The meaning of ‘Eid Mubarak’ explained as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha 2023
Eid al-Adha has arrived, with Muslims around the world celebrating what is considered the holier of the two Eid festivals in the calendar.
Because Eid’s position is based on the lunar cycle, its position changes from year to year – and the tradition of moon sighting means it call fall on different dates around the world.
The festival falls on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, so moves forward around 11 days annually in the more commonly used Gregorian calendar.
According to Saudi Arabia, whose official verdict is followed by many Muslims across the world, Dhul-Hijjah began on Monday 19 June – this means that Eid al-Adha starts on Wednesday 28 June. It lasts for four days, so will come to an end on the evening of Sunday 2 July.
The other Eid festival, Eid al-Fitr, was marked in April this year, and brings to an end the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
How to say ‘Happy Eid’ in Arabic
“Eid Mubarak” is the traditional phrase used by Muslims to greet each other during both Eid al-Adha and the Eid al-Fitr celebrations earlier in the year.
The Arabic word “mubarak” translates as “blessed,” while “Eid” means feast, festival or celebration, so “Eid Mubarak” can literally mean “blessed celebration” or “blessed feast”, although it is widely interpreted as simply wishing somebody a “happy Eid”.
While you can specify “Eid al-Fitr Mubarak” or “Eid al-Adha Mubarak” to specify between the two festivals, “Eid Mubarak” alone is plenty.
In exactly the same way, Muslims wish their fellow observers “Ramadan Mubarak” at the start of the holy month and throughout the fasting period.
“Ramadan Kareem” is less commonly used, but translates as “Generous Ramadan” – while the phrase can be used as a greeting in a similar way to “Ramadan Mubarak”, it can also describe Ramadan when referring to it in a wider context.
There is some debate around whether using “Ramadan Kareem” is appropriate, given that the expectation of generosity can be considered against the principles of fasting and prayer central to observing the holy month.
However, others argue that the greeting can appropriately refer to the generosity of acts towards others. Khaled Boudemagh, described by Gulf News as a Dubai-based language expert, said: “Ramadan is a month of generosity, therefore wish Kareem.”
Both “Mubarak” and “Kareem” are also given names in Arabic, which carry the same meanings as bestowed in the Eid and Ramadan greetings.
What is Eid al-Adha?
Known as the “Festival of the Sacrifice” or colloquially as “Big Eid”, Eid al-Adha is considered the holier of the two Islamic Eid festivals.
It honours the famous story of the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (known in the Christian Old Testament as Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
However, before Ibrahim carried out the heartbreaking request, God, known as Allah in Islam, produced a lamb for him to sacrifice instead.
To commemorate this, an animal is traditionally sacrificed and divided into three parts in an act known as Qurbani. One part of the sheep is given to the poor, one to the immediate family at home and one is reserved for relatives.
Some Muslims may give money to charity to give poorer families the chance to have a proper Eid feast. Mosques and community groups will often arrange communal meals.
