayers marking Eid al-Adha, a three-day Muslim holiday that started Saturday across much of the Middle East, in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. The holiday commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim â or Abraham as he is known in the Bible â to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. (AP Photo/Hussein Tallal) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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A Nepalese Muslim applies surma (Khol) to his eyes before entering the Mosque to offer prayers on the occassion of the Eid al-Adha morning prayers at the Kashmiri Mosque in Kathmandu on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and in commemoration of Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO/Prakash MATHEMA (Photo credit should read PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:PRAKASH MATHEMA via Getty Images)
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Indian Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Hyderabad on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and in commemoration of Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO / Noah SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images)
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Indian Muslim devotees offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Hyderabad on October 6, 2014. Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and in commemoration of Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to show obedience to God. AFP PHOTO / Noah SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NOAH SEELAM via Getty Images)
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An Iraqi boy poses for a photo after having his face painted at an amusement park during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Baghdad on October 5, 2014. The religious festival, celebrated by a total of about 1.5 billion Muslims around the world in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God, marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. AFP PHOTO/ AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
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Iraqis take a ride at an amusement park during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Baghdad on October 5, 2014. The religious festival, celebrated by a total of about 1.5 billion Muslims around the world in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God, marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. AFP PHOTO/ AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
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An Iraqi boy poses for a photo after having his face painted at an amusement park during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Baghdad on October 5, 2014. The religious festival, celebrated by a total of about 1.5 billion Muslims around the world in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God, marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. AFP PHOTO/ AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
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DHAKA, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 6: People attend prayer outside the National Mosque during the Eid-al-Adha holiday October 6, 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Eid Al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of the Sacrifice', is one of the most significant festivals on the Muslim calendar and lasts for four days. The holiday marks the end of the Haji Pilgrimage and serves as a day to remember the Islamic profit Ibrahim, and his willingness to sacrifice of his son, Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah, before Allah intervened and gave Ibrahim a lamb to slaughter in the place of his son. On this day, Muslims in countries around the world start the day with prayer and spend time with family, offer gifts and often give to charity. It is customary for Muslim families to honour Allah by sacrificing a sheep or goat and sharing the meat amongst family members. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images) (credit:Allison Joyce via Getty Images)
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An Egyptian carries a sheep on his shoulder to prepare it to slaughter following an early morning prayer to mark Eid al-Adha in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. Muslims around the world celebrated Eid al-Adha Saturday to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim - or Abraham as he is known in the Bible - to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, though in the end God provides him a sheep to sacrifice instead. The major Muslim holiday coincides this year with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the first time this has happened since 1981. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (credit:Hassan Ammar/AP)
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A man sells prayer beads during Eid al-Adha prayers in Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. Muslims around the world will celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, to mark the end of the hajj pilgrimage by slaughtering sheep, goats, cows and camels to commemorate Prophet Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God's command. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) (credit:Sunday Alamba/AP)
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DHAKA, BANGLADESH - OCTOBER 6: People attend prayer outside the National Mosque during the Eid-al-Adha holiday October 6, 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Eid Al-Adha, known as the 'Feast of the Sacrifice', is one of the most significant festivals on the Muslim calendar and lasts for four days. The holiday marks the end of the Haji Pilgrimage and serves as a day to remember the Islamic profit Ibrahim, and his willingness to sacrifice of his son, Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah, before Allah intervened and gave Ibrahim a lamb to slaughter in the place of his son. On this day, Muslims in countries around the world start the day with prayer and spend time with family, offer gifts and often give to charity. It is customary for Muslim families to honour Allah by sacrificing a sheep or goat and sharing the meat amongst family members. (Photo by Allison Joyce/Getty Images) (credit:Allison Joyce via Getty Images)