That Nigerians have failed to reciprocate God’s kindness and abide by his injunction is manifest in the ills and vices that permeate the polity. This occasion presents an opportunity for personal adjustment of lifestyle, and for redress.
Muslims should remember that the genesis of the festival, thousands of years back, was the need for Prophet Ibrahim (may the peace of Allah be upon him) to honor his pledge to offer his only son at the time, Ishmael, as sacrifice to Allah. As could be imagined, the occasion was painful, both for the father, and the son who knew he was to be the sacrificial lamb, and did not object. That God in his infinite mercy delivered a ram to Ibrahim as substitute, moments before he slaughtered his son, was a symbol of his utmost love for mankind.One way Muslims can reciprocate this divine gesture is to celebrate the Eid with submission to, and fear of Allah. Muslims are reminded to share the meat of their slaughtered rams with their immediate neighbors, family members and friends, particularly with the poor who cannot afford rams and who, nevertheless, desire to partake in the festival.
It is this spirit of giving, sharing, love, appreciation of God’s kindness and the fear of Allah, among others, that should underlie the observation of the day. If Muslims imbibe this spirit, they will not overindulge themselves or their friends. More importantly, the spirit of the sallah should be extended beyond the Eid period to everyday living. It is only by so doing that Nigeria can experience the peace and congenial atmosphere necessary for the elusive rebirth and progress of the country.
It is a matter of sadness that the entire world is torn in war, violence, vices, crime and other unwholesome phenomena that have deprived the world of its pleasure. It is equally heart rending that Nigeria has more than a fair share of these troubles, to the extent that its unity and co-existence are threatened. To crown it all is the fact that many of the country’s leaders who have directly or otherwise brought about this divisive situation in the country are Muslims who have failed to deliver the dividends of good governance.
The celebration of Eid-el-Kabir should not pass without prayers for the souls of many Nigerians, including security personnel, who have lost their lives in the seemingly unending Boko Haram insurgency in the North East of the country. It is disheartening that hundreds of women and children, including the Chibok school girls are still held in captivity by the militants, years after. Yet, some Nigerians still have the effrontery to play dirty politics with the lives of the hapless victims of the insurgency. Surely, that attitude is ungodly and against the spirit of the Eid.
It is gratifying that no one is fooled by the claim of Boko Haram jihadists to Islam, considering that their real agenda for political and territorial acquisition have become glaring. Their activities are antithetical of Islam, which remains a religion of peace and tolerance. Leaders in the country should use this occasion to reflect on their leadership and seek to impact more positively on the populace. Muslims should continue to pray for a safe return of their brothers and sisters performing the holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
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