With a strong sense of Islamic
fraternity, I extend warmest greetings of Eid Al-Adh-ha
of Hijri 1426 to all brothers and sisters-in-Islam
on my behalf and on behalf of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul
Ulama.
On this day, the whole Muslim Ummah,
as it has been doing for five thousand long years,
recollects with much enthusiasm the time when Prophet
Ibraheem (Alaihis salaatu wassalaam) had the courage
to take his beloved son Ismaeel (Alaihis salaatu
wassalaam) to sacrifice him for Almighty Allah -
the act that goes beyond all the boundaries of affection
for the kith and kin, longings of the mind and wants
of the heart. All knew how his steadfast commitment
to his Creator was answered by dispatching a goat
to him to substitute for his adored son born in
his older age.
Remembering this noble act of Ibraheem
(Alaihis salaatu wassalaam), from the time that
follows the Eid Prayer till dusk on the following
3rd day, the Muslim Community engages in Udh-hiyyah
- slaughtering animals and distributing the meats
among the poor and needy.
While performing such an important
religious worship that brings enormous virtues,
the community has to make a solemn pledge to be
loyal to the mother country and behave harmoniously
with the fellow compatriots, especially when the
country is in grave peril, enduring the painful
happenings that might come from any elements and
seek the help of Allah from whom only one could
receive refuge.
It is, at this moment, my bounden
duty to insist that we iron out all our differences
and stand hand in hand to encounter whatever comes
that could challenge our existence
Eid Mubaarak!
Ash-Shaikh H. Abdul Nazar
General Secretary, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
02.01.2006
