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Eid al-Adha (38 photos)
November 27 began Eid al-Adha 2009 - Muslim "Feast of Sacrifice", symbolizing Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Muslims around the world celebrate this event, sacrificing animals, symbolizing the gift of the Lord rather than the victim of Abraham. They distribute the meat to family, friends and the poor. Eid al-Adha takes place immediately after the Hajj - the pilgrimage to Mecca - a pillar of the Islamic faith. This year in Mecca were about 2, 5 million devout Muslims from around the world, many are faced with floods due to heavy rains. Collected here are photos from the Hajj and Eid al-Adha, which took place this year.
1. Muslim pilgrim prays near a cave on Mount Hira Noor on the outskirts of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. By tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad received his first message to preach Islam while praying in the cave. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
2. Muslims pray on top of Mount Noor in the holy city of Mecca before the annual hajj pilgrimage November 23, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
3. View of the Grand Mosque is illuminated from the mountain Nuur, where the cave of Hira in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
4. Muslims walk around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca after morning prayers before the hajj pilgrimage November 24, 2009. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
5. Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
6. Muslims pray at the mosque in Namir Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Saudi Press Agency)
7. Indian pilgrim lies in the ward for patients with heart disease in the hospital Nour in Mecca November 24, 2009. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provides free medical treatment to the pilgrims, the sick during the pilgrimage. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
8. Muslim boy runs during the celebration of Eid al-Adha in a mosque in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday 27 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Lai Seng Sin)
9. The mother adjusts her daughter before prayer shawl on the occasion of Eid al-Adha in the largest mosque in Jakarta - Istiklal - November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Supri)
10. Kashmiri sells goodies before the holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Srinagar, India, Thursday 26 November 2009. (AP Photo / Mukhtar Khan)
11. Sheep destined for sacrifice on the market of livestock, created specifically for the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 before the holiday of Eid al-Adha. (AP Photo / Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
12. Emir of Kano, Nigeria, Ado Bayero (center) surrounded by traditional security, rides on a horse after prayers on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Kano, Nigeria, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Goran Tomasevic)
13. A man riding a motorcycle with his children after prayers on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Kano, Nigeria, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Akintunde Akinleye)
14. Silhouette of a man and his camels, which he led to the livestock market to sell, in Lahore, Pakistan, November 24, 2009, just before the celebration of Eid al-Adha. (REUTERS / Mohsin Raza)
15. A herd of sheep, painted for the recognition, put up for sale in the wholesale market of livestock before the celebration of Eid al-Adha in Amritsar, India, on Wednesday 25 November. (AP Photo / Altaf Qadri)
16. Muslim pilgrims on the road running to hide from the rain in the holy city of Mecca November 25, 2009. About 2, 5 million Muslims came to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Workers struggled to finish construction on time additional protection to avoid the crush. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
17. Muslim looks at the crane that lifts the dome metal roof of the Grand Mosque in Strasbourg, France, November 27, 2009. (FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP / Getty Images)
18. Indonesian women pray on the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha in Jakarta November 27, 2009. (ADEK BERRY / AFP / Getty Images)
19. Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat in the south-east of the city of Mecca November 26, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
20. The Palestinian pilgrim while waiting for passage from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border into Egypt for the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday 24 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Eyad Baba)
21. Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca November 26, 2009. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
22. Muslims pray during the celebration of Eid in Wuzhong, Ningxia, China, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Stringer)
23. Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Fahad Shadeed)
24. Muslims pray during the Festival of Sacrifice Eid in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, November 27, 2009. (VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP / Getty Images)
25. Ivorian Muslims pray outside the mosque in the popular district Fitya Abobo, Cote d'Ivoire, November 27, 2009. (SIA KAMBOU / AFP / Getty Images)
26. A girl watches as Muslims prepare the meat after slaughter sheep during the Festival of Sacrifice Eid in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Bazuki Muhammad)
27. Prophet Muhammad Mosque in the holy city of Medina November 12, 2009. The Islamic prophet Muhammad is buried in the great mosque of Medina, which is the second holiest place after Mecca. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
28. The Special Forces of Saudi Arabia demonstrates the skills and equipment during the ceremony preparation for the flow of pilgrims during the Hajj in Arafat, 15 km from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday 22 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Issa Mohammad)
29. The helicopter flies over a mosque Namir on Mount Arafat to the south-east of the holy Mecca gorodva November 26, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
30. Muslim pilgrims going to throw a stone at stone pillar representing the devil, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, November 27, 2009. The last stage of the hajj pilgrimage - the symbolic stoning of the devil - began on Friday. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
31. Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a stone pillar, symbolizing the devil, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on Friday 27 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
32. Passengers traveling on the roof of a train bound for Jamalpur from Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 27, 2009. Millions of Dhaka traveling home from the capital to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday. (REUTERS / Andrew Biraj)
33. Buyers are reflected in the eyes of the buffalo on the market of livestock before the holiday of Eid al-Adha in the deck, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Pavel Rahman)
34. Cow killed to celebrate the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, lying on the ground in the village Rybnovo, Bulgaria, 210 km south of Sofia. (NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV / AFP / Getty Images)
35. Silhouette of a man on a background of a mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Obilik near the capital of Kosovo, Pristina November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Hazir Reka)
36. The Syrians look at the mountains of sweets on display before the celebration of Eid al-market Midan in the center of Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday 24 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Bassem Tellawi)
37. Muslim pilgrims touch the column Jabal al-Rahma on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday 26 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
38. The sun rises over a mosque in Cairo on the first day of Eid al-Adha November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Tarek Mostafa)
1. Muslim pilgrim prays near a cave on Mount Hira Noor on the outskirts of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. By tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad received his first message to preach Islam while praying in the cave. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
2. Muslims pray on top of Mount Noor in the holy city of Mecca before the annual hajj pilgrimage November 23, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
3. View of the Grand Mosque is illuminated from the mountain Nuur, where the cave of Hira in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
4. Muslims walk around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca after morning prayers before the hajj pilgrimage November 24, 2009. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
5. Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
6. Muslims pray at the mosque in Namir Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Saudi Press Agency)
7. Indian pilgrim lies in the ward for patients with heart disease in the hospital Nour in Mecca November 24, 2009. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia provides free medical treatment to the pilgrims, the sick during the pilgrimage. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
8. Muslim boy runs during the celebration of Eid al-Adha in a mosque in Klang, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday 27 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Lai Seng Sin)
9. The mother adjusts her daughter before prayer shawl on the occasion of Eid al-Adha in the largest mosque in Jakarta - Istiklal - November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Supri)
10. Kashmiri sells goodies before the holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Srinagar, India, Thursday 26 November 2009. (AP Photo / Mukhtar Khan)
11. Sheep destined for sacrifice on the market of livestock, created specifically for the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice in Amman, Jordan, on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 before the holiday of Eid al-Adha. (AP Photo / Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
12. Emir of Kano, Nigeria, Ado Bayero (center) surrounded by traditional security, rides on a horse after prayers on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Kano, Nigeria, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Goran Tomasevic)
13. A man riding a motorcycle with his children after prayers on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Kano, Nigeria, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Akintunde Akinleye)
14. Silhouette of a man and his camels, which he led to the livestock market to sell, in Lahore, Pakistan, November 24, 2009, just before the celebration of Eid al-Adha. (REUTERS / Mohsin Raza)
15. A herd of sheep, painted for the recognition, put up for sale in the wholesale market of livestock before the celebration of Eid al-Adha in Amritsar, India, on Wednesday 25 November. (AP Photo / Altaf Qadri)
16. Muslim pilgrims on the road running to hide from the rain in the holy city of Mecca November 25, 2009. About 2, 5 million Muslims came to Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Workers struggled to finish construction on time additional protection to avoid the crush. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
17. Muslim looks at the crane that lifts the dome metal roof of the Grand Mosque in Strasbourg, France, November 27, 2009. (FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP / Getty Images)
18. Indonesian women pray on the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha in Jakarta November 27, 2009. (ADEK BERRY / AFP / Getty Images)
19. Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat in the south-east of the city of Mecca November 26, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
20. The Palestinian pilgrim while waiting for passage from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border into Egypt for the upcoming holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday 24 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Eyad Baba)
21. Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca November 26, 2009. (REUTERS / Caren Firouz)
22. Muslims pray during the celebration of Eid in Wuzhong, Ningxia, China, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Stringer)
23. Muslims pray during Eid al-Adha on the street in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Fahad Shadeed)
24. Muslims pray during the Festival of Sacrifice Eid in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, November 27, 2009. (VYACHESLAV OSELEDKO / AFP / Getty Images)
25. Ivorian Muslims pray outside the mosque in the popular district Fitya Abobo, Cote d'Ivoire, November 27, 2009. (SIA KAMBOU / AFP / Getty Images)
26. A girl watches as Muslims prepare the meat after slaughter sheep during the Festival of Sacrifice Eid in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Bazuki Muhammad)
27. Prophet Muhammad Mosque in the holy city of Medina November 12, 2009. The Islamic prophet Muhammad is buried in the great mosque of Medina, which is the second holiest place after Mecca. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
28. The Special Forces of Saudi Arabia demonstrates the skills and equipment during the ceremony preparation for the flow of pilgrims during the Hajj in Arafat, 15 km from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday 22 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Issa Mohammad)
29. The helicopter flies over a mosque Namir on Mount Arafat to the south-east of the holy Mecca gorodva November 26, 2009. (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP / Getty Images)
30. Muslim pilgrims going to throw a stone at stone pillar representing the devil, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, November 27, 2009. The last stage of the hajj pilgrimage - the symbolic stoning of the devil - began on Friday. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
31. Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a stone pillar, symbolizing the devil, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca on Friday 27 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
32. Passengers traveling on the roof of a train bound for Jamalpur from Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 27, 2009. Millions of Dhaka traveling home from the capital to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Saturday. (REUTERS / Andrew Biraj)
33. Buyers are reflected in the eyes of the buffalo on the market of livestock before the holiday of Eid al-Adha in the deck, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo / Pavel Rahman)
34. Cow killed to celebrate the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, lying on the ground in the village Rybnovo, Bulgaria, 210 km south of Sofia. (NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV / AFP / Getty Images)
35. Silhouette of a man on a background of a mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha in Obilik near the capital of Kosovo, Pristina November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Hazir Reka)
36. The Syrians look at the mountains of sweets on display before the celebration of Eid al-market Midan in the center of Damascus, Syria, on Tuesday 24 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Bassem Tellawi)
37. Muslim pilgrims touch the column Jabal al-Rahma on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday 26 November, 2009. (AP Photo / Hassan Ammar)
38. The sun rises over a mosque in Cairo on the first day of Eid al-Adha November 27, 2009. (REUTERS / Tarek Mostafa)