When is Eid ul-Adha 2026 - Date, Importance, and Holidays

Among the major Islamic festivals, Eid ul-Adha occupies the central position. Muslims from across the world celebrate Eid ul-Adha on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah every year. Dhul Hijjah is known as the last Islamic month, which teaches us the lessons of sacrifice and to take care of the poor.

Eid al Adha comes with a wide range of celebrations. The celebration starts with the Eid prayer and a special Eid ul-Adha dua to show gratitude to Allah. Muslims throughout the Eid ul-Adha festival offer special Eid ul-Adha Takbeerat to show their gratitude and love for Allah. However, they keep involved in many other festivities, including animal slaughtering, meat distribution, showing greetings to family members and friends, and arranging dinner parties.

During the Eid celebration, we must not ignore the basic lesson of the festival, which is to take care of the poor. So, we must support the poor living in our surroundings by offering them cash, food, meat, and new clothes. This article is a detailed account of what Eid ul-Adha is and how to celebrate it, not only to fulfill the obligation but also to get gratification from Allah.

What is Eid ul-Adha?

Eid ul-Adha is one of the major Islamic festivals Muslims celebrate throughout the world. On this festival, Muslims do Qurbani to follow the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS). The festival of Eid ul-Adha or Qurbani started with the most important event that happened in the life of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) saw Allah (SWT) in his dream one night. Allah (SWT) instructed him to sacrifice his son, Hazrat Ismail (AS), for the sake of Allah. Both Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Ismail (AS) agreed to obey Allah’s order. They went to Mount Arafat and Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) bound Hazrat Ismail (AS) with a rope to prevent him from struggling. After that, Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) blindfolded himself so as not to see the sufferings of his son.

Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) decided to slaughter his son, and when he finished the task, he removed the blindfold. He saw that Hazrat Ismail (AS) was standing alive in front of him. However, a slaughtered ram lay in place of Hazrat Ismail (AS). As they offered themselves to Allah without hesitation, Allah became happy with them and saved Ismail’s life. It is the reason Muslims perform Qurbani on Eid ul-Adha purely for the cause of Allah.

When is Eid ul-Adha 2026 in Pakistan?

Eid ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah every year. The final date for 2026 will be announced based on Eid ul-Adha moon sighting in Pakistan. A dedicated organization, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, performs its duty to see the moon in Pakistan. The Committee members will gather on the last day of Dhul Qadah to see the moon. However, it is estimated that Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated on the 26th or 27th of May, 2026.

When are the Holidays of Eid ul-Adha 2026?

As Eid ul-Adha is one of the major Islamic events, it is celebrated with complete joy and devotion. The government of Pakistan announces Eid holidays before the festival. Sometimes, the government announces three-day holidays, or sometimes they add substitute holidays to expand the joys of the festival. However, Eid ul-Adha 2026 holidays in Pakistan will be announced soon once the Dhul Hijjah moon is sighted.

Qurbani Obligation on Eid ul-Adha

Qurbani is the foundation of Eid ul-Adha, without which the festival is not said to be completed. On this Eid, Muslims buy animals and sacrifice them purely for the cause of Allah to seek his forgiveness and gratification. They distribute meat among their relatives, friends, and the poor. This practice of taking care of others on this big day allows them to feel the real charm of the festival.

Islam does not burden Muslims with its festivals. Not every Muslim is required to buy animals and slaughter them on Eid ul-Adha, but only those who can afford it. Here is who is eligible to perform Qurbani and what the rules are to distribute Qurbani meat:

Who is Eligible to Perform Qurbani

Before celebrating Eid ul-Adha, every Muslim must be aware of Eid ul-Adha qurbani rules and regulations. According to Islam, a person who meets the following conditions is subject to perform Qurbani on Eid ul-Adha.

1. Adult Muslims: Only adult and sane Muslims can perform Qurbani on Eid ul-Adha.
2. Non-Travelers: To perform Qurbani, it is obligatory that the performer must not be involved in traveling on Eid or Qurbani days.
3. Meet the Qurbani Nisab: Not every Muslim is required to perform Qurbani, but those who meet the Qurbani Nisab are. The Nisab for Qurbani is the same as the Zakat Nisab - 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.

How to Distribute Qurbani Meat

As Islam instructed specific conditions to perform Qurbani, similarly, it also instructed on how to distribute Qurbani meat. It is advised to distribute the Qurbani meat into three equal parts and distribute it among the following categories:

1. Your Own Family: It is advised to keep one of the three parts of the Qurbani meat for your family members.
2. Relatives and Friends: The second part must be distributed among your relatives and friends who really deserve this.
3. The Poor: The third part of the Qurbani meat must be distributed among the poor. You must take care of the poor in your surroundings and offer them the Qurbani meat to bring happiness to them on this special occasion.

Give Your Donations to RCF on This Eid ul-Adha!

On this Eid, do not forget the poor patients who are looking for your support. Donate your Sadaqah to the Renal Care Foundation and bring happiness to the kidney patients. You can sponsor a patient to help them bear the expenses of their treatment, or you can sponsor a dialysis machine to support multiple poor patients. Donate now not only to support the poor on this Eid but also to get Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is Eid ul-Adha 2026 in Pakistan?

The final date of Eid ul-Adha 2026 will be announced based on the moon sighting in Pakistan. The final decision will be made based on the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meeting. However, it is estimated that Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated on 26th or 27th May, 2026.

2. Who is Eligible to Perform Qurbani on Eid ul-Adha?

Every adult Muslim who is not traveling and meets the Qurbani Nisab is eligible to perform Qurbani. The Nisab for Qurbani is the same as the Nisab for Zakat, which is 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver.

3. How to distribute Qurbani Meat?

The Qurbani Meat must be equally divided into three parts and then distributed into three categories. These categories include your own family, relatives, and the poor.

4. When are the Eid ul-Adha vacations 2026?

The Eid ul-Adha vacations in Pakistan will be announced by the government officials once the moon is sighted in Pakistan. The government usually announces the three-day holidays or adds some substitute days to celebrate the Eid festivities with great zeal and joy.

5. What is the best time to perform Qurbani on Eid ul-Adha?

Eid ul-Adha festival lasts for three days, and Muslims can perform Qurbani from the 10th of Dhul Hijjah to the 12th of Dhul Hijjah. The Qurbani activities start after Eid prayer and last until sunset of the 12th Dhul Hijjah. Avoid doing Qurbani after the 12th Dhul Hijjah as it is prohibited in Islam.