The moon of Zilhajj was sighted in Pakistan on Friday, and Eid-ul-Azha would fall on Monday, November 7, 2011. This announcement was made by the Chairman of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman, on Friday evening. Announcing the date of Eid after the meeting of the Committee here, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman said that the moon had been seen in several cities of Pakistan and the whole nation would celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on November 7 with traditional zeal.
He said that the committee had taken the decision after reviewing reports on the appearance of the moon of month of Hijri 1432. Eid-ul-Azha, also known as 'Festival of Sacrifice' or 'Greater Eid', is an important religious day celebrated by Muslims across the world to commemorate the willingness of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son, Hazrat Ismail (AS), as an act of obedience to Allah Almighty, before He (Allah) intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice, instead.
Muslims, who can afford, sacrifice animals, and the meat is divided into three parts. The family retains one-third of the share; another 'third' is given to relatives, friends and neighbours, and the other third is given to the poor and needy. Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated annually on the 10th day of the last Islamic month, Zilhajj, of the lunar Islamic calendar.
The celebrations begin after the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims world-wide, who descend from Mount Arafat. The date is approximately 70 days (two months and ten days) after the end of the month of Ramazan, ie Eid-ul-Fitr. Ritual observance of the Hajj lasts until sunset of the 13th day of Zilhajj. Muslims from all over the world have already converged on the holy city of Makkah for performing the religious obligation of Hajj. The congregation is also the world's largest annual gathering.