Muslims around the world are celebrating Islam's biggest holiday with prayers, gifts, traditional visits with family and friends, and feasts. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in accordance with God’s will, though in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, cattle, camels and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings, divide the meat into three equal portions and give some of it to the poor. Scroll down for video . Palestinians from Gaza City pray inside the Dome of the Rock during their visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem . It was the first time since 2007 that Muslim worshippers from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, Islam's third holiest site . The visit to Islam’s third holiest site was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the three-day holiday of Eid al-Adha . The holiday held special significance for 500 elderly Gazans as they prayed at the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time since 2007 that Muslims from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, which is considered Islam's third holiest site. The rare visit was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the holiday – a month after a ceasefire ended a two-month war – and the elderly Gazans were allowed to stay for several hours before they were driven back to the Gaza border. Many hadn't visited the shrine in decades and they kissed the ground as they entered the sprawling plaza. Umm Dallaleh Fayyad, a woman in a black abaya and a vibrant blue headscarf, told Agence France-Presse: 'I haven't been here for 35 years. Everything has changed. It's like being in paradise.' Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son . A camel is led behind a rickshaw after it was bought at a market to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Lahore, Pakistan . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage, with parents often buying new clothes for their children. Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday. Sunday marked the start of festivities for Iraqi Shiites and the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million. Pakistan will celebrate on Monday. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead . Palestinian women, who live in the Gaza Strip and were given permission to travel to Jerusalem's Old City, pray in front of the Dome of the Rock . Indian Muslim women wear brightly coloured clothing as they offer special prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, goats, cattle and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings . Meat from slaughtered animals must be divided into three equal portions with one of the portions being given to the poor . In Iraq, cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prayed at his headquarters in Baghdad. Indian Muslim women wore brightly coloured outfits as they offered prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad. In Semarang, Indonesia, mostly women and children queued up to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque. Children play with toy guns during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in the narrow streets of Sanaa, Yemen . Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage . Mostly women and children queued to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque in Semarang, Indonesia . Saturday marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Eid al-Adha coincides with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur once every 33 years based on their lunar calendars. Yom Kippur is Judaism's Day of Atonement, when devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their transgressions and refrain from eating and drinking, attending intense prayer services in synagogues. The holiday began at sunset Friday and ended Saturday night. Indian Muslims offer special prayers from the terrace of a house near the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . This weekend marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prays at his headquarters in Baghdad . Sunday marked the start of festivities for the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million .
Eid al-Adha commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son .
In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter four-legged animals that are halal .
Meat is divided into three equal portions, with one of the portions being given to the poor .
Hundreds of elderly Gazans were granted rare access to Dome of the Rock, Islam's third holiest site .
Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon .
Some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday, others will celebrate on Monday .
Muslims around the world are celebrating Islam's biggest holiday with prayers, gifts, traditional visits with family and friends, and feasts. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in accordance with God’s will, though in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, cattle, camels and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings, divide the meat into three equal portions and give some of it to the poor. Scroll down for video . Palestinians from Gaza City pray inside the Dome of the Rock during their visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem . It was the first time since 2007 that Muslim worshippers from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, Islam's third holiest site . The visit to Islam’s third holiest site was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the three-day holiday of Eid al-Adha . The holiday held special significance for 500 elderly Gazans as they prayed at the Dome of the Rock at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was the first time since 2007 that Muslims from Gaza have been allowed to travel to the shrine, which is considered Islam's third holiest site. The rare visit was granted after Israel eased tight restrictions for the holiday – a month after a ceasefire ended a two-month war – and the elderly Gazans were allowed to stay for several hours before they were driven back to the Gaza border. Many hadn't visited the shrine in decades and they kissed the ground as they entered the sprawling plaza. Umm Dallaleh Fayyad, a woman in a black abaya and a vibrant blue headscarf, told Agence France-Presse: 'I haven't been here for 35 years. Everything has changed. It's like being in paradise.' Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son . A camel is led behind a rickshaw after it was bought at a market to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha in Lahore, Pakistan . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage, with parents often buying new clothes for their children. Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday. Sunday marked the start of festivities for Iraqi Shiites and the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million. Pakistan will celebrate on Monday. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead . Palestinian women, who live in the Gaza Strip and were given permission to travel to Jerusalem's Old City, pray in front of the Dome of the Rock . Indian Muslim women wear brightly coloured clothing as they offer special prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, goats, cattle and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings . Meat from slaughtered animals must be divided into three equal portions with one of the portions being given to the poor . In Iraq, cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prayed at his headquarters in Baghdad. Indian Muslim women wore brightly coloured outfits as they offered prayers at the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad. In Semarang, Indonesia, mostly women and children queued up to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque. Children play with toy guns during the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in the narrow streets of Sanaa, Yemen . Because Eid follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday . In addition to offering Eid prayers, gifts and social events are a central part of the holiday, which begins at the end of the hajj pilgrimage . Mostly women and children queued to receive a free package of meat during a distribution for the needy after Eid prayers at the Kauman Mosque in Semarang, Indonesia . Saturday marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Eid al-Adha coincides with the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur once every 33 years based on their lunar calendars. Yom Kippur is Judaism's Day of Atonement, when devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their transgressions and refrain from eating and drinking, attending intense prayer services in synagogues. The holiday began at sunset Friday and ended Saturday night. Indian Muslims offer special prayers from the terrace of a house near the Qutb-e-Alam shrine in Ahmedabad . This weekend marked the first time since 1981 that both Muslims and Jews are celebrating major holidays at the same time. Cleric and politician Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, prays at his headquarters in Baghdad . Sunday marked the start of festivities for the majority of Indonesians in the world's most populous Muslim nation of 240 million .
Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in accordance with God’s visit to Islam’s third holiest site was granted Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abraham’s willingness to calendar that depends on sightings of the moon, some Muslims began celebrating the three-day sacrifice his son in accordance with God's will, In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, into three equal portions with one of the portions being given to the poor . In Iraq, follows the Muslim lunar calendar that depends on celebrating the three-day festival on Saturday .