MUSLIMS the world over are today marking Eid-Ul-Adha, otherwise known as the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the most important events on the Islamic calendar.
At the Independence Square in Accra and elsewhere this morning, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the Ameer and Missionary in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, Maulvi Wahab Adam, will lead thousands of Muslims in prayer to give thanks to Allah, the Almighty for the life, good health and countless, goodies He has bestowed on the nation in the course of this year and ask for His continued guidance, blessing, mercy and support for the leaders of this nation and the government in general.
Similar prayers will be held in many other areas across the country.
We salute our brothers and sisters in Islam and wish them the best of this important spiritual event and hope and pray that the Good Lord, Allah, hears their supplication and shower His blessings on this nation, so that we all prosper and live together in peace and harmony as we work towards building a better Ghana for all.
We are aware that Eid-Ul-Adha is more than congregational prayers, the slaughtering of rams and the sharing of food that represents the outward manifestation of the festival.
It is on record that the event is one of the most crucial tests one of the earliest Prophets of Islam, Prophet Abraham, had to endure and pass in order to win Allah’s favour.
By asking Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his only and beloved son, Ishmael, to Him, Allah was making a supreme demand of the test of loyalty and reverence to Him, as mortal and fallible as Abraham was.
In obeying Allah’s command and laying Ishmael on the sacrificial altar ready for slaughter, Allah exonerated Abraham and exalted him above other mortals and made him a shining example of the ultimate in all that is good and honourable and, therefore, worthy of emulation.
Thus, for Muslims, this obedience to the will of Allah represents the highest degree of worship and commitment to respect His commandments and guidance.
The ram that Allah ordered the Angel to bring to Prophet Abraham to substitute it for Ishmael as the item of sacrifice represents, for Muslims, a redemption of mankind from the supreme owner of the universe and the emergence of a covenant in which, in return for such continued faith and obedience, mankind could continue to enjoy His love, protection, support and sustenance.
It is these bounties stemming from the obedience our brothers and sisters in Islam have exhibited that we all hope to share in and benefit as a nation of one people with a common destiny.
We, in congratulating Muslims on this important occasion, urge them to endeavour to continue to abide by the laws of the land and work together with the government to rid communities such as Bawku, with a substantial Muslim population, of strife and conflict to let peace prevail.
We should step up the tempo of education in Islamic communities so that the children in these communities will grow up to be leaders who will propel this nation and themselves forward.
We are happy that as this Eid is being observed, the government, in concert with the National Hajj Committee, has fulfilled the important promise of organising a successful and incident-free Hajj, which was hailed by all.
This has restored dignity and self-respect to Islam and Muslims and has also helped all of us to forget the numerous indignities, humiliation and degrading treatments Muslims had to undergo in the course of the Hajj.
We trust that together — Muslims, Christians and others — we can work to build this nation.
Once again, we say Barka da Sallah.
No comments:
Post a Comment