Arab countries celebrating Eid al-Adha without COVID-19 restrictions For the first time since 2020

Arab countries are celebrating Eid al-Adha (The Feast of Sacrifice) without coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions for the first time since 2020.

For the first time since 2020, celebrations in Arab countries will take place without coronavirus restrictions, Caliber.Az reports.

Traditionally, on the morning of the 10th day of the Muslim lunar month of Zul-Hijjah (falling on June 28 this year), believers begin with a prayer, followed by a ritual of sacrifice: slaughtering animals, usually lambs or cows. This tradition symbolises man's approach to the Almighty and dates back to the ancient story of Abraham when the Lord sent him a test to sacrifice his son Ishmael. At the last moment, the Almighty, seeing the determination and strength of Abraham's faith, ordered him to slaughter a ram.

The Feast of Sacrifice is inextricably linked to the end of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy sites of Islam in the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every Muslim must make at least once in his or her life. On June 27, more than 1.8 million worshippers performed the main rite of Hajj - standing on Mount Arafat. As the sun set, they headed to the Muzdalifa valley, 9km from Arafat, where they will spent the night. The next day, June 28, the pilgrims will perform the ritual of stoning (rami al-jamarat) and complete the hajj with the final tawaf, a sevenfold circumambulation of the Kaaba at the Great (Reserved) Mosque.

In Arab countries, long weekends are declared to mark Eid al-Adha. In the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, for example, employees of private companies and government agencies will have four days off. People in the regional states also enjoy special events and festive fireworks in the evening. Arab leaders announce amnesties, with parties to conflicts agreeing to a truce to allow the believers to spend the day in accordance with Islamic tradition.

From June 27 evening to June 29, all the Muslims of the world celebrate one of the main Islamic holidays - Eid al-Adha.

Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. It honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice one of his sons, either Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God's command.