Rabat – Saudi Arabia will celebrate Eid Al Adha on May 27, as the country announced the moon for Dhul-Hijjah as visible tonight.
Dhul-Hijjah is the twelfth and last month in the Islamic calendar, marking the pilgrimage to Hajj and Eid Al Adha.
With this announcement, Arafah Day will be on May 26.
Saudi authorities sighted the crescent moon for Dhul-Hijjah this evening.
Eid Al Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
Morocco will also sight the crescent moon for Dhul-Hijjah tonight. Astronomers expect many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Morocco, to celebrate Eid on May 27.
During Eid, Muslims sacrifice a sheep, lamb, goat, or a cow to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at the behest of God.
Muslims around the world celebrate Eid Al Adha in roughly the same way, with the morning being marked with Eid prayer and the slaughtering of the sacrificial animal.
Prayers are followed by Eid rituals, including family gatherings and exchange of visits.
According to Visit Saudia, the feast is one of the most meaningful celebrations in Saudi Arabia.
“Marked by prayer, generosity, and joyful gatherings, it’s a time when homes are filled with sweets, cities sparkle with decorations, and children show off their new holiday clothes,” the same source said.
The Eid comes just after the day of Arafah, the most important day in Hajj, when pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat near Mecca to stand in prayer and supplication from midday until sunset.
