Sunni and Shiite Muslims celebrate Eid together

Muslims around the world are currently celebrating the four-day religious holiday of Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). 

Sunni Muslims marking the first day of festivities with early morning prayers at Abdul Qadir Gilani mosque in Baghdad on Sunday were joined by their Shiite compatriots in a gesture of unity.

Islam uses a lunar calendar, whereby the start of a new month is determined by the observation of as new moon by local religious authorities.

This means the setting of dates is open to some interpretation.

The majority of Sunni countries and communities, including the Kurdistan Region, determined Sunday to be the first day of Eid. Shiites, however, determined Sunday to be the first day.

The celebration of Eid on different days by the two sects is, nowadays, a common occurrence.  However, under Saddam Hussein's reign, both sects were forced to celebrate Eid on the same day. In a show of co-existence, Sunnis and Shiites lined up shoulder to shoulder in prayer.

Muslims in attendance at Abdul Qadir Gilani saw the different days of celebration as no obstacle to unity.

"There is no difference. It is not the Eid of Sunnis or Shiites, but all Iraqis and Muslims. Look, my wife is a Sunni and I am a Shiite," says Shiite Muslim Saad Abd.

Reporting by Mustafa Goran, translation by Zhelwan Z. Wali