Muslim holiday · Expected Sunday, May 16, 2027
Eid al-Adha
The Festival of Sacrifice: prayer, generosity, and a meal shared with family, friends and neighbors in need.
Say it like a neighbor
Eid Mubarak
Say: EED moo-BAH-rak · or “Eid al-Adha Mubarak”
Khair Mubarak!
The usual reply is “Khair Mubarak” (KHAYR moo-BAH-rak): “blessings to you too.” In South Asia the holiday is often called Bakrid, and in Turkey Kurban Bayrami.
May 16
Tap to see how the meat of the Eid sacrifice is traditionally shared in thirds.
When is Eid al-Adha? Key dates and days to know
Main day
Eid al-Adha is the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, and is tied to the Hajj. The date depends on the moon and on the announcement for the Day of Arafah. In 2027 it is expected on Sunday, May 16, and may fall on Monday, May 17. Communities may celebrate on different days.
What is Eid al-Adha and what does it mean?
Eid al-Adha, “the festival of sacrifice,” is one of the two major holidays in Islam, along with Eid al-Fitr. It comes at the end of the Hajj, the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, and falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah.
It remembers the faith of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Muslims, Jews and Christians all know the story: Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his son when God tested him, and God provided a ram instead. In the Islamic tradition the son is Ismail (Ishmael), in Jewish and Christian tradition he is Isaac. The lesson is trust in God and willingness to give up what is dearest.
Today the holiday is about generosity. Muslims who can afford it share meat with family, friends and people in need, and the day fills with prayer, visits, gifts and food.
How is Eid al-Adha celebrated? Customs and traditions
The first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah
Muslims treat the first ten days of the month as especially blessed, with extra prayer, Qur’an reading, charity and, for many, fasting.
The Day of Arafah
The day before Eid is the high point of Hajj, when pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafah. Muslims who are not on Hajj often fast that day.
The takbir
In the days around Eid, Muslims recite the takbir, “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest), at home, in the car and at the mosque.
The Eid prayer
On the morning of Eid, communities gather for a special short prayer and a sermon, in mosques, halls and open spaces. People wear their best clothes and greet each other with “Eid Mubarak.”
Qurbani
Those who can afford it sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel in remembrance of Ibrahim, following Islamic rules for humane slaughter. In the U.S. many families arrange it through licensed farms or charities, sometimes overseas.
Sharing in thirds
The meat is traditionally divided into three: a third for the family, a third for relatives, friends and neighbors, and a third for people in need. Charities deliver it to families who rarely eat meat.
Feasts, visits and gifts
Families visit one another, children receive gifts or money (eidi), and the celebration lasts three to four days.
Being a good neighbor at Eid al-Adha
Tap each one as you go.
Eid al-Adha in Houston: how neighbors can take part
Eid prayers at centers across Houston
The Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) publishes Eid prayer timings for its centers each year, with several prayers at each location to handle the crowds. Prayers are held in the morning, and festivities can last up to three days.
Houston Muslims also organize qurbani and meat distribution for families in need. In 2024, for example, ISGH partnered with Islamic Relief USA on a fresh-meat distribution for zakat-eligible families, with registration required.
Houston’s mosques serve many communities. IslamInSpanish Centro Islamico in southwest Houston, which serves Spanish-speaking Muslims, held its 2026 Eid prayer on May 27 and has held an Eid sports day and barbecue. The 2027 schedules had not been posted when we checked.
Eid al-Adha events in Houston
Eid prayer times are announced shortly before the holiday. Please check the mosque website and be ready for crowds and limited parking.
Questions neighbors ask about Eid al-Adha
When is Eid al-Adha 2027?
Eid al-Adha is around Sunday, May 16, 2027, with the Day of Arafah the day before. The exact date depends on the moon sighting.
What is Eid al-Adha?
It remembers Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and ends the Hajj pilgrimage. Many families share meat with relatives, friends and people in need.
What do you say on Eid al-Adha?
“Eid Mubarak” is the standard greeting. Some Muslims also say “Eid al-Adha Mubarak.”
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