Eid Al Adha 2020: Rulers to release prisoners ahead of festival

Dubai and RAK's rulers pardoned inmates ahead of Eid Al Adha

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has wished the people of the UAE a happy Eid Al Adha.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has ordered the release of 203 Dubai prisoners ahead of Eid Al Adha.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai pardoned the inmates in order to allow them to spend the festivities with their families.

Dubai's Attorney General, Essam Issa Al Humaidan, said Sheikh Mohammed's directives would ease the burden on the prisoners' families and afford them to opportunity to reintegrate themselves into society.

President Sheikh Khalifa ordered the release of 515 prisoners for Eid Al Adha on Friday.

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the Ruler of Ajman, pardoned 62 prisoners to mark the upcoming holiday.

The prisoners demonstrated good conduct during their sentences, state news agency Wam reported.

On Sunday, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ordered 110 prisoners, arrested under various charges, to be freed.

Sheikh Saud was keen to give these prisoners a second chance at a new life, as well as to ease the burden on their families, RAK's government said in a statement.

Rulers of the Emirates traditionally pardon hundreds of prisoners during religious holidays.

Inmates are often chosen because of their good behaviour along with those jailed for financial crimes and debts.

Eid Al Adha is expected to begin at the end of July. Though the exact date is not yet known, some astronomers believe it will fall on July 31.

The final decision rests with the UAE government based on consultation with local Islamic authorities, who monitor the moon cycle to determine the beginning and end of months in the Hijri calendar.

The festival is the most important of two main holidays in the Muslim world. It begins on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, which is the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar.

What is Eid Al Adha?

Al Adha means the sacrifice. The specific sacrifice this holiday is named after is explained in the Quran, which tells of how Prophet Ibrahim dreamt that God asked him to sacrifice his son, Ismail, as a test of his faith.

At first, Ibrahim dismissed the dream but it reoccurred several nights in a row. The prophet is said to have grappled with the decision but ultimately chose to submit to God's will as an indication of his commitment to faith.

The devil tried to dissuade him, telling him not to kill his son, but Ibrahim responded by throwing rocks at him. This act is now repeated by pilgrims at Hajj who throw stones at symbolic pillars.

Just before Ibrahim went to carry out God's command, God replaced his son with a goat and told him to sacrifice the animal instead. Now Muslims celebrate Eid by eating the halal meat of a sacrificed animal.