EID UL-ADHA 2024

Also known as the Festival of Sacrifice or the Qurbani Eid story, Eid ul-Adha is the second, and greater, of the two Eids celebrated in the Islamic calendar each year.

When is Eid ul-Adha 2024?

Eid ul-Adha takes place following the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, where Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and every able Muslim must complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Following the conclusion of Hajj, Eid ul-Adha will begin once the new moon has been sighted.

The Eid ul-Adha 2024 date in the UK is expected to fall on or around Wednesday 16 June and end on Sunday 20 June, depending on the sighting of the moon. These start and end dates can also vary depending on the country you are in, with some locations celebrating for just three days whilst others may continue celebrations for almost two weeks. If you are unsure, speak to your local Imam about your location’s Qurbani Eid 2024 celebrations.

Why Does the Eid ul-Adha Date Change Each Year?

Both Eid and all of the key dates in the Islamic calendar change by around 10 days each year. This is because the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles rather than those of the sun, and lunar calendars tend to be 10-11 days shorter than solar ones. As a result, Eid ul-Adha, Ramadan, Eid ul-Fitr, and many more major events have different dates from year to year.

Staying aware of these changing dates is a key part of Muslim life as it is essential to complete religious obligations at the correct times. The team at UK Islamic Mission strives to assist you where possible, whether it is through our prayer timetable or informative content on the most important beliefs of Islam.

The Islamic calendar, which is considered to have been created by Khalifa Umar ibn Al-Khattab, begins from the year 622 AD in the Gregorian calendar, which is the year of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) migration from Mecca to Medina. It was not immediately decided that this should mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar, with some suggesting that the Prophet’s (PBUH) date of birth should be its beginning, while others recommended the date of Muhammad’s (PBUH) death.

It was only after Khalifa Umar sought the opinion of Uthman ibn Affan and Ali bin Abi Talib, two of the Prophet’s (PBUH) most trusted companions, that it was decided the migration would mark the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Why Do We Celebrate Eid ul-Adha 2024?

Qurbani Eid is celebrated not only to mark the conclusion of Hajj but also to honour the dedication that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) showed to Allah (SWT).

It is narrated that Allah (SWT) appeared to Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his beloved son, Ismail (AS). Prophet Ibrahim (AS) agreed to follow his Creator’s wishes and took his son up to Mount Arafat, where he bound his hands and feet and blindfolded his own eyes on Ismail’s (AS) request. Upon completing the task, Prophet Ibrahim (AS) removed his blindfold to see the body of a dead ram lying in the place of Ismail, who was standing unharmed next to his father.

Allah (SWT) generously spared Ismail’s (AS) life in gratitude for Prophet Ibrahim’s complete and utter devotion and dedication to Him.

"Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus, have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you, and give good tidings to the doers of good."

(Surah Al-Haj 22:37)

Today, Muslims both celebrate and remember this devout act on Eid ul-Adha. In the UK and across the world, we recognise the ultimate sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) was prepared to make by giving Qurbani in the UK and offering up our own sacrifice in the name of Our Creator.

How Do We Celebrate Eid ul-Adha?

During the festival of Eid ul-Adha, Muslims across the world come together to celebrate with their family, friends, community, and the global Ummah.

Muslims will dress in their finest clothes and attend the mosque to perform Eid salah (prayer) in the congregation. The rest of the festival will then be spent in the company of friends, family, and loved ones, enjoying good food and quality time together.

In addition, one of the most notable and most widely recognised parts of Eid ul-Adha is the act of Qurbani, which you can learn more about below.

Eid ul-Adha and Qurbani

Qurbani is the act of sacrificing a livestock animal which represents the ram that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) sacrificed in the name of Allah (SWT) atop Mount Arafat.

Eligible animals for Qurbani are:

• Sheep (at least one-year-old) – one share
• Goats (at least one-year-old) – one share
• Cows (at least two years old) – seven shares
• Buffalo (at least two years old) – seven shares
• Camels (at least five years old) – seven shares

All Qurbani animals have a set number of shares. Everyone who gives Qurbani in the UK must provide at least one share. This means that a single sheep or goat equals one Muslim’s Qurbani, whereas larger animals (cows, camels, and buffalo) each have seven shares. As a result, up to seven Muslims can contribute towards the cost of a single larger animal in order to fulfil their Qurbani obligations.

You can learn more about Qurbani in our Qurbani FAQs which cover the most common questions on this key part of the Eid ul-Adha 2024 celebrations.

In accordance with giving Qurbani rules, the meat from each animal must be divided into three equal parts and distributed to the individual performing Qurbani, their friends and family, and those in need. This distribution to those in need is where we can make a difference, delivering your Qurbani donation to the most vulnerable and needy around the globe.

Qurbani Donations with UK Islamic Mission

In the UK, many Muslims choose to donate their Qurbani to a charity such as UK Islamic Mission in order to ensure their contribution reaches the most in need.

This means that your contribution will go directly towards helping those who would benefit most whilst giving your brothers and sisters around the world the chance to celebrate Eid ul-Adha as part of the global Ummah.

When you choose to make your Qurbani donations with UK Islamic Mission, you can rest assured that your contribution will go directly towards those who are most vulnerable, bringing hope where it is needed and transforming lives.