Block G: History of the Islamic Religion UKS2 Topic: Early Islamic Civilisation Block G: History of the Islamic Religion Session 3 History of Eid al-Adha © Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.

History of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is a festival that commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael on the orders of Allah. Allah saw Ibrahim's devotion and prevented it happening.

This story also appears as Abraham and Isaac in the Jewish and Christian religions.

Are there any other stories of sacrifice from other religions, that you know about?

Right after the time of Hajj, Muslims celebrate Eid al- Adha by sacrificing an animal and eating a third of it, giving the rest away.

What other festivals you know of involves eating a specific type of animal (e.g. turkey, lamb, goat)?

There were sacrifices of animals in Arabia before Islam, often to idols in the Kabaah (see right). The Quran and hadiths say that Muhammad(pbuh) sacrificed animals for Eid al-Adha.

There are many verses in the Quran that say to give to charity, and two thirds of the meat of the sacrificed animal at Eid al-Adha should be given away, half to family and half to the poor. Here is some meat being given away in Guyana.

Are there other festivals where it is tradition to give things to other people? Is this charity or gift-giving? What's the difference?