Eid al-Adha commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
God stayed his hand, sparing the boy and placing a ram in his place.
Eid al-Adha occurs on the 10th day of the lunar month of Dhu al-Hijjah and is also the third day of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
The day is marked with the sacrifice of an animal, usually a goat, sheep or cow, and the distribution of the meat among neighbors, family members and the poor.
This year, the holiday – which starts on Tuesday – comes as many countries battle the Delta COVID variant first identified in India, prompting some to impose new restrictions or issue appeals for people to avoid congregating and follow safety protocols.
The following photos by Al Jazeera show celebrations and prayers on Eid in different countries:
Palestinian women pose for a picture by the Al-Aqsa Mosque as they mark the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Iraqi Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers on the street outside the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad's Adhamiya district.
Kids play with balloons after Eid al-Adha prayers inside al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt.
A child stands among people attending Eid al-Adha prayers in Sanaa, Yemen.
Muslims after performing Eid al-Adha prayers at Tahsin Sorani Mosque in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Worshippers perform Eid al-Adha prayers at al-Farah Square in Khartoum, Sudan.
Muslims perform Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Lhokseumawe, Aceh province, Indonesia.
People perform Eid al-Adha prayers at Grand Camlica Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
Afghans arrive at a mosque to offer Eid al-Adha prayers in Herat, Afghanistan.
People pose for a photo after performing Eid al-Adha prayers at the Dinamo Stadium in Bucharest, Romania.
Muslims gather for prayers to celebrate Eid al-Adha in Nairobi, Kenya.