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Nigerian Muslim will today join their brethren across the world to re-enact the obedience displayed by Prophet Ibrahim to Allah as they celebrate the eid-el-kabir, the festival of sacrifice.
Prophet Ibrahim, the father of faith, had, on this day, offered to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to a vow he made to Allah.
At the point of carrying out the task, Allah, convinced of his servant’s genuine commitment, presented a ram to be sacrificed in place of Ismail.

The tradition is celebrated by Muslims on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. It comes a day after Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia observe the standing at Arafat from noon till dusk, offering prayers to Allah. The Arafat Day is the largest gathering of all human race in a location and at a time. Arafat Day marks the climax of the hajj rites.

Expectedly, gently dressed Muslims will throng the eid praying grounds to offer prayers after which they return to their homes to slaughter rams, out of which they eat and share among friends and neighbours.
Meanwhile, as Muslims celebrate the festival, goodwill messages pour in from various leaders in the land.
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in their resolve to make democracy a way of life.

Senator Mark, in a goodwill message to Muslims, noted that of all forms government, democracy has proved to be the one accepted by civilized people.
To this end, he charged Muslims to pray for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, which he believes would guarantee good governance and welfare of the citizenry.

He noted that the period calls for sober reflection on the state of the nation beyond the phase of merry making, even as he further canvassed religious harmony between and among various sects, pointing out that all religions professed peace, love and good neighbourliness.
He gave assurance that the Senate and the National Assembly would be guided by the yearnings and aspirations of the ordinary man.

Mark emphasized: “The resolve of the National Assembly is to ensure that the lives of our people improve for the better. If at the end of our four years tenure the life of the ordinary man does not change positively, then we all would have failed.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole, said that the eid-el-kabir festival is an important occasion to reflect on Allah’s infinite love to humanity as a whole.
In his goodwill message, he enjoined all Muslim faithful to show love and compassion to one another, stating that such was the only way to demonstrate one’s appreciation to God’s continued divine intervention in Nigerians’ lives.

The Speaker reminded the faithful that the underlying factor in the eid-el-kabir celebration was the spirit of sacrifice.
The speaker, who gave the charge in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said that Prophet Ibrahim’s unshaken faith in Allah and his honesty earned him the divine intervention of Allah at a critical time he needed to fulfill his promise.

According to Bankole, “we, as Muslim faithful, should constantly reflect on the infinite love which Almighty Allah has for us, and in return reciprocate by showing love and compassion to others.”
He added that it is in doing such that “we shall continue to receive more favours from Heaven above.”
He, however, enjoined the faithful to remain steadfast and committed in their belief as their continued prayers have helped the nation in large measure in overcoming most of its teething challenges as a nation.
Also, Nigerians have been assured of better days ahead, as they prepare to breast the tape into the new year.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in the April election in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, gave the assurance, while joining other leaders to felicitate with Muslims on the eid-el-kabir celebrations.
The politician observed that affairs in the economic, social and political spheres had fostered despondency and despair in the hearts of the people.

Specifically, he noted that Nigerians’ longing for visionary and purposeful leadership to turn their fortunes around for the better had been vitiated by the marred April polls, which threw up inept, self-serving and corrupt leaders across the country. He gave assurance that the wrongs of the past would be redressed in future.

Ajimobi noted that the eid-el-kabir signified Allah’s infinite love to humanity as it also underscored the need for Muslims to demonstrate faith in God, as well as love and compassion for fellow human beings.
“Just as Allah, in his divine love, provided a ram as a ransom for Prophet Ibrahim, to sacrifice in place of his only son, Ismail, so must we show love and assistance to others,” Senator Ajimobi said in the Sallah message.

Similarly, he urged the faithful to demonstrate faith, like Prophet Ibrahim, did in the capability of Allah to raise up honest, good leaders who would lead the nation to eldorado, stressing, “it was only in this way that we can continue to receive more favours from Almighty God.”

He reminded Muslims to use the occasion to reflect on the import of the Sallah, wherein Allah’s divine intervention provided a ram as ransom for Prophet Ibrahim’s son.
Ajimobi enjoined Nigerians, irrespective of creed or tribe, to love one another, in appreciation of God’s greater love and mercy. He prayed to God to continue to protect, guide and bless his people through the coming years.