Kurban holiday in Azerbaijan

Kurban  (Eid al-Adha) is one of the greatest holidays of the Islam world adumbrating the end of hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). It is observed 70 days after another great holiday, Uraza-Bayram and its date depends on the Islamic calendar and falls on the 10th day of Zul-Khij (the 12th lunation of the Islamic calendar. In some countries it is called as Kurban Bayram, Eid Al-Adha. This holiday can also be called as Festival of Sacrifice.

According to the Holy Scripture its history of celebration dates back to a well-known story when Archangel Jabrail brought Prophet Ibrahim a message where Allah asked him to sacrifice Ismail, Ibrahim’s only son. The Prophet did not dare to contradict the God’s message, brought his son to the Min valley, occupied now by Mecca, and started preparation for sacrificial offering. Ismail himself did not resist as he was faithful to Allah and to his father. However, when the last moment came, Allah, having satisfied himself with the Prophet’s loyalty, deprived his knife an ability to cut and Archangel Jabrail sent the Prophet a sheep that was immolated instead. Thus God manifested his mercy and that the Muslims must follow his dictations in spite of their complicacy.

By tradition, the main celebration of Kurban Holiday  (Eid al-Adha) is held in Mecca at the end of pilgrimage. The day before the holiday the believers climb Arafat Mountain and next day perform Tavaf, seven rounds around the Holy Caaba, and sacrifice a sheep, cow or camel. However it is customary to celebrate the Holiday wherever a Muslim was.