National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Chinyere Abiaziem
Chief Imam of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Amidu Sanni, has felicitate Muslim faithful on this year’s Festival of Eid-el-Kabir/ADHA, while charging them to stick to the true essence of the celebration.
Saying that the world has almost lost the teleological message of the annual rite, he
reiterated that dealing with greed, excessive materialism, and lack of the spirit of sharing and caring make up the underlying philosophy for the Feast.
The Chief Imam emphasised that the Holy Book specific explanation of how the animal should be shared, demonstrates that the ultimate aim of the rite is to cement family bond, provide for the poor and the needy, and promote social cohesion and love within the community regardless of religious and social identities.
He noted that those who cannot afford to slaughter any animal are statutorily exempted, hence no reason to go borrowing or engaging in illicit deals to fulfil a religious duty.
He said it was also against the spirit and message of Islam, to indulge in acts of disobedience, merry-making with alcoholic beverages, unholy assemblies, pomp, and pageantry in marking the feast.
He stated partly:”Looking back at the genesis of the event which was Prophet Ibrahim’s offer to sacrifice his only son in obedience to Allah and out of a strong hope for Allah’s abiding favours, the world today has almost lost the teleological message of this annual rite.
“To sacrifice our greed, excessive materialism,
and lack of the spirit of sharing and caring which Islam established as the underlying philosophy for the festival has almost paled into insignificance in favour of mirthful festivities, competition in the size of rams, expensive raiments, and other frivolities.”
On the political scene, he said that this year’s Feast of Sacrifice incidentally coming on the heels of the second year anniversary of the current political experience under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a special significance on the political class, and other Nigerians.
He made a clarion call to the President, the state governors, and heads of the local councils “to rescue Nigerians from the forlorn hope of a meaningful life. The highly taunted ‘Renewed Hope’ has been re-christened by some as ‘Renewed Despair’, perhaps not unjustifiably, as most, if not all, Nigerians groan under the pains, perhaps unintended, of hardships, occasioned by the removal of the oil (or crypto corruption) subsidy and the free floatation of the Naira…”
