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Muslims celebrate Eid as hajj pilgrimage nears end

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Published October 4, 2014 3:17pm ET
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Muslims celebrate Eid as hajj pilgrimage nears end
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims make their way to throw stones at a pillar, symbolizing the stoning of Satan in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, in the Mina neighborhood of Mecca, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. The 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the hajj, is the beginning of Eid al-Adha, the most important Islamic holiday, to mark the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham to Christians and Jews, to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) | Khalid Mohammed

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslims around the world celebrated the start of Islam’s biggest holiday on Saturday as more than 2 million pilgrims took part in one of the final rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail — the Biblical Ishmael, though Christians and Jews believe his other son Isaac was the near-sacrifice — as a test of his faith from God. In the end, he is provided with a sheep to sacrifice instead.

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Islam Muslims Religion World