( CNN ) -- Five things to know about Eid al-Adha : . 1 . Considered one of Islam 's revered observances , the four-day religious holiday corresponds with the height of the Hajj -- the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia that annually draws 2 million Muslims . 2 . Eid al-Adha commemorates when God appeared to Abraham -- known as Ibrahim to Muslims -- in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience . As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son , God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son . A version of the story also appears in the Torah and in the Bible 's Old Testament . 3 . Pronounced EED al-UHD-huh , the holiday begins Friday and ends Monday -- the last day of the Hajj . Eid al-Adha is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or Greater Eid . It is the longer of two Eid holidays observed by Muslims . Eid al-Fitr -- or Little Eid -- follows the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan . 4 . During Eid al-Adha , many Muslim families sacrifice a sheep and share the meat with the poor . They also are required to donate to charities that benefit the poor . Muslims also routinely exchange presents during the holiday . 5 . Eid Mubarak ( pronounced EED muh-BAR-ack ) and Eid Saeed are routine greetings used during the observance to offer best wishes . CNN 's Chelsea J. Carter and Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report .
The Muslim religious holiday Eid al-Adha begins Friday and ends Monday . Eid Mubarak and Eid Saeed are greetings used during the holiday . Eid al-Adha is also known as the Feast of Sacrifice or Greater Eid .