New Delhi, May 27 -- As the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah approaches, Muslims around the world prepare to welcome Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-ul-Azha (also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Bakhreid, Eid-ul-Zuha, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban, Qurban Bayarami or the Feast of Sacrifice), which is a time of devotion, reflection and sacrifice. For those intending to offer a Qurbani (sacrificial animal), there is a lesser-known but important practice to observe: abstaining from personal grooming.

If you are planning to perform the sacrifice this Eid-ul-Adha, once the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah is sighted, it is recommended (and according to many scholars, obligatory) to refrain from trimming your nails, cutting your hair or removing any part of your skin until t...