Today, the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, is marked by Muslims the world over as the day of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice. The day is significant in many respects as it commemorates the piety and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son, Ismail (AS).
While Prophet Ibrahim was ready to sacrifice his son in obedience to Almighty Allah’s instruction, his son presented himself unconditionally.
In demonstration of absolute submission to Allah’s will, both father and son submitted themselves, and the sacrifice was about to take place at Mount Arafat when Allah rescued the son with a ram. It is that uncommon act by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son, Ismail (AS), that the Muslim world celebrates today.
As part of the celebration, Muslims who have the means are enjoined to offer a sacrifice of either a ram, a camel, or a cow. The sacrificed animals are divided into three parts: one-third of the meat is given to relatives, friends, and neighbours; another third is retained for the family, while the last third is given to the poor and needy.
The essence is to ensure that no impoverished person is denied an opportunity to partake in the sacrificial feast, demonstrating the charitable practice among the Muslim community.
Essentially, the ram sacrifice, which Eid al-Adha symbolises, is not blood atonement or seeking favour with God through death. Instead, it is thanking God for one’s sustenance and the personal sacrifice of sharing food with others, especially the needy.
What lessons can Muslims, indeed Nigerians of all faiths, learn from Eid al-Adha? Many lessons: piety, trust in Allah, humility, selflessness, sacrifice, faith, obedience, love, charity and total submission to Almighty Allah,
Fundamentally, Eid al-Adha teaches forbearance, hope, and strong faith in Almighty Allah who, through His grace, will reward us richly in this world and ultimately in the hereafter. Islam preaches unconditional acceptance of and unreserved submission to Allah’s directives.
Eid al-Adha transcends all limits of human life. It marks a day of victory for Muslims as they reflect on the circumstances that culminated in this special day, hold strong command over their desires, exercise sound self-control, and enjoy the test of a disciplined life.
Muslims are reminded that total and unquestioning surrender to the will of Allah in the conduct of our daily affairs is what we require to overcome our peculiar trials and earn similar immense blessings permanently.
Through Eid al-Adha, they can learn the virtues of sacrifice, sharing, and caring for each other.
Therefore, as Muslims mark this important event, we join them and Nigerians from all walks of life to imbibe the virtues of peace, tolerance, sharing, and caring that Islam epitomises. Now, more than ever, we need these virtues in our individual and national lives.
Importantly, we urge Nigerians to use this year’s Eid to strengthen our bond of unity and, significantly, promote peace, love, and understanding. Nigerians must de-emphasise primordial sentiments like ethnicity and religious differences, which have continued to slow our journey to greatness, and instead look at ourselves as one nation united by a common destiny.
Sadly, Nigerians are marking this year’s Eid under excruciating pain occasioned by hunger and high cost of living arising from the government’s ill-thought-out economic policies, recurring killings, natural disasters and other threats to lives and property.
More than anything, the current situation underscores the need for Nigerians who have the means to use the occasion of Eid to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.
In our opinion, the time is right for national and subnational governments to ensure good leadership anchored on inclusive governance and implement policies with a human face.
As Nigerians celebrate, we must not depart from the Islamic teachings of moderation. We must take to heart the fact that in Islam, there is no room for excesses. Importantly, we must carry on with the virtues of Eid al-Adha beyond the celebration by ensuring that we always guide our conduct accordingly.
Ultimately, the nation’s leaders must be ready to make the necessary personal sacrifices, as Ibrahim was, to put Nigeria on the road to greatness.
Happy Eid al-Adha to the Muslim ummah.
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