The Origin of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is one of the two major religious holidays in Islam, celebrated alongside Eid al-Fitr. The Arabic word “ʿîd” means “return” or “recurring,” while “adhâ” is a ritual term denoting “sacrifice.” The Turkish word “bayram,” meaning a day of joy and celebration, derives its origin from Persian. Since the second year of the Hijra, Eid al-Adha has been observed by Muslim communities as a special period marked by both religious and socio-cultural functions. The act of sacrifice, intended to draw closer to God, also carries symbolic significance rooted in the devotion and submission of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail.

A tradition reports that after the Prophet Muhammad’s migration to Medina, he declared that two new holidays had replaced the pre-Islamic celebrations observed by certain groups in Medina: “Allah has replaced those two days with two better ones: the Eid of Sacrifice and the Eid of Fitr” (Musnad, III. 103. 235, 250; Abu Dawud, "Salat," 245; Nasai, "Salat al-Idayn," 1).^【1】 This tradition indicates the establishment of a uniquely Islamic holiday framework. Thus, Eid al-Adha has come to signify not merely a day of joy but also a day reinforcing religious identity.

Divine Command and Historical Root: The Story of Prophet Ibrahim

The origin of Eid al-Adha is not merely a post-Hijra practice but a profound divine trial rooted directly in revelation. This narrative is detailed in Surah As-Saffat of the Qur’an and centers on the absolute submission of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail. According to the verses (Surah As-Saffat, 37:100–111)^【2】 , Ibrahim, though advanced in age and childless, prayed to Allah (swt) for a righteous offspring, and Allah granted his request.

When Ismail reached the age of adolescence, Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was to sacrifice his son. Upon sharing this vision with Ismail, the latter accepted his father’s divine command and even encouraged him to fulfill it. After their mutual submission, Allah (swt) sent a ram as a substitute for Ismail, thereby allowing Ibrahim and Ismail to complete the trial fully.

The verses from the Qur’an, according to the official translation by the Directorate of Religious Affairs, read as follows:

“When the boy reached the age to run alongside him, Ibrahim said to him, ‘My son, I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you. What do you think?’ He replied, ‘Father, do what you are commanded. If Allah wills, you will find me among the steadfast.’ When both had submitted and Ibrahim laid him face down, We called out to him, ‘O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, thus do We reward those who do good.’”

(Surah As-Saffat, 37/102–105)^【3】   

Islamic hadith sources also state that the Prophet Muhammad described this event as “the sunnah of your father Ibrahim.” A hadith in Ibn Majah records:

“The Companions asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is this sacrifice?’ He replied: ‘It is the sunnah of your father Ibrahim (as).’”

(Ibn Majah, "Edahi", 3.)^【4】   

These verses and hadiths reveal that the act of sacrifice is not merely a commemoration of a historical event but a manifestation of servitude and surrender. Eid al-Adha commemorates the steadfastness of Ibrahim and the obedience of Ismail, while simultaneously symbolizing the Muslim individual’s own devotion and submission to Allah.

The Transformation of Sacrifice into a Holiday

Although sacrifice was practiced in various forms among pre-Islamic societies, the Qur’an redefined it within the framework of monotheism and grounded it religiously in the story of Prophet Ibrahim. However, the practice of performing sacrifice collectively on a specific day began during the Prophet Muhammad’s time in Medina.

Early 20th-century sacrifice market in Beyazıt. (Diyanet Encyclopedia of Islam)

From the second year of the Hijra onward, the ritual of sacrifice began immediately after the Eid prayer on the first morning of the holiday, establishing the foundation of the four-day period known as Eid al-Adha. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:

“Allah has replaced those two days with two better ones: the Eid of Sacrifice and the Eid of Fitr.”

(Musnad, III. 103. 235, 250; Abu Dawud, "Salat", 245; Nasai, "Salat al-Idayn", 1)” ^【5】 

In Islamic tradition, the duration of Eid al-Adha spans four days, known as “Ayyam al-Nahr” (Days of Sacrifice).

• According to the Hanafi school, sacrifice must be performed only within the first three days.
• The Shafi‘i school permits sacrifice on the fourth day as well.

The association of sacrifice with the holiday is not merely a historical custom but the result of a systematic arrangement based on the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. The hadiths clearly demonstrate his emphasis on this act:

“Whoever is financially able to sacrifice but does not do so, let him not approach our prayer ground.”

(Ibn Majah, “Edâhî”, 2.)^【6】  

He also personally defined the timing of the sacrifice, declaring that sacrifices performed before the Eid prayer are invalid:

“Whoever slaughters before the Eid prayer, let him slaughter again; and whoever has not slaughtered, let him slaughter in the name of Allah.”

(Tirmidhi, “Edahi”, 11; Nasa’i, “Dahaya”, 4, 17.)^【7】 

To a question from the Companions regarding the meaning of sacrifice, the Prophet Muhammad replied:

“The Companions asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is this sacrifice?’ He replied: ‘It is the sunnah of your father Ibrahim (as).’”

(Ibn Majah, "Edahih", 3.)^【8】 

Thus, sacrifice—a worship rooted in revelation—was shaped under the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad into a structured observance of time, place, and community, transforming into a day where individual devotion and collective identity are deeply intertwined.