Eid al-Adha, also known as the 'Feast of Sacrifice', is one of the most significant holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide, including in Rwanda. This holiday honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to obey Allah's command to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. However, before the sacrifice could take place, Allah provided a lamb to be sacrificed instead. As such, Eid al-Adha is often marked by the sacrifice of an animal, usually a sheep or a goat, to reflect this event in history.
In Rwanda, Eid al-Adha follows the lunar-based Islamic calendar, falling on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic year. The date changes each year and varies from country to country depending on geographical location and sight of the moon. This sacred holiday is a time for Muslims to seek forgiveness from Allah and purify their hearts. During the holiday, families come together to share meals, often made from the sacrificed animal, and perform communal prayers.
Not only is Eid al-Adha observed by Rwanda's Muslim population, but it also has a culturally unifying effect in Rwanda's multicultural society. The holiday has a distinctive spirit of charity and goodwill, as part of the sacrificed animal is traditionally donated to those in need. Thus, Eid al-Adha in Rwanda represents not only a critical religious observance but a significant social event promoting acts of kindness, solidarity, and community cohesion.