Use Eid-ul-Adha to build national cohesion

The contribution of Muslims to the country’s development aspirations cannot be downplayed. Over the years, our Muslim brothers and sisters have played significant roles in the national development effort. Their commitment to nation-building, particularly peaceful co-existence with Christians and those of other religious faiths, cannot be questioned.

As Muslims in the country and the world over mark Eid-ul-Adha, the Daily Graphic would like to congratulate them and wish them a happy Eid-ul-Adha.

Eid-ul-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, is an obligation in Islam that the Holy Prophet Muhammed amplified more than 1,400 years ago. This all-important festival, which culminates in the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Mecca and marks the famous sacrifice by Prophet Abraham, is worth celebrating.

For us at the Daily Graphic, the occasion is historically symbolic and must be observed in reverence, self-reflection and denial, as well as the renewal of commitment to the holy religion.

In celebrating the religious duty, which signifies the time to honour the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son to Allah as an act of submission, it is the wish of the Daily Graphic that members of the Muslim fraternity, while showing love, care and goodwill towards one another, will also be modest and courteous to one another.

Many a time, besides prayers, Eid-ul-Adha is marked with the organisation of a massive concert dubbed: ‘Salafest’.

During ‘Salafest’ jamborees, many Muslim youth take over the streets or roads and ride motorbikes and drive unlicensed vehicles without recourse to safety regulations.

Most of the time the streets or roads are also blocked, denying others of their use. All these activities sometimes lead to injuries and fatalities.

The Daily Graphic calls for restraint and caution while the celebration goes on in moderation to avoid anything untoward. After all, it will be unwise to go through this holy celebration with injuries and fatalities.

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Another worrying phenomenon is the increasing rate at which indiscipline is growing in some Zongo communities lately.

The Daily Graphic would like to appeal to all and sundry, particularly the youth of these communities, to cooperate with Muslim leaders to help make our Zongos places worthy to live.

Had I known, it is said, is always at last, and so it will be good for our Muslim youth to refrain from any acts of indiscipline and negative actions that will mar the beautiful celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.

In our view, the celebration must be used to build national cohesion and enhance relationships that exist among people of different faiths through sacrifice and show of unconditional love to one another.