How to wish Muslims a happy Eid-ul Adha and the big London celebration on Sunday, June 16

The Muslim holiday of Eid-ul Adha is this month with celebrations beginning today (Sunday, June 16). It is the second of the two main Islamic holidays after Eid ul-Fitr earlier this year which follows Ramadan. A celebratory event has been planned in Goodmayes Park in Ilford.

Eid-ul Adha celebrations are based on the story of Ibrahim in the Koran. As a test of faith, Ibrahim is told to sacrifice his own son Ismail to Allah but at the last moment, Allah stops him and asks him to sacrifice a lamb instead. The characters in this story are known to Christians and Jews as Abraham and Isaac.

In commemoration of this parable, Muslims celebrate Eid-ul Adha which translates to the Feast of the Sacrifice. During the celebrations, a sheep, goat or cow is sacrificed to Allah, following Ibrahim's example. These days in the UK this is done at a halal slaughterhouse and Muslim families then buy the meat.

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This is then shared in a big feast. Another part of the celebration is a pilgrimage, called Hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia where believers visit the famous Ka'bah. The date of the festival is based on moon sightings and falls on the 10th day of the twelfth and final month of Dhu al-Hijja - the twelfth and final month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four in which war is forbidden. Celebrations and observances are generally carried forward to the three following days, known as the Tashreeq days. Special prayers are also said throughout the period like Eid Salah.

How to wish someone a happy Eid

If you're wondering how to extend Eid greetings, you can say 'Eid Mubarak', translating to 'have a blessed Eid'. Alternatively, you can express 'Eid Saeed', meaning 'Happy Eid'.

There is no fasting involved, but Muslim colleagues may need time off last minute once the date is confirmed. Islamic holidays are based around the lunar calendar, so the date is confirmed using sightings of the full moon. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan took to Twitter to wish Muslims Eid Mubarak.

London Eid-ul Adha celebrations

London has a large Islamic community so to cater for them Eid in the Park & Festival 2024 has been planned in Goodmayes Park in Ilford today (Sunday, June 16) and will last for three days until Wednesday, June 19.

There will be fireworks, international foods and drinks, stalls, cafes, a boxing and sumo wrestling competition, axe and sword throwing, a Koran competition, a petting zoo and a circus workshop plus much more. Eid Salah prayers will be held at 10am on Wednesday after the Takbeerat and speech at 9.30am.

Tickets for the prayers are free but for the other festivities, they start at £1.79 and go up to £38.62 for a family ticket. For more information click here.

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