The prayers were also attended by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Osama Askar, along with other ministers and senior state officials.

Prayers started with Takbeer in praise to God the Almighty and then recitation of verses of the Holy Quran.

The mosque’s imam then delivered Eid Al-Adha sermon, saying this blessed day is an occasion of sacrifice, generosity, giving and righteousness.

“Eid Al-Adha is a great and witnessed day among the days of God, where the pilgrims of the Holy Mosque rejoice in performing their rituals. Muslims also rejoice in the blessings of God upon them during the ten days and the ritual of sacrifice, as well as meeting with family and loved ones,” the imam said in his sermon.

El-Sisi also congratulated the Egyptian people and all Muslims on social media, saying "I am pleased to extend my sincere congratulations to the Egyptian people and the Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. May God return it with goodness, blessings and prosperity to Egypt and the entire Arab region... Wishing you all the best every year."

Sisi's post congratulating people in the occasion of Eid Al-Adha

Eid Al-Adha is one of the two major Islamic holidays and takes place on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, which is the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. This holiday commemorates the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to God when he was willing to sacrifice his son.

It coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for non-disabled Muslims who can afford it to perform it at least once in their lifetime. 

Hajj is one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, with millions of Muslims coming from all over the world to perform it every year in the Holy City of Mecca over a period of five to six days. 

Hajj rituals began on Sunday evening at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.