Baku: Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is being celebrated across Azerbaijan, APA reports. According to a decision by the Cabinet of Ministers, June 6 and 7 have been declared as official holiday days for Eid al-Adha this year.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, this year’s fatwa from the Council of Qadis of the Caucasus Muslims Office specifies that sheep are usually preferred for sacrifice, though goats, cows, and camels are also acceptable. The sacrificial ritual must be conducted in clean and sanitary conditions, adhering to Sharia law, which mandates that the animal must be healthy and suitable for slaughter. Typically, sheep and goats must be at least one year old, cattle two years, and camels five years. The animal should be laid facing the Qibla, with the sacrifice made in the name of Allah and the intent of Eid al-Adha.
The sacrificial meat is traditionally divided into three portions: one for the individual performing the sacrifice, another for the poor and needy, and a third
to be given as gifts to relatives and friends.
According to Letter No. 31/71 dated May 14, 2025, from the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, based on the crescent moon’s sighting on Azerbaijan’s horizon, Eid al-Adha aligns with the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, which corresponds to June 6 in the Gregorian calendar. Sacrifices can be performed for three days starting from June 6, following Islamic tradition.
Eid prayers are scheduled to be held in mosques on June 6. Due to the holiday, there will be four consecutive non-working days. With June 7 being a Saturday, June 9 has been designated as an additional day off under the Labor Code. Including Sunday, June 8, the public holiday extends from June 6 to June 9.