Eid Mubarak!

AS we prepare to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha, we are reminded once again of the purity which comes of an observance of religious duties. For on Eid-ul-Azha we do not simply sacrifice animals as a matter of routine; we bring into that sacrifice a careful recalling of the spirit which must go into it. This observance of religious tradition brings with it the cardinal lesson of faith being a constant remembrance of the munificence which comes our way from the Creator of the universe. And because of that munificence, the responsibility devolves on us to put ourselves in relation to our neighbours, our families, indeed to everyone in order for us to understand the sufferings and the various compulsions that people less fortunate than we are often victim to. Our priorities on Eid-ul-Azha are, therefore, clear: on this noble occasion, it is for us to bear in mind the welfare, or the need for it, of others. And within that category of people come the poor, the destitute and the desperate. Eid-ul-Azha loses meaning when these men and women are forgotten or ignored.

Let us remember too that Eid-ul-Azha follows the completion of the Islamic holy pilgrimage of Hajj. The religious sanctity of the occasion thus acquires even greater substance and meaning; and Islam calls upon all Muslims to share in the joy which comes of sacrifice. A mere consuming of food is far from the thoughts of a practising Muslim. What matters is the degree of self-control, of the quality of giving, that he can bring to be part of his personality as he celebrates Eid. The religious principles attached to sacrifice, indeed to the distribution of the meat of the sacrificial animals are a clear pointer to what the faith of Islam expects him to do. It is this all-encompassing thought that they who observe Eid-ul-Azha should bear in mind this season. There cannot be anything hedonistic about the celebration. There will be everything devotional about it. Once this underlying thought is acknowledged, Eid-ul-Azha becomes a meaningful step towards a fulfillment of religious duties.

Since all religious celebrations are in a huge way a cleansing of hearts and souls, so are they a call to people to lead lives away from the kind of squalor that some often create through littering on Eid-ul-Azha. Let such a spirit of cleanliness be upheld. At the same time, let the city authorities ensure that the sacrifice of animals on Eid will be quickly followed by mopping up activities aimed at keeping our streets clean.

We wish all our readers Eid Mubarak!