Tasnim � Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani offered his congratulations to his counterparts in Islamic countries on Eid al-Adha, one of Islam�s holiest festival celebrated annually around the world and an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries.

In a message issued on Thursday, Larijani felicitated his opposite numbers on the occasion and said, �Islam teaches us that one of the main goals and philosophies of the Hajj pilgrimage is building understanding and consolidating the brotherhood among Muslims.�

He further pointed to the crises facing the Muslim world and said they can be resolved through joint efforts by Islamic countries.

Larijani also said the Iranian parliament supports any measure to strengthen the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and solidarity among Muslim countries.

In the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha occurs on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and is also the third day of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

For Muslims, Eid al-Adha commemorates the day when Prophet Abraham was going to sacrifice his son but was instructed by God to offer an animal instead. Eid al-Adha in Arabic literally means �festival of the sacrifice�.