The holy Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across the country on July 10 with due solemnity and religious fervour.

The National Moon Sighting Committee came up with the decision at a meeting held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the city since the moon of the holy month Zilhaj was sighted today.

The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zilhaj month of the Hijri calendar as Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 years ago, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) who willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.

But the Almighty in His benign mercy spared Hazrat Ismail (AS) and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.

To commemorate this historic event, the Muslims all over the world slaughter sacrificial animals and draw inspiration from the unique example of sacrifice to please Allah as shown by two great prophets — Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS).

On this occasion, Muslims across the country will offer prayers in congregations and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah.

They will offer munajat seeking divine blessings for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.