Latest news with #Eidal-Adha
Middle East Eye
10 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
How do Muslims perform Hajj?
Hajj is an annual Muslim pilgrimage that takes place in Saudi Arabia. It is a religious obligation on all Muslims who are healthy, financially able, of sound mind and of age to perform this pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the largest gatherings of humans in the world with more than two million people expected to take part this year from around 188 countries. Hajj season for 2025 will likely fall between 4 and 9 June. The pilgrimage rituals take place over a period of several days and culminates in Eid al-Adha, a day of celebration enjoyed by Muslims around the globe whether or not they took part in the Hajj itself. Eid al-Adha falls on Sunday 11 August in 2019. One of the philosophies of the Hajj is that of spirituality and unity. All Muslims perform the same rites and are encouraged to share in a spirit of equality. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters All pilgrims are to remain in a state of purity and simplicity during the Hajj as much as possible. This includes wearing simple clothes, which for men includes two pieces of white unsewn cloth. Women are not restricted to a specific colour but are also encouraged to wear non-elaborate clothing. Mina Having arrived in Mecca, on day one pilgrims leave the city and head to an area called Mina where they spend the day in prayer. Here over 100,000 tents have been set up as temporary shelter and accommodation for the pilgrims in what looks like a huge tent city. An aerial view of some of the pilgrim tents in Mina (AFP) Arafat On the Day of Arafat, pilgrims spend the entire day on, or near, a hill known as Mount Arafat - the Mount of Mercy. This is considered to be a great day of forgiveness and the day is spent repenting for past sins. Muslims believe that if you spend this day in a state of true repentance, all past sins will be forgiven. Muslims around the world who cannot physically take part in the Hajj also spend this day engaged in prayer, fasting and supplication. Pilgrims converge on the Mount of Arafat (AFP) Muzdalifa Pilgrims spend a night in an area called Muzdalifa, which is part way between Arafat and Mina. Pilgrims spend their time here in prayer and also gather pebbles to be used in a ritual the next day called the Jamarat. Pilgrims in Muzdalifa gather small pebbles to be used in a ritual the following day (AFP) Jamarat The Jamarat is a ritual and symbolic stoning of the devil. Three pillars - small, medium and large - are stoned by pilgrims with the pebbles they collected on their route from Muzdalifa the night before. The story associated with the stoning of the devil relates to the devil's attempt to dissuade Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) from obeying Allah's commands. Jamarat is the ritual and symbolic stoning of the devil in which pilgrims throw pebbles at three walls (AFP) In past years, so many people gathered to take part in this ritual that people were crushed and trampled. That has led to the Saudi authorities attempting to modernise the walkways and access points to the area to make it safer for pilgrims. Pilgrims on their way to perform the Jamarat ritual (AFP) Eid Pilgrims return to Mina for the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice. This is the second of the two annual Islamic holidays. Muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid on this day. In remembrance of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to make any sacrifice commanded of him by God, Muslims on this day sacrifice an animal - usually a sheep - and distribute a portion of that meat to the poor. On this day pilgrims also cut their hair. While men may shave their heads or cut their hair short, women are only required to cut a lock of hair. Vendors sell balloons to children as Indonesian Muslims gather to take part in special Eid prayers (AFP/Sonny Tumelaka) Farewell tawaf Pilgrims return to Mecca for the final tawaf - circling of the Kaaba. The Kaaba is an ancient stone structure in Mecca towards which all Muslims around the world face to pray five times a day. Muslims believe that the Kaaba was the first place of worship built on Earth and that it was originally built by the Prophet Adam, the first man created by God. Pilgrims walk around, or circumambulate, it seven times in a counter-clockwise direction. The Kaaba is an ancient stone structure in Mecca which pilgrims circumambulate (AFP) Although not a part of the Hajj itself, many people round off the pilgrimage with a visit to Medina and the site of the grave of the Prophet Muhammad since, for most, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime journey.
Shafaq News
11 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's salary crisis escalates ahead of Eid
Shafaq News/As Eid al-Adha approaches, more than a million public servants in Iraq's Kurdistan Region face yet another holiday without salaries—caught in the crosshairs of a deepening standoff between Baghdad and Erbil that underscores unresolved constitutional, political, and economic rifts. The Iraqi government recently suspended salary payments for May 2025, accusing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of failing to deliver oil and non-oil revenues as mandated by the federal budget law and a Federal Supreme Court ruling. The Ministry of Finance warned of legal action to hold the KRG accountable, laying blame squarely on Erbil for disrupting monthly payments and social welfare programs. The row has intensified following the KRG's announcement of two major energy deals with American firms worth over $110 billion to develop gas and oil infrastructure in the Region. Baghdad views these agreements as violations of its sovereign authority, while Erbil insists the contracts fall within its constitutional right to enhance local revenues and diversify the Region's economic base. Responding to the federal decision, the KRG's Ministry of Finance and Economy said Baghdad owes Erbil over 4.22 trillion dinars (about $3B) and has yet to release the remaining 9.11 trillion dinars (around $6.5B) of Kurdistan's 2025 allocation. Kurdish officials argue that Baghdad's revenue calculations ignore the KRG's operational expenses and the local funds used to cover salary gaps. They also point to the federal government's failure to compensate victims of the Anfal genocide, which they say adds to long-standing grievances. 'The federal government is trying to create unconstitutional roadblocks,' the KRG stated, citing a February 2025 ruling by the Federal Supreme Court directing Baghdad to disburse salaries directly to Kurdish employees regardless of political disagreements. Erbil has framed the latest salary freeze as a political tactic that targets ordinary citizens and threatens regional stability. Since 2014, salary payments to the Kurdistan Region have shifted from fixed budget allocations to ad hoc 'emergency advances' subject to Baghdad's oversight. Each budget cycle has become a flashpoint for constitutional disputes, driven by the absence of a federal oil and gas law since 2007 and competing interpretations of revenue-sharing rules. For many Kurdish families, the result is a familiar cycle of uncertainty and hardship. Despite multiple court rulings, federal disbursements remain entangled in political maneuvering. Jamal Kocher, a Kurdish member of Iraq's financial committee, criticized Baghdad's decision as 'poorly timed and unjust,' warning that it effectively punishes over 1.2 million employees who are uninvolved in high-level political disputes. Kocher stressed that 'a series of steps must be taken to resolve this issue,' urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to 'respond to Iraqi citizens in a manner that promotes fairness. It is unacceptable for employees in Iraq to receive their salaries while those in the Kurdistan Region face cuts.' He also emphasized the need to engage the Federal Supreme Court to take further decisions on the matter. Political analyst Hamza Mustafa described the crisis as a symptom of deeper institutional dysfunction. 'The salary crisis is just the tip of the iceberg,' he said. 'The deeper issue is Iraq's failure to pass an oil and gas law for nearly two decades. As always, it's the citizens who pay the price.' The United States has called for calm, urging both Baghdad and Erbil to resolve the standoff through dialogue and constitutional mechanisms. A US State Department official told Shafaq News in an exclusive statement, 'A swift resolution will show that Iraq is prioritizing its citizens' welfare and create an environment attractive to investors.' He added that resolving the crisis could also signal readiness to reopen the suspended Iraq-Turkiye oil pipeline. This appeal follows recent high-level meetings in Washington, where KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials. The salary freeze comes at a delicate moment in Iraqi-Kurdish relations. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces competing pressures: demands from political blocs in Baghdad to assert federal control, and calls from international partners to ensure stability and fair treatment for the Kurds. Analysts believe al-Sudani is keen to avoid further escalation ahead of the holidays, with back-channel negotiations possibly underway to explore temporary fixes. However, without structural reforms—such as the long-stalled oil and gas legislation—many fear the cycle of crisis, court rulings, and emergency payments will continue to define Baghdad-Erbil relations. With public frustration mounting and Eid just days away, all eyes are now on whether Baghdad and Erbil can move beyond legal sparring to reach a sustainable fiscal settlement—or whether yet another round of crisis budgeting awaits the Kurdistan Region.
Roya News
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Roya News
What will weather be like during Eid al-Adha in Jordan?
Temperatures across Jordan are expected to rise on Saturday, exceeding seasonal averages by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, according to the latest update from ArabiaWeather. The weather will range from warm to relatively hot in most areas, while the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba are forecast to see hot conditions. Winds will be moderate, blowing from the southeast to southwest, with occasional gusts that may stir up dust—particularly in the southern regions of the Kingdom. Start of Summer, Then a Drop in Temperatures Sunday, June 1, marks the beginning of Meteorological Summer. However, forecasts suggest that Jordan will be affected by a mild air mass, bringing a noticeable drop in temperatures. According to ArabiaWeather, most regions will experience moderate daytime conditions with a warm touch in the afternoon. The Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, and Aqaba will continue to see relatively hot weather. Early Forecast for Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha Looking ahead to the Eid al-Adha holiday, preliminary forecasts from ArabiaWeather indicate that a relatively hot to hot air mass may approach the Kingdom, leading to a noticeable rise in temperatures on Arafat Day and during the Eid break.
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
24 hours in pictures, 30 May 2025
24 hours in pictures, 30 May 2025 Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world. Attendees at the Africa Day celebrations at Beyers Naudé Square on May 30, 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event showcased African music, dance, poetry, storytelling, visual arts, and traditional cuisine — all in celebration of the continent's rich cultural mosaic. (Photo by Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle) Sacrificial camels are put on sale at the camel market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in the Birqash district, Giza, Egypt, 30 May 2025. Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest Muslim holidays, marking the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Picture: EPA-EFE/MOHAMED HOSSAM British comedian and actor Russell Brand (R) arrives at Southwark Crown Court to enter his plea on charges of rape and sexual assault in London, Britain, 30 May 2025. Picture: EPA-EFE/TOLGA AKMEN A worker cleans the lines of a cooling tower at an ice factory on a hot summer day in Karachi on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Asif HASSAN / AFP) A state police Tesla Cybertruck, a vehicle equipped with specialized technology for public safety which is being used as a patrol car within a new security strategy, is presented in Guadalajara, Jalisco state, Mexico, on May 29, 2025. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP) Indigenous people from the Guna Comarca of Madugandi take part in a protest on the Bayano Lake bridge in Akua Yala, Panama, 29 May 2025. Indigenous groups cut the Interamerican highway in Panama, in protest against the reform of the Social Security fund and the possible reactivation of a copper mine in the country. Picture: EPA-EFE/Bienvenido Velasco Indian commuters wade through rain on a street in Kolkata, West Bengal, Eastern India, 29 May 2025. The Indian Meteorological Department predicts heavy rain in Kolkata between 27 and 29 May 2025. Picture: EPA-EFE/PIYAL ADHIKARY Firefighters from the Donetsk region work through the rubble after an air strike with a Geranium-2 UAV in Bilozerske, Ukraine on May 30, 2025. Earlier it was reported that, on the night of 30 May, Russian troops attacked a five-storey building in Bilozerske with a UAV 'Geranium-2'. A 40-year-old woman and her 16-year-old son were injured. (Photo by Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images) Members of the Bolivian Police clash with supporters of former President Evo Morales in La Paz, Bolivia, 29 May 2025. Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales clashed with police on the fourth consecutive day of protests in La Paz to register his presidential candidacy for the elections. They called on other sectors to hold a national roadblock 'for the sake of the country's economy.' Picture: EPA-EFE/LUIS GANDARILLAS Revelers paddle as they participate in a dragon boat race prior to the celebration of Dragon Boat Festival 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan, 30 May 2025. This year the Dragon Boat Festival, also named Duanwu Festival, will be celebrated on 31 May and falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar in honor of Qu Yuan, an ancient Chinese poet and statesman. Picture: EPA-EFE/RITCHIE B. TONGO Internally displaced Palestinians gather outside a charity kitchen to receive limited rations amid a shortage of food, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, 30 May 2025. The United Nations has warned that 'the entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine' since Israel closed border crossings on 02 March 2025, preventing the entry of essential supplies. The Gaza Government Media Office reported on 24 May that at least 58 people died due to malnutrition, and nearly 250 others due to a lack of food and medicine. Picture: EPA-EFE/HAITHAM IMAD Rows of solar panels are seen during installation at a photovoltaic project in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on May 30, 2025. (Photo by AFP) A livestock vendor checks the teeth of a sacrificial animal at a local cattle market ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Hyderabad, Pakistan, 29 May 2025. Eid al-Adha is one of the holiest Muslim holidays, marking the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Picture: EPA-EFE/NADEEM KHAWAR MORE: 24 hours in pictures, 29 May 2025
India Today
17 hours ago
- Climate
- India Today
List of dry days in India in the month of June 2025
Many people like to spend weekends or special occasions sipping their favourite drink, but what happens when you arrive at your favourite bar or wine store only to discover that it's closed? This is what occurs on dry days are special days on which the government prohibits the sale of alcohol. These prohibitions can be because of religious festivals, national holidays, election days, or other significant events. Liquor stores, pubs, and even restaurants cannot sell or serve alcohol on these if you have a party or a peaceful drink-at-home planned in June 2025, it's advisable to look up the dry day calendar beforehand. The following is an all-India state-wise list of all dry days in India in June 2025 so that you are Days in June 2025 (India-Wide List) Here are the likely dry days in June 2025, based on past government notifications and major festivals. The final list may vary slightly by Day Occasion Likely States AffectedJune 10, Tuesday, Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Punjab, Delhi, HaryanaJune 21, Saturday, Sant Kabir Jayanti Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, BiharJune 28, Saturday, Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)* All states (subject to moon sighting)*Please note: The date of Eid al-Adha may change based on the lunar of now, June 10, June 21, and June 28 are the key dry days to remember. But stay updated with your local government's announcements, especially near major festivals or elections.
