Muslims around the world are today celebrating the Eid ul-Adha festival, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice.
It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command and also marks the end of Hajj, which is the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca.
The National Chief Imam’s spokesperson Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu told Citi News the celebrations will be dedicated to promoting peace ahead of the elections.
[contextly_sidebar id=”HCD6yIY5AUBxZrBKCiGukeFedfXD7uF5″]He explained that this year’s celebration in Ghana is special because it falls within an election year.
“For this year in Ghana in particular, it’s going to be special because it occurs just in a period close to our election so there are a number of things which will come central to this year’s celebration. So peace is going to be one of the key elements that will reverberate in the various sermons that will be delivered across the country.”
He said though “Chief Imam though he is now in the holy land of Saudi Arabia his representative will lead a prayer at the Independence Square.”
“We want to use the occasion to tell all Muslims of the country particularly the youth who occasionally have been reduced to tools or agents of violence, we want to call particularly the Muslim youth that they should now focus on their God given duty to be the agents of peace in the world,” he added.
About Eid ul-Adha
Eid al-Adha is also called the “Sacrifice Feast” or “Bakr-Eid” and itis the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two.
It honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened sending his angel Jibra’il (Gabriel) and informs him that his sacrifice has already been accepted. The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts.
The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.
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By: Godwin A.Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin