Eid-ul-Adha In Ghana And The Upcoming December 2024 Elections

NEWS COMMENTARY ON REFLECTIONS ON MUSLIMS CELEBRATION OF EID-UL-ADHA IN GHANA AND THE UPCOMING DECEMBER, 2024 ELECTIONS.

Muslims across the world yesterday celebrated Eid-Ul-Adha, in commemoration of Abraham’s obedience to Allah. Eid-Ul-Adha, also known as the feast of sacrifice. It is one of the Islamic festivals celebrated by Muslims. Eid-Ul-Adha is observed on the 10th of the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijja in commemoration of the prophet Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice his son, Ishmael to Allah. As we celebrate Eid, it is worthy to acknowledge several other Ghanaians, who are currently in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage observing and performing several rituals, following the footsteps of Prophet Abraham and his wife Haga or Hajara. Quran chapter 37 verse 102, succinctly captures the dream prophet Abraham kept having, thereby engaging his son Ishmael and leading to the feast of sacrifice. It  says, “And when he attained to working with him, he said: O my son! surely I have seen in a dream, that I should sacrifice you; consider then what you see. He said: O my father! do what you are commanded; if Allah please, you will find me of the patient ones.”

It is significant to highlight the greetings pleasantly exchanged among Muslims during the celebration of Eid-Ul-Adha, as “Eid Mubarak,” , which  means, “Blessed Eid.” This must translate into tangible compassion, care and love for one another, regardless of one’s sectarian inclination. Obedience to Allah and striving to make life meaningful to humanity should be the primary focus of all Muslim engagements. Furthermore, deliberate attempts to undermine other people’s faith and inclinations should be discarded. The three-day celebration is characterized by the slaughtering of sheep, goats, cattle, and camels, as prescribed on reward earning order. The mode of sharing the meat is based on laid down rules in the shari’a. As the meats are shared, we should not forget the destitute in our communities, irrespective of their religious affiliations, for Islam is an umbrella for public good. Islam signifies caring, sharing and responsibility as enshrined in the sharia.

Responsibility in performing the duties of Islam, should extend to the community and the nation. In so doing and as the December general elections draw closer, Muslims in Ghana need to deduce the values embedded in the commemoration of Eid-Ul-Adha for the attainment of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and submitting to laid down regulations in any given space. The general elections are an avenue for expressing opinions through the thumbs and not the deployment of weapons for human destruction. The days  the unemployed and energetic youth in Muslim communities are used as weapons for attacking political opponents are gone and such acts must not be tolerated and entertained again. The election and voting trend should be issue-based, as the economic challenges facing the country knows no political party colours.

Challenges facing Muslim communities, which include education, health and unemployment, sanitation are enormous and they require a consultative approach to tackle them. Therefore, notable Islamic organizations, such as the National Muslim Conference needs to advance policies to equip the youth with employable skills. The National Muslim Conference should liaise with other key stakeholders to create avenues for skill-based training centers in the Zongo communities, to serve as sources of livelihoods, that leads to both medium to  long-term facelift in the development of the poor and marginalized Zongo communities, as many have not yielded the desired outcomes. The various non-governmental organizations spearheading the developmental projects must partner with others with similar philosophies for positive synergy. Therefore, Muslims need to adopt proactive and participatory approaches to seeking solutions to challenges confronting Zongo communities.  Muslims must add their voices in all activities and advocacies, that lead to free and fair elections come December this year. We must strive to sustain the peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying now, during and after the elections, for Islam is peace. Eid Mubarak to all Muslims across the globe.

WRITTEN BY: MOHAMMED RABIU ADAM, AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE HIJRA CLUB, ACCRA.

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