“In trying times – and as some may try to divide us – the Muslim world comes together to celebrate Eid-al-Adha,” Zarif said in a Tuesday post in his Twitter account.
He also wished his “fellow Muslims everywhere a very Happy Eid.”
Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr), and considered the holier of the two.
It honours the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. Before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
In commemoration of this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: one third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family.
In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.
