Muslims around the world are today celebrating Eid ul-Adha, the second of two Islamic holidays marked worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. It ends on Friday, August 24.
Eid UL-Adha marks the end of Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the religion’s holiest city. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
In commemoration of this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: one third of the share is given to the poor and needy; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is retained by the family.
Eid ul-Adha in Kumasi
In Kumasi, a renowned Ahmadi Preacher, Maulvi Yusif Bin Salah represented the Ashanti Regional Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Maulvi Hamid Tahir to lead the congregational prayers at the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School.
The Ahmadi congregation prayed for peace and stability in Ghana in general and the Ashanti region in particular, as well as for the Asantehene and traditional authority in the region.Maulvi Yusif Bin Salah said the tenets of the Islamic faith forbids them to join any group of people or undertake any activity or behaviour that could create conflict or chaos in the society.
He reminded them of how important it is for them to take lessons from all that happened to Prophet Ibrahim and implement them in their lives rather than confine the occasion to mere animal sacrifice.
For his part, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Osei Assibey-Antwi commended the Muslim community in the region for peacefully co-existing with members of other religious faiths.
He advised them however to refrain from negative practices that do not auger well for peace and development.
On behalf of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, the Metropolitan Chief Executive presented a cow, 10 bags of rice and five cartons of cooking oil to the Ahmadis for the celebration of the Eid ul-Adha festivities.
Bolgatanga Eid
Muslims in Bolga have been charged to chart a common path by emulating the shining examples of the Holy Prophet, Mohammed.
From Bolgatanga, Radio Ghana’s Samuel Ayammah, reports that, hundreds of orthodox Muslims and sympathizers converged on the NAFAC grounds to offer prayers as part of activities to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha.
In a message, the outgoing Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Ayine Bukari urged the Muslim community to demonstrate Islamic teachings of brotherliness and tolerance even to non- Muslims.
He said the Zongo Development Fund has come to the rescue of communities where social amenities and infrastructure were nothing to write home about.
Mr. Bukari said after assessing the priority needs of Zongo communities and planning with Muslims on the use of the money, actual implementation of the various projects will commence soon.
He charged Muslim leaders to give their full support for the smooth take off of development.
He said government will continue to recognize religious bodies as partners in development..
In a sermon, the Deputy Regional Chief Imam, Sheik Tahiru Sa-eed, admonished Muslims to chart a common path by emulating the shining examples of the Holy Prophet. A ram was later slaughtered to exemplify the act of sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim.
Other Muslim sects in the region including the Tijania’s observed the day at separate venues.
