Turkish Leader, Qatari Emir Exchange Eid al-Adha Greetings

ANKARA, TURKEY 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday spoke to Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani over the phone.

The two exchanged greetings for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, Turkey’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.

The majority of Muslim countries around the world, including Turkey, will observe the four-day religious sacrificial holiday starting on Friday.

The Muslim holiday commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son at the command of God, before the last-minute divine substitute of a ram.

Muslims sacrifice animals in commemoration of this intervention and share the meat with the poor and their relatives.