Back, Dr Ubaid Dawood. Front, Muhammad Rayyan, Muhammad Yusuf, Salwa ’Adn and Shamimah Abdul Razak.
Every year, millions of Muslims around the world mark Eid al-Adha — the Festival of Sacrifice — one of the most significant celebrations in the Islamic calendar.
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The tradition commemorates a story shared across Islam, Christianity and Judaism, in which the Prophet Ibrahim (known as Abraham in other faiths) is tested by God and asked to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience.
In all three faiths, the story ends with divine intervention, as God provides a ram to be sacrificed instead, symbolising mercy, faith and obedience.
The Muslim community observes Eid al-Adha every year through early morning prayers, acts of charity, and the ritual sacrifice of livestock — typically a sheep or a goat — which is then shared among family, friends and those in need. It’s also a time for gathering, dressing in one’s best clothes and spending time with loved ones.
To learn more about what Eid al-Adha means on a personal level, we spoke to GV Health consultant physician and nephrologist Dr Ubaid Dawood and his family about how they celebrate and what the day represents for them.
Did you grow up in a Muslim family?
Yes, I was born and raised as a Muslim and in a Muslim neighbourhood.
How did you celebrate Eid al-Adha when you were younger?
We celebrate with family, relatives and close friends. We usually gather the night before and decorate the house. On the Eid day we wear new clothes, visit the mosque and perform prayers in remembrance and gratitude to God, then we feast together with the rest of the extended family. In particular for Eid al-Adha, we perform the act of Qurban (slaughtering of an animal and sharing the meat with the needy, relatives and less fortunate ones in the community).
What does Eid al-Adha mean to you?
It means a lot to me. It’s an occasion of joy, remembrance and gratitude, forgiveness and kinship.
How do you celebrate it now with your family?
Quite similar to my childhood days, we praise and pray in gratitude to our Creator, wear our best clothes available, visit our local mosque and perform our Eid prayer, socialise with family and close friends after (since we are all immigrants, friends are family here) and Qurban if able and possible.
“A day of joy, gratitude and kinship.” An Eid al-Adha celebration in Shepparton.
Do you have a favourite part of the day?
The morning of Eid day is always special. Gathering at our local mosque with family and friends for prayer in congregation is the essence of Eid celebrations. Eid is the time to reflect, to be grateful, to forgive, to share and to strengthen our kinship and brotherhood.
Is there a special memory from a past Eid that stands out to you?
Every Eid is special, but the year I performed Hajj in 2016 was extra special. I was very fortunate and humbled by the opportunity to walk on the path of many prophets, mainly Ibrahim, Ismail and Muhammad (peace be upon all of them).
The Dawoods at home. Back, Muhammad Rayyan and Shamimah Abdul Razak. Front, Ubaid, Salwa ’Adn and Muhammad Yusuf.
What do you want people who aren’t Muslim to understand about this celebration?
Eid is a joyous occasion. It’s a time of self-realisation of how lucky you are and to show gratitude to God for all His blessings. It’s a day for sharing, caring and spreading love and peace to everyone in the community.
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