Sept 25 Declared a Regular Holiday as Muslims Observe Eid’l Adha

Another long weekend is coming up soon as Muslims around the world observe their annual Feast of Sacrifice on September 25, 2015, Friday.

President Benigno Aquino III declared the day as a regular holiday through Proclamation 1128. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos had earlier recommended that the holiday be on September 24 but the Office of the President decided to move it a day later to effect a three-day weekend.

Eid’l Adha, as the law describes, is a significant occasion in Islam faith because it is the tenth day in the month of Hajj or Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca, a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adults. It is done in reverence to Abraham and in commemoration of his supreme act of sacrifice that signifies mankind’s obedience to God.

Eid’l Adha is one of the two Muslim holidays observed nationwide, along with Eid’l Fitr which was observed last July 17. Eid’l Fitr is an important holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide for three days after the end of Ramadhan, or the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Photo from Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines