Sixth Grade
Worksheets
The Feast of the Sacrifice
Eid ul-Adha
Reading Comprehension for February 2
Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid ul-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice. It is a day of special importance on the Muslim calendar. Its celebration reflects a deep devotion to Allah, the Muslim god.
Before we talk about the holiday, though, let's take a look at the religion of Muslims, called Islam. It is practiced by millions of people in every corner of the world. It shares some similarities with the Christian and Jewish religions, particularly in its belief in a prophet named Abraham. But Islam has its differences with Judaism and Christianity, notably in its belief in the prophet Muhammad, who is the central figure in Islam.
Muslims believe that there are five core acts that each Muslim must perform. So important are these acts, they are called the five pillars of Islam. One of the pillars is that each Muslim who is able must make a trip to the Middle East once in his or her life. This trip is called the hajj, and it is made to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Every year, thousands upon thousands of Muslims from everywhere in the world make this hajj to Mecca. During the hajj, Muslims visit many holy sites within and near Mecca. It is a time of much worship, many rituals, and many celebrations of the Islamic faith.
