How to Pronounce Eid al-Adha

Meaning and Context

Eid al-Adha (عِيد اَلْأَضْحَى), universally known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the two principal Islamic holidays and a cornerstone of the Muslim faith. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a pillar of Islam. The holiday profoundly commemorates the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of submission to God's command, an act where God ultimately provided a ram to sacrifice instead. This narrative is ritually reenacted through Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of a permissible animal (such as a sheep, goat, cow, or camel), whose meat is meticulously divided into three parts: for one's family, for friends and relatives, and crucially, for the poor and needy, emphasizing charity (sadaqah) and community solidarity. The day begins with special congregational Eid prayers (Salat al-Eid) held in mosques or open grounds, followed by sermons, the exchange of gifts (Eidi), wearing new clothes, and visiting family, embodying a spirit of gratitude, obedience, and communal sharing that defines this major Muslim celebration.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary transliteration from Arabic, Eid al-Adha, is the most widely accepted and search-standard spelling. A common variant is Eid ul-Adha, where "ul" replaces "al," both meaning "of the," reflecting different phonetic interpretations of the Arabic definite article. The holiday is frequently referred to in shorthand as "Eid" or "Big Eid" (to distinguish it from Eid al-Fitr, the "Smaller Eid"). Common misspellings and typos arise from phonetic guesses or keyboard slips, such as "Eid al-Ada," "Eid al-Adaha," "Eid ul Adha" (missing the hyphen), or "Eid al-Azha." Another frequent error is the conflation with Eid al-Fitr; while both are "Eids," they commemorate different events and occur at different times in the Islamic calendar. In non-English contexts, particularly in South Asia, the festival is often called Bakrid or Bakra Eid, derived from the Urdu/Hindi words for goat ("bakri"/"bakrā"), highlighting the animal sacrifice tradition.

Example Sentences

Muslim families worldwide prepare for Eid al-Adha by purchasing a healthy animal for Qurbani well in advance of the holiday.

The spirit of Eid al-Adha is deeply felt as communities gather in large open fields for the dawn Eid prayers, dressed in their finest attire.

After the ritual sacrifice, a significant portion of the meat is packaged and distributed to local shelters and low-income families, ensuring everyone can partake in the feast.

Many travelers schedule their return from Hajj to coincide with celebrating Eid al-Adha at home with their extended family.

Newspapers often feature front-page photographs of worshippers performing Salat al-Eid in massive congregations.

The story of Prophet Ibrahim's devotion, central to Eid al-Adha, is recounted to children to explain the holiday's profound spiritual significance.

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