Understanding the “Essence of Eid-ul-Adha”

During the annual Hajj in Mecca, Muslims all over the globe commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham PBUH). However, the misinformed people carry on with unwanted practices such as attempting to purchase the most expensive sacrificial animals in competition with others just to show off followed by unjust distribution of meat among the recipients.

Greed and sacrifice can’t go together: The misinformed or the most ignorant ones among the Muslim community tend to be materialistic enough to keep the best portion (goat thighs) for self or giving it away to the IN LAWS of daughters in many instances. The Muslims should know: "It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)

Muslims keep debating when to celebrate. ‘Different groups different answers’ is the ongoing attitude mainly responsible for the “Muslims’ disunity. Ridiculously, a huge divide among 1.7 billion Muslims is a laughing matter for “the non-Muslim world against Muslims.”

In fact, the regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which start at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. Since, the Islamic calendar is lunar and the days start at the sunset, so there is usually one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.

According to the Fiqh Council of North America, Eid ul-Adha will be celebrated on October the 4th (based on astronomical calculations).Some Canadian Muslims follow Fiqh Council, while some follow Saudi Arabia. Others who stress upon local moon sighting are likely to celebrate on Sunday, the 5th Oct. India and Pakistan are celebrating on 6th Oct.

Like others, for the Canadian Muslims, Eid-ul-Adha is an annual Islamic observance of immense significance. It is also known as the feast of sacrifice or festival of sacrifice as it commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son to Allah the Almighty.

Furthermore, Eid is celebrated by the Muslims throughout Canada around the 10th to the 13th days of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja). It is a time marked by special prayers and many Muslims gather together for special prayers. Many Muslims also visit family and friends, exchange greetings and gifts, and make donations to the poor and the needy generously.

No doubt, Eid-ul-Adha offers the best opportunity for forgiveness and compassion.

Performing the Hajj applies to all physically and financially able Muslims worldwide at least once in lifetime. Some Muslims from Canada have gone for performing Hajj.

The Qur'an further describes Prophet Ibrahim as follows:

"Surely Abrahim was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for OUR bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121)

Indeed, one of Abrahim's main trials was to face the command of Allah to sacrifice his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for Allah superseded all others, as he was sincerely prepared to lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God. This symbolizes obedience to Allah. And, the fair distribution of meat of the sacrifice to others is an expression of generosity; it’s one of the essential pillars of Islam. 

In short, Eid ul Adha reminds us of Prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to obey God right after having envisioned that he was to sacrifice his only son.

Although, Eid-al-Adha is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada, yet the devout Muslims take time off from work in order to perform sacrifice after Eid prayer in the AM hours. The symbolism is in the “attitude of willingness” to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the righteous path.

Lesson/ message here is each one of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. And a true Muslim is the one who submits completely to the will of Allah the Almighty and remains willing to follow His commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willingness in obedience that Allah wants from us.

During the Hajj, Muslims refresh memories of the trials and triumphs of Prophet Abraham. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows: An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:120 -- "Verily, Abraham was a man who combined within himself all virtues, devoutly obeying God's will, turning away from all that is false, and not being of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God." Hence, the tradition of symbolic sacrifice began.

The non believers need to know: During the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials by sacrificing an animal such as a sheep, camel, or a goat. As this action is very often misunderstood by the non believers, it’s our obligation to fully explain the essence of sacrifice.

Importantly, after the slaughter of the sacrificial animal, all meat of sacrifice must be mixed up to be distributed in three ways; self, relatives and the poor. It is a symbolic act of sharing with people who are malnourished and are below poverty line.

Indeed, Allah loves our purity in faith and our unconditional obedience of HIM. 

Red Zone Episode Not Over Yet

Inqillab and Azadi Marches of 14th August changed into a prolonged “sit in.” Twenty days and nights in the red zone despite humidity, heat, and heavy rain is tough. Till Wednesday, September 03, 2014, there was no major breakthrough except some efforts were under way by the interested stakeholders for renewing talks for calming down the tense scenario, The leadership of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are in good friendly relationship; this unnerves the staus quo parties including the rulers and the friendly opposition.

Today, the PTI chairman sent the Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi to clarify the PTI’s position before national assembly session; where he skilfully clarified the purpose of the ongoing sit-in outside the Parliament. “We are not here to burn the House but to save it,” he declared. “It is our duty to protect the Parliament but what kind of parliament?” He added, “There is a perception that there is a grand plan or a great script behind our protest, but PTI never was and never will be part of any great plan that will undermine the democracy and the Constitution of Pakistan.”

To request the army to resolve political crisis was against the spirit of the Charter of Democracy,” he said while referring to the government’s request to the COAS General Raheel Sharif. He also criticized government’s handling of the crisis, adding that Islamabad was turned into Gaza as scores of people were killed and injured. He said that his party was ready to negotiate with the committee of opposition members, and only demanded transparent investigation of rigging in the last general election. (dawn.com)

The most troubling: Democracy is a mechanism by which popular consent is obtained for policies favoring the rich.

The question: If there are two or three political parties, and none of them carry integrity, yet one of them is voted to the office – so what’s good for the general public? Quite obviously, there is a limited choice for the electors to choose, hence, it’s a tricky game played skillfully by the crooks.

In the name of democracy, the greedy politicians always manage to grab power for satisfying their selfish agendas. During the course of hot pursuit of gaining political power, pressure tactics and coercion is quite normal. The financially powerful elite tend to win through rigging. Winning national, mid-term or supplementary election is not a problem for the crooks, because they can buy votes at any price; the election staff is easily bought off to change the electoral defeat in to electoral victory all due to loop holes in the stinky system.

The statement, democracy is of the people, by the people, for the people is inherently incomplete unless the people are allowed to have proper schooling whereby they become mentally powerful enough to politically judge between honest and crook candidates.

Good thing is despite the vadairas’ dirty politics, the people all over including the remote areas are now slowly catching up and hopefully the genuine leadership will grow.

In Islamabad, the invoked Article 245 directs the army to protect the capital, but the army only is protecting inside the state buildings in the red zone. It is significant however, that the joint session has followed a army corps commanders meeting which had asked for things to be resolved quickly and through political means without the use of force. Sharif’s decision to call in the army in aid of the civilian authorities on the eve of the march has empowered the army more. On top of that, poor Sharif seems to have lost further credibility by misinforming the national assembly that the army chief was not asked to mediate. A statement by the ISPR contradicting the prime minister’s claim put Sharif into an embarrassing position.

Indeed, the army is busy with its operation Zarb-e-Azb, yet the ‘sit in’ situation is fast slipping out of the government’s grip, because of its own fault of using Gullu Butts and ‘PTV takeover’ drama and disrupting the peaceful ‘PAT march’ towards the prime minister house. Excessive force including chemical gas and real bullets injuring and killing the marchers is inhumane.

The army is interested in an expeditious resolve of the crisis by the government without using force.

Nevertheless, the rulers are already on crutches provided by the desperate opposition leadership who in return are promised their turn after the current tenure is over. Taking turns is the only wish of the greedy politicians. Non delivery, sub standard governance and administrative paralysis don’t bother them; they rallied in NA to save the democratic system, yet the battle is far from over.

For protecting their personal interests, the political elite ask for democracy. After the Musharraf Era, Zardari was only focused on completing his tenure which he successfully did by bringing all players including the friendly opposition under one umbrella; the zaradri regime continued right till the end despite its poor governance and its judicial defiance.

As it’s the turn of N league to govern, the problem is N league has been alleged for election fraud.

The people suffer from increasing deprivation, hunger, discomfort and mega corruption all over. Many of us in Pakistan genuinely believe that the present government has failed to perform. Though invoking article 245 shows the failure of civil administration, the Pak Military has no intention to intervene into political affairs. It’s up to the apex court to remove the sitting prime minister so that he can be independently investigated on murder charges and rigging charges.

Auditing the election should be made mandatory for a more mature democracy. The electoral fraud can be minimized if the inherent defects are removed from the current system or it’s totally replaced by a brand new system of governance as Mr. Qadri suggests.

Pakistan needs newer generation of leaders who are chosen by the educated Pakistanis. A renewed democracy includes the ouster of obsolete political practice. After all Pakistan deserves respect and satisfaction.