Benin – Tabaski Festival: The government celebrates with Muslim faithful
This Friday, June 6, 2025, Muslim faithful in Benin, like their counterparts around the world, are celebrating Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski. One of the most sacred holidays in Islam, it commemorates the act of faith and submission by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was ready to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
Tabaski; Credit Photo: Google.com
On this occasion, the Beninese Government sent a message filled with spirituality and solidarity to the Muslim community. “Tabaski teaches us faith, sacrifice, and sharing,” highlighted the executive in an official statement released this morning. The message concludes with wishes for “light, brotherhood, and hope” to all believers.
The Tabaski festival also marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), the fifth pillar of Islam. It is traditionally marked by the ritual sacrifice of an animal, often a sheep, in memory of Ibrahim’s gesture.
In Benin, Tabaski transcends religious rites to become a significant cultural moment, where spiritual fervor, family conviviality, and social solidarity interweave. In cities as well as in villages, it brings together families, neighbors, and communities around universal values of peace, hospitality, and generosity.