Eid al-Adha Mubarak. On Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - the 10th of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH - nearly 2 million Hajj pilgrims are performing the core rituals of Eid day while over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide celebrate the Festival of Sacrifice.

What Pilgrims Are Doing Today

After the emotionally intense Day of Arafah yesterday and the overnight stay at Muzdalifah, pilgrims are now completing the busiest ritual day of Hajj:

  • Stoning of Jamrat al-Aqaba: Pilgrims throw seven pebbles at the large pillar, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's (peace be upon him) rejection of Shaytan
  • Animal sacrifice (Hady): The obligatory sacrifice for Tamattu' and Qiran pilgrims, with the AI-managed Adahi facility processing up to 800,000 animals
  • Shaving or cutting hair: Men shave their heads (or trim) and women cut a fingertip-length of hair, marking the first lifting of Ihram restrictions
  • Tawaf al-Ifadah: The pilgrim's circumambulation of the Ka'bah - a pillar of Hajj that validates the entire pilgrimage
  • Sa'i: Walking between Safa and Marwah (for Tamattu' pilgrims who did not perform it with their Umrah Sa'i)

After completing these rites, pilgrims return to Mina for the nights of Tashreeq (11th-12th Dhul Hijjah), where they will stone all three Jamarat each day.

Hajj 2026 So Far

This Hajj season has been marked by several firsts:

  • First spring Hajj in 16 years - temperatures significantly cooler than the deadly 2024 summer season
  • First deployment of smart sensors linked to Nusuk cards for real-time crowd management in Mina
  • 272,000 square metres of shading at Arafat - five times the previous year's coverage
  • Full 5G coverage across all holy sites for the first time
  • GPS-tracked buses under 24/7 centralised control managing pilgrim transport

Saudi authorities deployed 52,000 healthcare workers and invested 6 billion SAR over four years in infrastructure improvements, including 7,800 bathrooms in Mina and a 200% increase in emergency hospital capacity.

For Muslims Celebrating Eid Worldwide

Eid al-Adha commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at Allah's command, and Allah's mercy in providing a ram as a substitute. It is a day of gratitude, worship, and generosity.

Eid prayer: Performed in the morning, typically 15-20 minutes after sunrise. It consists of two rakaat with additional takbeerat. Check your local mosque for the exact time.

Qurbani (Udhiyah): The sacrifice should be performed after Eid prayer and can continue through the three days of Tashreeq (May 28-30). The meat is divided into three parts: one for your household, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor.

Takbeer: Continue reciting the takbeer from Fajr on the Day of Arafah through Asr on the 13th Dhul Hijjah (May 30): Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillahil hamd.

May Allah Accept

To every pilgrim standing at the sacred sites today: may Allah accept your Hajj, forgive your sins, and return you to your families as pure as the day you were born.

To every Muslim celebrating Eid around the world: Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum - may Allah accept from us and from you. May this Eid bring joy, mercy, and barakah to your homes and communities.

Eid Mubarak.