EID MUBARAK!

It is yet another opportunity to live the true meaning of sacrifice, obedience and love

As Muslims all over the world celebrate the festival of Eid al-Adha, better known as Eid-el-Kabir, yet another opportunity has been offered to adherents of the faith, and indeed all Nigerians to live the true meaning and essence of this occasion: sacrifice, obedience and love. The festival is particularly significant because it is rooted in the scriptural accounts of both Islam and Christianity about how Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), in obedience to God was to sacrifice his son before divine intervention.

In the accounts of both religions, the faith of Ibrahim (Abraham) was tested to the limit of endurance, but he was not found wanting. In a difficult situation, the father submitted to God; the son, to his father in absolute trust that was ultimately rewarded. Eid-el-Kabir is therefore a season that calls for rededication not only to our maker but also to the cause of mankind; to appreciate the gift of life and to imbibe the virtues of tolerance, understanding and good neighbourliness. More importantly, it is a period that calls for caring for the less privileged of our society.

 As usual, from the president to governors of the 36 states, Nigerians have been enjoined to sacrifice in the spirit of the occasion. But the charity of our leaders must begin at home by imbibing the virtues they preach. The biggest challenge of the country today is how to build an inclusive society that leaves no citizen behind. It is precisely for that reason that this festival offers opportunities for reflection by those in leadership positions. They must work to address the challenges of rising food prices, skyrocketing inflation, growing unemployment among the youth and perpetual violence in several theatres across the country.

Incidentally, perhaps no period in our history offers a better opportunity to share and to make sacrifices. Today, many Nigerians suffer hunger, poverty and disease, ironically in a country often measured in superlatives. What that suggests is that the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir celebration should go beyond the slaughtering of rams to sharing love and material possessions not only with relatives or acquaintances, but also with the displaced, the elderly, the orphans and other people at the margins of the society, including those with special needs.

By paying attention to the plight of the poor, we invariably place the welfare of our neighbours as important as ours. By allowing others to partake of our wealth or material possessions, we honour the One who made the provision in the first place. This happens to be at the heart of all religions, but a virtue that is particularly at the heart of this festival.

However, much more importantly in this season is the need to share love between and among individuals, religions, ethnic groups and political leanings. Because there is so much hatred in the society, love across these artificial divides that our politicians have erected will foster harmony and promote peace and development in the country. It will also help the process of healing the deep wounds sparked off by politics and the manipulation of religion and ethnicity. 

As we have had occasions to state in the past, what we are witnessing today in the country is a collapse of the traditional authority and the political consensus that have for decades held this nation together. But against the background that there are usually challenges in the process of integrating members of any society into a cohesive social whole, what confronts us is not particularly peculiar. Therefore, as we celebrate this special festival, we must reflect on and imbibe the essence of sacrifice and humility for the promotion of harmonious relationships in our country.

To all our Muslim readers, Eid Mubarak!