Years ago, the largest Islamic community events in Darwin took place at the city's biggest mosque.
Today, the city's number of believers has grown so much that events such as Eid al-Adha – one of the most important events on the Islamic calendar – have had to be moved to an indoor sports stadium instead.
Around 1,500 Muslims gathered at a stadium in Darwin's north on Saturday morning to attend a special prayer service for Eid al-Adha, which is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, after setting up their sacrificial and charity arrangements.
The new venue is a hallmark of the growing population of Muslims in the territory – a trend reflected in the latest census data, which shows that Australia is becoming a more diverse place.
Islamic Society of Darwin secretary Sophia Feroz Khan said it was a good time to be Muslim in the Top End.
"We used to have our Eid al-Adha prayer in our masjid (mosque) itself in the previous years when the community was not that big," she said.
Eid al-Adha is also the busiest time of the year for the NT's halal butchers, as Muslims put in orders for their sacrificial animals to be slaughtered and delivered.
One of the halal butchers is Sarfraz Indorwala, who owns a store in Darwin's north.
He said he was proud to provide a valuable service for his growing community after filling a gap in the market.
"Before [my butchery opened, there were] no halal shops in Darwin, so I chose the halal business … I feel very proud [that] I chose the halal business," he said.
What is Eid al-Adha and what does it have to do with meat?
Eid al-Adha is one of the biggest events celebrated by Muslims each year.
Muslims believe it marks the sacrifice made by the Prophet Ibrahim upon Allah's command.
They believe Ibrahim sacrificed his son Ismail, and that when he did a lamb lay slaughtered in his place as a sign of Allah's benevolence.
Following in that tradition, every year Muslims around the world sacrifice four-legged animals to commemorate the event.
The event is also the climax of the Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia known as Hajj.
Ahmed Ateia, the imam who led the special prayers for Eid al-Adha in Darwin, said it was a deeply spiritual event.
"Muslims celebrate because they remember Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and his willingness to fulfil the command of Allah by sacrificing his son," he said.
"However, he didn't sacrifice his son because Allah substituted him with a lamb.
"And usually on this day we buy new clothes … we enjoy with our children, we have a day off.
"It is important to the Muslim faith because it acknowledges and celebrates Prophet Ibrahim's loyalty and devotion to Allah."
How do you offer sacrifice in Australia?
In modern Australia, Eid al-Adha has economic, spiritual and community impacts.
In Muslim nations around the world, it is common for people to go the markets and buy live, four-legged animals and offer the sacrifices at home.
In Western countries like Australia, it works slightly differently.
Most people pay their halal butcher and the butcher then organises the slaughter and doles out the meat accordingly.
But the sacrificial animal must be dealt with differently to other meat, as the name of the person or people offering the sacrifice must be involved in the slaughter process.
"I get the orders and send them to my supplier, and they put the name under the sacrifice," Mr Indorwala said.
Many people choose to go witness the slaughter and may travel to a farm, while others send money overseas to help their families with the buying of the animal.
Although Muslims are allowed to consume the flesh of the sacrificed animal, the festival is more than just food.
The meat from the animal must be divided into three parts, with one going to the poor, one to family and the other to the self.
Mr Ateia said the annual event brought out the best in the community.
"The Muslim community experiencing Eid al-Adha not only becomes stronger in their spiritual state, but also they understand and learn the true meaning of God's love and mercy by sharing their food and money with others who are underprivileged," he said.
Butcher Mohammed Arif Khan, who works at Mr Indorwala's halal butchery, said although he helped people offer their sacrifices, he knew the experience was spiritual and it was the intent that mattered.
"In our religion, the meat [of the sacrificed animal] doesn't reach God, but He sees what's in your heart."
