Pakistan marks Eid al-Adha with prayers for peace, regional stability

ISLAMABAD: Millions of Muslims across Pakistan on Wednesday celebrated Eid al-Adha with special prayers, animal sacrifices and gatherings with family and friends, while worshippers also prayed for peace in the Middle East and the success of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions following the conflict involving the United States-Israel and Iran.

The three-day religious festival, observed from the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, comes at the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where more than 1.5 million Muslims, including around 179,000 Pakistanis, are performing the sacred rites of Islam.

Mosques and open prayer grounds across Pakistani cities filled early in the morning as worshippers offered Eid prayers and listened to sermons emphasizing sacrifice, compassion, unity, and care for the underprivileged.

Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah before God replaced the sacrifice with a ram. The occasion is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals, with meat traditionally distributed among family members, relatives and the poor.

In his Eid message, President Asif Ali Zardari said the festival reminded Muslims of “obedience to Allah, patience, loyalty, sincerity and sacrifice.”

“The joy of Eid is complete only when the underprivileged, the deserving, orphans, widows, the sick and those quietly enduring hardship are also included in these celebrations,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also urged Pakistanis to remember vulnerable communities and reaffirm commitments to unity and service to humanity.

“We also stand in unwavering solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters in Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the prime minister said in his message.

Meanwhile, the military leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, said Eid al-Adha symbolized “sacrifice, faith and solidarity.”

“The Pakistan Armed Forces remain steadfast in their sacred duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation in pursuit of peace and stability,” the military said in a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations.

Special prayers were also offered for lasting peace in the Middle East, stability in the Muslim world and the success of ongoing Pakistan-backed diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf region after months of uncertainty linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Across Pakistan, authorities deployed additional sanitation workers, security personnel and municipal teams to manage crowds, animal markets and waste disposal during the Eid holidays, one of the busiest annual periods in the country.

The festival is also expected to generate significant economic activity for livestock farmers, traders, transporters and small businesses linked to seasonal Eid markets.