Muslims around the world celebrate the Eid al-Adha, feast of the sacrifice

Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate Ibrahim's test of faith, with his readiness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

At the last moment, the child was replaced with an animal. During the celebration spread over several days, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor. The Prophet Ibrahim is known to Christians and Jews as “Abraham.” 

Here is a selection of photos from this year's event:

Chechen Muslims pray in a mosque during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha in Chechen regional capital of Grozny, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is marked with prayers and the slaughter of goats and cows and their meat being given to the poor. (AP Photo/Musa Sadulayev)

People have their knives sharpened for the upcoming Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, is the most important Islamic holiday and marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Rohingya refugee boys greet each other as girls ride in a ferris wheel, specially brought in to the camps for Eid al Adha celebrations at the Kutupalong refugee camp, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees are celebrating Eid al-Adha in sprawling Bangladeshi camps where they have been living amid uncertainty over their future after they fled Myanmar to escape violence and a massive crackdown. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim worshipers gather on the field for morning prayers Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium, in Minneapolis. The four-hour prayer service is hosted by Super Eid Inc., a group of local Muslim organizations that celebrate the holiday together every year in Minneapolis, according to one of the event organizers. The annual event has been held at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the past decade. This is the first year the prayer will take place at the stadium. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)

Vendors bring their animals to a cattle market set up for the upcoming Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, the most important Islamic holiday, marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

A vendor uses a crane to bring a bull down from the rooftop of his house so he can sell him at a livestock market set up for the upcoming Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Islam's most important holiday marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

People prepare to slaughter an animal on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, that marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. During the holiday, which in most places lasts four days, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle, distribute part of the meat to the poor and eat the rest. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

A man inspects an animal offered for sale at an animal market during preparations for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha or Feast of the Sacrifice, in Izmir, Turkey, Sunday Aug. 19, 2018. Muslims traditionally slaughter an animal in sacrifice, and distribute part of the meat as aid to the poor. (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)

A clown sprays foam towards a group of children on the first day of Eid al-Adha near the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. During the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle to distribute portions of the meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

A girl joins a prayer to mark the first day of Eid al-Adha in Gaza City, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. During the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle to distribute portions of the meat to the poor. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers at Jama Mosque in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificing animals to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim's faith in being willing to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Russian police officers help Muslim believers cross a street following the annual celebration of Eid al-Adha, or Kurban-Bairam, in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice is marked with prayers and the slaughter of goats and cows and their meat being given to the poor. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Youths in festive dresses greet each other on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha prayers, in Lahore Pakistan, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, that marks the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham to Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Muslims offer Eid al-Adha prayers outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. During the holiday, which in most places lasts four days, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle, distribute part of the meat to the poor and eat the rest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Pigeons fly past as Muslims gather to offer Eid al-Adha prayers at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by sacrificing animals to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim's faith in being willing to sacrifice his son. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Girls hold hands as they arrive for Eid al-Adha prayers, held in a sports hall in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, which commemorates the biblical story of Abraham and his readiness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, by sacrificial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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This gallery was produced by Patrick Sison in New York.