Eid 2018: What is Hajj? What date is Hajj 2018? Hajj and Eid EXPLAINED

On the tenth day then, Eid al-Adha will commence and those on the pilgrimage will observe the festival.

This is the day when an animal will be slaughtered in honour of the prophet Ibrahim.

In Islamic scripture, Ibrahim obeyed God’s order to sacrifice his own son.

But before he could do so, God provided a male goat to sacrifice instead, sparing his son.

In commemoration of this, the slaughtered animal is divided into three parts: one third is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is kept by the family.

Hajj is intended to be an empowering event in a Muslim’s life, with spiritual merit and the opportunity of self-renewal.

Last year, about two million Muslims travelled to Mecca for Hajj.