CULTURAL NEWS
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
The significance of Eid-ul-Adha in Islam
President Kufour and his Vice, Alhaji Aliu Mahama,
Chief Imam, Nuhu Usman Sharabutu leaving the Trade
Fair grounds in Accra, after gracing the Eid-Ul-Adha festival
on Saturday.
By: Chief – Inspector Alhaji Muhammad Alidu (rtd)
NCE, again the Islamic calendar is getting to an end and Muslim the world over are celebrating Eid-UI-Adha, the feat of sacrifice.
The Eid-UI-Adha prayers is very important for Muslims. It has the merits of the five daily prayers and the Friday prayers called Friday prayers called “Jumu’ah”. It has the characteristics of annual reunions between Muslims all over the world.
PILGRIMAGE
This re-union manifests itself in the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina where over two million Muslims gather to perform the prescribed religious rites ordained by the AI-mighty Allah.
Eid-UI-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu-I –hijah, the last month of the Muslims years, following completion of the course of Haji an extremely devotional course.
The celebration of Eid-UI-Adha is a commemoration of the command given by Allah to Prophet Abraham (May Allah be pleased with him) to sacrifice his first son, Ismael, to Him. The fulfillment of this noble command of Allah by Abraham signifies the faith Abraham has in Allah. This display of faith yet unmatched in the annals of religion, eventually made Abraham the only friend of Allah.
Eid-Ul-Adha is therefore a unique occasion in every way. Besides its highly spiritual and moral characteristics, it has matchless qualities.
Each Eid festival is a wholesome celebration of a remarkable achievement of the individual Muslim in the service of Allah. Unlike the Eid-Ul-Fitr, which comes after one month of absolute fasting in the month of Ramadan, the Eid-Ul-Adha marks the completion of pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca (HAJJ), a course in which Muslims handsomely demonstrate their renouncement of the mundane concerns and hearkens to the Eternal voice of Allah.
Eid-Ul-Adha is day of remembrance. Even in the most joyful times, the Muslim make a fresh start of the day with a session of congregational prayers to Allah in an open space.
Muslims use the occasion to pray to Allah and glorify His name in remembrance of His grace and favours. Along with that course, Muslims also remember the deceased by praying for their souls to rest in peace. The needy and vulnerable in society are also remembered by showing them sympathy and consolation.
In sum, the meaning of Eid-Ul-Adha transcends all limits and expands far-reaching dimensions of human life.
Eid-Ul-Adha marks a day of victory for the Muslim. The individual Muslim who succeeds in securing his spiritual rights and growth receives the Eid with a victorious spirit. The Muslim who faithfully observers the duties which are associated with the Eid, is a triumphant one. He proves that he holds a strong command over his desires, exercises a sound self-control and enjoys the test of a disciplinary life.
And once a person acquires these qualities, he has achieved his greatest victory; because the person who knows how to control himself and disciplines his passions is free from, sin, fear ad cowardice, from vice and indecency, jealousy and greed, humiliation and all other causes of enslavement.
Eid-Ul-Adha is also a harvest day for all the good works in the service of Allah, all the faithful believers reap the fruits of their good deeds on that day as Allah grants his mercy an blessings abundantly.
The day is also for forgiveness. When Muslims assemble in the congregation of the day, they all wholeheartedly pray for forgiveness and strength of faith. And God has assured those who approach him with sincerity of his mercy and forgiveness.
In that pure assembly and highly spiritual congregation, an true Muslim will feel ashamed of himself before God to hold any enmity or ill-feeling towards his brother. A true Muslim would be deeply impressed by this brotherly and spiritual assembly, and would overcome his ill-feeling if he has been exposed to any. Consequently, he would find himself moving along with others, responding to the spirit of the day to purity his heart and soul.
It is hoped that this year’s Eid-Ul-Adha, marked on Saturday, December 30, will bring about peace in Ghana and the world at large.
*Source
The Ghanaian Times - Page: 7 |