LONDON – Sharing the holiday’s festivities with their fans, Muslim athletes worldwide wished their followers on social media ‘Eid Mubarak’, as the sporting world took time to celebrate the Islamic holiday.
Arsenal and Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil also used his Instagram account to mark the holy festival.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba joined fellow France international and former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in marking the festival.
Dressed in traditional Muslim attire Pogba posted “Eid Mubarak”, meaning “Blessed Eid.”
Pogba is one of many sports stars, including Sadio Mane, Ilkay Gundogan, Mesut Ozil and Moeen Ali, who sent the greeting to their thousands of social media followers on `Eid Al-Adha.
`Eid Al-Adha, or “Feast of Sacrifice”, marks the end of the Hajj season and is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations, together with `Eid Al-Fitr.
A financially-able Muslim sacrifices a single sheep or goat or shares with six others in sacrificing a camel or a cow as an act of worship during the four-day `Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
The ritual commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah as an act of obedience and submission.
The Udhiyah meat is divided in three equal parts, one each for one’s own family, friends and the poor.
Here follows some of the wishes shared by Muslim athletes to their fans worldwide:
