DUBAI: As the first light of dawn broke over the UAE on Friday, June 6, the spirit of Eidul Azha came alive across the nation and most of the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries.
From Abu Dhabi to Sharjah and beyond, mosques and open prayer grounds were filled with worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder in prayer, embracing the values of faith, sacrifice, and unity.
At the Burj e Dubai Eid Mosque, a deep sense of peace and gratitude was palpable as worshippers marked the beginning of the holy festival with heartfelt prayers and greetings. Eidul Azha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is the holiest of the two Eids celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It commemorates the unwavering faith of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah.
Across the region, Eid was observed not just in the UAE but also in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, and in Muslim communities in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
In Saudi Arabia, millions gathered for grand Eid congregations at the two holiest mosques in Islam — Masjid Al Haram in Makkah and Masjid An Nabawi in Madinah.
On Thursday, over 1.6 million pilgrims had performed Wuquf-e-Arafah the pivotal ritual of Hajj, where special prayers were held for global peace, especially for the people of Palestine.
Following the overnight stay under the open skies of Muzdalifah, pilgrims collected pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat in Mina.
Men then performed the sacrifice and shaved their heads, completing a major rite of the pilgrimage.
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