Eid-ul- Adha Message from the President of the CIOG

As-Salaamu Alaikum WaRahmatullahi-WaBarakaatuh.

Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak, Eid Mubarak!

“This day I have perfected your Deen for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen.” (Holy Quran – Surah Al-Ma’eda Chapter 5 verse 3)”

All gratitude is to Allah (SWT), Lord of all creation, peace and blessings on the noble Prophet (SAW), his family and Companions. I offer Eid Mubarak greetings on behalf of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana and I ask Allah (SWT), the Almighty, to accept from all of us, our good deeds. 

Alhamdu-Lillah, Eid-ul-Adha has arrived and it is a season of happiness, family bonding, nurturing mutual compassion, love, and support for the poor; values that are important to Guyanese and the larger community. Eid is also an opportunity to demonstrate solidarity. We celebrate Eid-ul-Adha in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar which signifies the counting down to the end of another year. 

Alhamdu-lillah, any period of great tests require reflection and meaningful action. Humanity continues to show great resilience, many returning to faith and having a better appreciation for the overlooked mercies in life. Pilgrims have returned in great numbers back to Hajj to trace the footsteps of the Friend of Allah (SWT), Ibrahim (Abraham). The entire ritual of Hajj is based on the noble family of our Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him, the Patriarch.

Eid-ul-Adha cannot be celebrated without remembering our patriarch, the friend of Allah (SWT), Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him. This festival commemorates the sacrifices made by Prophet Ibrahim and his family. He (peace be upon him) is described as the forefather of all the prophets who came after him, including Moses, Jesus, and our Beloved Muhammad (SAW). Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is accorded the highest status in the Holy Quran and is described in Surah An-Nahl Chapter 16: verse 120), as an “Ummah,” a nation. Imagine one person referred to as an Ummah. This is partly because the amount of good, his exemplary submission to Allah (SWT), his sincerity in worship, all embodied to the degree of an entire Ummah, a nation. He was given the title of Khaleel-lullah, or friend of Allah.

“When his Lord said to him ‘submit’, he said ‘I have submitted [in Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.” (Holy Quran – Surah Al-Baqara Chapter 2: verse 131)”

Eid ul-Adha starts with the glorification of Allah (SWT), and its pinnacle is total submission to the Creator. Our journey begins by understanding and moving through the levels of our Nafs. If one overcomes lower desires, detaches from all material desires, and truly humbles before Allah (SWT), one will understand the essence behind this celebration and can take the best out of this Eid. This was the example of our Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him).

Eid al-Adha is the celebration of the reformation of the human condition from that of servitude to other men to that of devotion to the Creator of all living and non-living things. Do not fall into the trap of considering yourself better than others; Remember Allah (SWT) says, “People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another. Allah (SWT) reminds us, “The most honored of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware.” (Holy Quran – Surah Al-Hujraat 49: verse 13).

Considering Eid as a unifying factor for all the Muslim Ummah, I humbly request you to join me in raising our hands in Dua. Supplicating to The Almighty for Blessings and Protection of our Muslim brethren and all of humanity. Let us pray for peaceful co-existence in Guyana and the entire world. 

Change begins with the person in the mirror. Our actions must prove that we mean no ill to anyone and we are all part of one humanity. Each one of us must be the change that we desire. Change yourself in order to set an example that encourages others to change. Verily, Allah (SWT) will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. (Holy Quran – Surah Ar-Rad chapter 13: verse 11)

As Allah (SWT) says in his Majestic Quran, “Indeed, the most worthy of Abraham among the people are those who followed him [in submission to Allah] and this Prophet, and those who believe [in his message]. And Allah is the Wali (protector and helper) of the believers.” (Holy Quran – Surah Al-Imran 3: verse 68)

Our Father, Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, when thrown into the fire by his own people he was inspired with the words in the verse of the Quran: 

Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).”

(Holy Quran Surah Al-Imran 3: verse 173)

May Allah (SWT) continue to bless you and your families and make us people who strive to bring benefit to others. Let us work on improving ourselves and those around us. Together we work to become agents of peace, instilling harmony among people regardless of ethnicity and creed. Let us be protectors of each other, ensuring we respect the rights of each other. May GOD bless our nation as we all strive for a better country. May Allah (SWT) show us right as right and help us to follow it and show us evil as evil and enable us to stay far away from it. Let us be like the great Prophet, the Patriarch, our father, the Friend of GOD Ibrahim (Abraham), peace be upon him and his family; and remember, when faced with insurmountable hurdles, utter the words of our father Ibrahim (Abraham) peace be upon him when he said, Hasbunallah-wa-na’mal-wakeel – Allah, GOD (alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of our affairs. 

Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak Eid Mubarak

Wa-Alaikumus-Salaam-WaRahmatullahi-Wabarakaatuh.

Shahabudeen Ahmad

President – CIOG