About the festival
A festival rooted in faith, sacrifice and generosity.
Qurban Bayram is the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the two main festivals of Islam alongside Ramazan Bayram. In Azerbaijan it is both a state holiday and an important family day.
The festival goes back to the account of the Prophet Ibrahim, ready at God's command to sacrifice his son Ismail. As a sign of his faith the sacrifice was replaced with a lamb.
In memory of this, the faithful who can afford it perform the qurban, and the meat is divided into three parts: for one's family, for relatives and friends, and for the needy. Mercy is the heart of the festival.
Qurban Bayram coincides with the end of the Hajj — the pilgrimage to Mecca. These are days of prayer, forgiveness, hospitality and care for one's neighbour.
In brief
Qurban Bayram in a few traits
The festival day
How Qurban Bayram unfolds
From the morning prayer to the family table — a short timeline of the festive day.
FaithMeaning & history
The Prophet Ibrahim and his faith
By tradition, the Prophet Ibrahim was ready, at God's command, to sacrifice what was dearest to him — his son Ismail. For this faith the sacrifice was replaced with a lamb.
Ever since, Qurban Bayram has been a festival about the readiness to give, and about a mercy that is greater than the sacrifice.
The festive prayerRituals
Prayer, qurban, sharing
The festive day begins with the shared morning prayer at the mosque. Then the qurban is performed, and the meat is divided into three parts — the larger one given to those in need.
People put on new clothes, visit relatives and remember the departed.
“The true sacrifice is not meat or blood, but the good you share with your neighbour.”
The meaning of Qurban Bayram
GenerosityMercy & family
To share and to forgive
The main thing in Qurban Bayram is generosity. Meat and treats are given to neighbours, relatives and the needy, so that the festival reaches every table.
These are days of forgiving grievances, caring for elders and giving gifts to children — a festival that brings the family together.
AzerbaijanIn Azerbaijan
A festival returned to the people
In Azerbaijan Qurban Bayram is an official state holiday with two days off. After decades of bans it has once again become part of the country's life.
It is observed both by the faithful and by those for whom it is above all a family tradition and a day of good deeds.
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