Suburban Muslims mark Eid celebration with prayers, sacrifice

Suburban Muslims joined millions of faithful worldwide Sunday in celebration of Eid al-Adha.

The celebration began with congregational prayers followed by families gathering for food and festivities.

Eid al-Adha is one of two big celebrations in the Islamic tradition. It commemorates the Quranic story of prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God's command. Ismail is later spared by God and an animal is slaughtered in his stead.

Observant Muslims worldwide also marked the occasion by having an animal slaughtered, symbolically following prophet Abraham's practice, coinciding with the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Often a local butcher does the work, and the meat is distributed to family, neighbors and the poor.

In June, Muslims marked another religious observance, Eid al-Fitr, celebrated at the end of a monthlong fasting period for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.