Eid ul Azha or Bakrid is celebrated by Muslims the world over in memory
of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) who lived about 4500 years ago. He was an
embodiment of selfless sacrifice and deep devotion to God. Once dreamt
as if commanded by God, he was ready even to sacrifice his only son
Hazrat Ismail (Ishmael) who was also all the more willing to give up his
life as per divine order. But it was stopped as it was not what God
wanted as he was only tested for his faithfulness and
forbearance. The
holy Quran says that it is not the “flesh and blood” that reaches God
but the devotion one has for Him.
The most important aspect associated with this festival is the Haj
pilgrimage to Makkah which is obligatory for people who can afford it.
The Islamic equality and brotherhood of mankind is manifest in the
mammoth gathering of more than two million Haj pilgrims, drawn from
different parts of the world, irrespective of their colour, creed or
country, joining together at a place, men in a white unstitched
“uniform” of two pieces of cloth called “Ihram” and women with a
head-cover and usual dress, doing “tawaf” (circumambulation) and praying
to Almighty God with absolute devotion and wishing for world peace and
prosperity. This spectacular annual assembly of Haj pilgrims, full of
piety and Divine wisdom, is of great significance.
The holy Quran says: “O People! Behold, we have created you all out of a
male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes only for the
sake of identification and knowing one another. Verily the noblest of
you in the sight of God is the one who is pious and God fearing (The
holy Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:13). It also says that “God does not love the
proud” and Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am)’s warning is that “he who has a
grain of pride in his/her heart will not enter heaven.”
If the purpose of religion being love is properly understood and
followed, we can get a just world order wherein one can live, develop
and prosper happily in an atmosphere free from fear, oppression and
exploitation and also make the other world hereafter, called “Aakhirah”,
a paradise. A Haji – one who returns after Haj pilgrimage – is expected
to be as innocent as a child without enemies from within such as envy,
greed, ill-will etc. and lead a life getting the pleasure of God and
thereby peace of mind and tranquility.
V. M. Khaleelur Rahman
V. M. Khaleelur Rahman
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment