You Are Here: Jordan - National Geographic Kids

Meet Ayat and learn what it's like to live in Jordan!

Friday, December 5, 2008
Ayat

Eid Al Adha

I know that Christians have special celebrations and so do Muslims. One of them is called Eid Al Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice.

Eid Al Adha is celebrated to remember what happened with one of the Muslim prophets whose name was Ibrahim (or Abraham), and his son. Of course this was a very long time ago, so here is the story and what happened:

The Prophet Ibrahim saw while he was sleeping that God had asked him to kill his son as a sacrifice to God. God tells some special prophets when he wants them to do something.

He was a really great prophet and believed in God, and knew that what God asks is only for the good. He told his son about the dream and his son said, you are a great man and what you do is for the good so you may kill me .The Prophet Ibrahim put his son on the floor and tried to kill him, but it wouldn't work! The knife wouldn't cut his son.

All of a sudden a sheep from God appeared to the prophet and suddenly he knew that God was asking him not to kill his son, but instead to kill the sheep.

This is why during Eid Al Adha many Muslims who can afford to, will still sacrifice a sheep as a reminder of Abraham's obedience to God. Don't worry, the meat is shared by family and given to the poor.

During Eid Al Adha many Muslims may travel, like I said in my other post, but usually they go to hajj. Hajj is the special pilgrimage that Muslims make at this time. Muslims go to Mecca Al Mukaramah in Saudi Arabia and walk around Al Kaaba, which is the most sacred place in Islam, and pray there. Eid Al Adha falls on the day after the pilgrims finish the hajj.

Photo: Ayat's great grandfather

The photo I have added is of my great grandfather (my mother's grandfather) when he was at the hajj. We think it was taken about 30 years ago or so.It's a really cool photo because you can see the Kaaba clearly behind him. It looks like a black cube. He is wearing a white thobe (see my traditional costumes post) and in his hand he is holding a prayer mat.


And also when there is any celebration, Muslims usually go and visit family and have a big lunch, which is usually a huge mansaf (see my post about food!!) Children get toys and money and new clothes and loads of sweets!

Actually Eid Al Adha is coming up in about two days so Happy Eid to all!!

7 Comments

Hi. How does your family celebrate Eid Al Adha?

I love what you write.
Nicole

Hi - I celebrated Eid with my family too. I am half Bosnian half American and have two sisters. We had a party with popcorn, cotton candy, balloons, and a big jumping house.

I love watching your videos. Please make more.

Yours truly,

Leila

Dear Ayat,
You did a great job in telling the story and I think it would be awesome if you did the same thing for Omra too. I went Omra and it was fantastic I saw Al-kaaba. Did you know that kaaba is covered with silk and that golden color is really 100% pure gold
Yours,
Lujayn

ayat you're a Muslim that sure is surprising i am Muslim too i used to live in jeddah we went to makkah twice a month and madina once a month

hello ayat,

i'm soooooooooooooooo happy to find a young lady like you from my country who are so talented i just love your posts and i enjoy your articles lovely...

I am a muslim also is it mandatory?

i love celebrating Eid Al Adha

Write a comment

Related Content

Illustration: Egyptian icons

Mummy Game

Use the clues to solve the mystery of the unknown mummy.

Play the Game!

Photo: Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Ten Cool Sites

Petra in Jordan is an amazing archaeological place.

Read the Story

Photo: Petra

New Seven Wonders

The ruins at Petra are one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

See Pictures!

 

Advertisement