As Muslims in Nigeria join their counterparts worldwide to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir from tomorrow, it is apt to remind all citizens that this is yet another festival that should be observed without the fanfare usually expected of such an occasion. Coming amid the country’s position on a near precipice and at a time millions of Nigerians are undergoing excruciating death, pain, physical and psychological torture mainly arising from the Boko Haram insurgency raging in the North East, this is a time for prayers and reflection. For almost three years now, three states – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa – have been under a state of emergency in response to the disorder prevailing there. Within the period of the emergency and troops’ deployment to counter the terrorism, the region has witnessed a drastic plummeting of all indices of wellbeing. Thousands are being killed, maimed, raped, dehumanized, abducted and subjected to agony directly and in consequence of the war situation. It is now 172 days since 219 secondary school girls were kidnapped in a government school in Chibok, Borno State. So far, efforts to recover them have been futile, while their parents and guardians have reportedly died from the resulting trauma and despair.
Surely, these are no conditions for merriment; and Nigerians, particularly Muslims whose religion is being wrongly portrayed and mischievously used to rationalise these attacks, should recognise this. This year’s Eid-el-Kabir (festival of the ram) should accordingly be observed in deep retrospection and moderation.
In any event, the divine history of the Eid calls for no less sobriety in its observance; considering that it marked an occasion where Almighty God showed his infinite mercy and kindness to humanity, when He miraculously produced a ram to be sacrificed instead of Ishmael, a human being. Nigerians are reminded of the Koranic (and Biblical) story of how Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) – may Allah’s peace be upon him – had promised to sacrifice his then only son – Ishmael – to Almighty Allah. Ibrahim’s encounter with God and his promise was perceived through dreams and vision with unmistakable signs. In absolute submission to Allah, he set out to sacrifice his son, who in similar faith – his father having informed him of the mission – also submitted himself to the will of Allah. At the last moment, when Ibrahim was about to perform the sacrifice, God stopped and ordered him to instead substitute his son with the ram that had miraculously appeared.
Ultimately, the Eid-el-Adha, as the festival is also called, is a reminder to Nigerians and indeed all mankind that they have all fallen short of the glory of God. They have failed to be in awe of God and to submit themselves to His injunctions and mercy. Instead, they have rewritten the scriptures and imposed their worldly desire on God’s commandments. A clear example is the overturning of Islam, a religion of peace to its current perception – courtesy of Boko Haram, ISIS, Al Qaeda and many other violent groups – as a platform for violence and destruction. This is despite the fact that the gross majority of Muslims worldwide including governments of states dominated or populated by Muslims, continue to preach and uphold the peaceful doctrine of the religion.
Beyond the menace of terrorism, many Muslim leaders have erred against Allah, going by their gross mismanagement of public resources put in their care. Thus, while they and their immediate families swim in opulence and extravagance, the rest of the nationals wallow in abject poverty. This is a subversion of Allah’s admonition.
This occasion is another reminder that Allah is a most merciful God, who is ready to shower his mercy and blessing to all his subjects, if only they hearken to him. If God could, in a moment, stop what would have been a destruction of mankind, through his act in providing a ram for Ibrahim, He can indeed save mankind from the scourges of war, disease, hunger, poverty and want. But have Nigerians genuinely sought his intervention in this regard? Will God indeed intervene in the country’s travails in the midst of sin and un-repentance of mankind?
Nevertheless, while God remains merciful, His acts of mercy and blessing must be manifestly and continually sought by all. Mankind, including all Nigerians, must be ready to abide by his injunctions and rules. Leaders and members of Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups must admit or be made to accept, that their acts of killing, destroying, abducting, raping and other inhuman treatments, are all in violent contradiction of the commandments of Allah. Islam and Eid-el-Kabir are about keeping faith in God at all times, steadfastness, love, good neighbourliness, tolerance and understanding.
All Nigerians are enjoined to observe this Eid the way Allah and Prophet Mohammed (May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him) directed. The rams should be slaughtered within the three days following the passage by pilgrims to Mecca and Medina of Mount Arafat. Slaughtering of rams after this period is no longer in observance of the Eid-el-Kabir. The slaughtered rams should be promptly shared among families, friends, neighbours and the less privileged who cannot afford to buy rams. Preserving the meat for weeks or months is not permitted. Eating should be done in moderation and humility, not with alcohol consumption and fanfare. Thoughts should be spared constantly for thousands of Nigerians, both Muslims and Christians, (including soldiers) currently languishing in sorrow, disease, hopelessness and despair, as a result of acts of terror perpetrated by the jaundiced Boko Haram sect.
As this is a period of travels, all Nigerians should be extra careful so as not to add to the country’s present woes. Motorists should avoid over-speeding and accidents; and they should comply with traffic regulations. All Muslims should spiritually unite with and pray for their brethren on holy pilgrimage to Mecca, which is a key pillar of Islam required of all Muslims at least once during their lifetime.
The authorities should do more, and quickly, to end the insurgency threatening to engulf the country, release those in bondage from terror, and provide succour to hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who have been rendered homeless and made vulnerable to disease, squalor and untimely death. This newspaper wishes all Nigerians a great Eid-el-Kabir.
