STREETS were turned red with blood as goats, sheep, cows and camels were slaughtered in front of crowds to mark the Islamic 'Festival of Sacrifice'.

Today Muslims all over the world are celebrating Eid al-Adhar - 'Greater Eid' - the tenth day of the holy month, coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca.

20 Streets across the world will be adorned in the red of blood today as Muslims celebrate the 'Festival of Sacrifice' Eid al-Adha

Gruesome photos depict the ritual bloodshed of animals in the name of a global Islamic tradition that has been branded "cruel and abhorrent".

Beheaded cows and goats leave streams of blood as they are dragged through the streets of countries including Pakistan, Iran, Bangladesh and Malaysia to the applause of worshippers observing an annual holy rite of passage.

Children stand as spectators to huge beasts making a last and desperate bid for freedom before falling under the bloody blades of butchers.

The custom is undertaken to replicate the willingness of the prophet Abraham to murder his son Ishmael (Isaac in Christianity) under Allah's orders.

20 Cows, sheep, goats and camels are slaughtered in front of crowds in emulation of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son

20 Muslims worldwide are separated over the practice, with some seeing it as a key component of the Koran and others saying it is barbaric

20 A volunteer sharpens his knife during a sacrifice ritual in Jakart, Indonesia Credit: Reuters

20 Pakistani Muslims slaughter a camel after prayers in Peshawar Credit: AFP or licensors

20 Millions of Muslims descend upon Mecca each year after completing the Hajj pilgrimage from Medina Credit: EPA

In the Koran, Allah instructed Abraham to sacrifice his own son to demonstrate his loyalty and obedience to God.

Modern Muslims believe that by slaying beasts and carving up their corpses, they are reminding themselves that they should not be distracted by material possessions and should instead provide their utmost devotion to Allah.

The slain mammal is then cut into thirds, with one third given to the poor and hungry, one given to family friends and relatives and the final piece enjoyed by the family who owned the animal.

This Islamic 'sunnah' (custom or tradition) is observed in countries all over the world - but it is often a fiercely controversial practice depending on in which country it is followed.

20 Families watch in expectation as a cow buckled before slaughter in Shah Alam, Malaysia Credit: AFP or licensors

20 Two Muslim boys embrace during festivities in Bangalore, India Credit: EPA

20 Sacrificial cows lie dead on Bintan island in Riau Islands province, Indonesia Credit: Alamy Live News

20 UK Muslims gather for mass prayer in Small Heath Park, Birmingham

What is Eid al-Adha festival?

Eid al-Adha means 'Greater Eid' and marks the end of the Islamic pilgrimage Hajj, the annual trip from Medina to Mecca undertaken by Muslims from all over the world.

The date is one of the holiest in the Muslim calendar in which millions of Muslims convene to feast and celebrate in their best clothing.

20 Butchers attempt to subdue a distressed cow in Peshawar, Pakistain Credit: EPA

20 Inner-city Eid al-Adha worshippers work as a team to slay a cow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Credit: EPA

20 A Moroccan boy joins in the festivities in the city of Sale Credit: Getty - Contributor

20 Slaughtered goats are lined up in Karachi, Pakistan

In 2018 Eid al-Adhar will begin in the evening of August 21 and end four days later on August 25. The festival normally lasts for four days but public holidays vary around the world - with Arab countries observing a nine-day public holiday.

Why are animals slaughtered during the event?

Muslims spend Eid al-Adhar honouring the Koranic legend of Abraham willingly obliging to sacrifice his son Ishmael under Allah's orders - a supreme act of faith.

In the story, Abraham is initially distressed by the instruction and turns to his marked son Ishmael for advice. Ishmael strongly advises his father to honour Allah's wishes.

20 Muslims honour the actions of the prophet Abraham, who in the Koran displayed a true willingness to murder his son Ishmael Credit: AFP or licensors

20 Muslims believe that by sacrificing livestock they are demonstrating their own Abrahamic desire to submit to Allah Credit: Reuters

20 Worshippers feast together and don their best outfits to honour the yearly event Credit: Getty - Contributor

20 A camel awaits slaughter in Peshawar, Pakistan Credit: EPA

However, when stood atop Mount Arafat with blade poised in hand above his son's throat, Abraham spots the angel Gabriel, who tells father Abraham he can do away with killing his son because he has already demonstrated his love for Allah.

A goat was slaughtered in the boy's stead and today Muslims copy the act by slaughtering the same or a similar animal.

Where is the animal sacrifice legal in public?

Many Islamic countries still follow the tradition of slaughtering animals publicly, but are nevertheless aware of the dangerous health and hygienic complications this can give rise to such as the spreading of disease through the discarded entrails and blood and the meat itself becoming tainted by exhaust fumes or close proximity to garbage.

In the UAE (United Arab Emirates including Dubai and Abu Dhabi) people are allowed to honour the tradition at government-sanctioned public abattoirs, or risk facing a £1,000 fine.

20 A government-endorsed public abattoir in Abu Dhabi, UAE Credit: EPA

20 An Egyptian vendor uses force to move a camel in a market northwest of Cairo Credit: AFP or licensors

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The city spokesman of Cairo went further, describing the practice as "barbaric and unacceptable" whilst issuing strict prohibitions and fines which equal more than the Egyptian average monthly salary.

In India the issue is particularly contested by Hindus, who believe that the cow is a sacred animal and should be protected. The state of Jharkhand has instructed police to intervene and prevent the slaughtering of cows.

Some Western Muslims are also against the practice, with the Vegan Muslim Initiative claiming there is no scriptural basis for slaughtering animals and that Muslims confuse the Koranic passage with the Biblical account of Isaac's near-slaughter.