Eidl-Adha, Festival of Sacrifice or Eid Kabīr, major sacrifice occurs on the 10th day of the final month of Islamic calendar. It marks the conclusion of pilgrimage to Makkah. It commemorates Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son at God’s command. At last, God instructed Angel Gabriel to replace Abraham’s son with a ram to sacrifice instead.
Abraham’s obedience underlines one of the greatest demonstrations of faith in existence. On this day, Muslims wear new or best clothes to attend special prayer and sermons at designated prayer grounds. The day is an occasion for Muslims to rekindle relationships, rejoice as a family and feast together with neighbours and the poor their faith regardless. It is also an opportunity for Muslims to reflect on the significance of faith and appreciate God’s blessings in their lives.
Adult Muslims who can afford it are expected to sacrifice animals like ram, goat, camel or cow which satisfy certain age and quality standards permissible by Islam. It is obligatory to divide the sacrificed animal in three equivalent parts; for family, relatives , friends and neighbours as well as the poor, regardless of their faith. The purpose of the sacrifice is not merriment but to emphasis generosity, compassion , total devotion and submission to the will of God whose reward for the sacrifice is exclusive to Him.
The occasion reminds Muslims not to be distracted by materialism and petty mundane rivalries but to concentrate always on increasing good deeds and seeking repentance at all times. In this context, Muslims must remember that God loves those who combine patience with precaution while they brave life’s trials and are enjoined to strive to understand with reason by applying their minds to the network of obligations that binds humanity. The Quran Chapter 49 Verse 13 provides that O mankind! We have created you from a single pair of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may understand and not despise each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is the most righteous.
It must be noted that had God willed, He would have made not just the Federation of Nigeria but the entire world one ethnic group and one religion. But He decided otherwise to accentuate community of humanity and test the level of human patience, endurance and tolerance.
Nigerians must be steadfast in espousing faith with good conduct. They must endeavor to be protectors one of another and enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil through practice of regular prayers and good conduct. They must always be inspired by God’s miracle which manifests in the life of Jesus Christ, divine piety and purity which underpin the life of Mary his mother and the life of Muhammad which illuminates noblest character.
Nigerians must always adopt moderation in creed and deed.Quran counsels leaders in particular and mankind in general, as witnesses for God, to be staunch in dispensing justice even if it is against their own interest and should not follow passion in taking decision. Quran Chapter 7 Verse 40 provides that no opening at the gates of heaven for those who reject divine warnings and treat them with arrogance until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle. Nigerians and the entire humanity alike must utilize the significance of Eidl Kabir to reassert faith, seek forgiveness and reflect collectively to imbibe and inculcate a sense of equality and brotherhood among all faiths combined with charity to all and malice none.
Written by KABIR BABATUNDE LEGAL DEPARTMENT , RADIO NIGERIA HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA
