Eid Mubarak to all of Guyana

Aug 11, 2019 News

As we join our Muslim brothers and sisters, it is hoped that we all keep our focus on love, unity and the importance of self-sacrifice which is the hallmark of the today’s observance. May we recognize that it is through recognizing our individual roles that we can help to make world a better place for all.
We share below the sentiments of other contributors on this auspicious day:

PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER
I extend best wishes to all Guyanese, but especially our Islamic community, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. This scared day recalls the unshakeable faith and unwavering obedience of the Prophet Ibrahim.
Eid-ul-Adha is observed throughout our country with the offering of prayers and the distribution of food and alms to the less fortune in our society. The expressions of kindness, to the poor and needy, strengthen the chords of cohesion within our society. It demonstrates our concern for others and for the building of a more equitable society where everyone will be treated with dignity.
Guyana is today moving in the right direction. We are becoming a more caring, considerate and compassionate nation. We are working towards an inclusive future where no one will feel excluded and where everyone, regardless of class, race or religion, will be respected.
May the outpouring of kindness and concern for others, which is characteristic of Eid-ul-Adha, promote greater harmony in our beloved country! I wish all Guyanese a peaceful and joyous Eid-ul-Adha. Eid Mubarak to all!

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PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE PARTY CIVIC
Eid-ul-Adah reminds of the willingness to selflessly make sacrifice in obedience of God. Its observance is imbued with pertinent messages for the spiritual upliftment of all mankind, offering great potential for the redounding of peace and togetherness. This sacred observance comes during the annual Holy Pilgrimage Muslims across the world make to Mecca, Hajj; one of the five pillars of Islam. It is a journey that embodies sacrifices in the quest to fulfill religious obligations demonstrative of the teachings of equality as exemplified in Islam. On this auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Adah, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes the opportunity to extend greetings to the Muslim communities, both here in Guyana and in the Diaspora. The Party is cognizant of the significance of Eid-ul-Adah to our country and its people. Its observance continues to exemplify the characteristics of generosity, morality and love for others. In a multifaceted society like Guyana, these attributes have proven to be invaluable in strengthening bonds among all of our people and to forge better understanding and appreciation of our cultures. As our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Eid-ul-Adah, once again it brings into focus the many sacrifices Guyanese have made, and continue to make, for self-advancement and nation building with the common objective of a better life and future for all. The PPP remains mindful of the prevailing challenges Guyanese face and urges all to remain hopeful, to be inspired by the engrained message of Eid-ul-Adah and to draw upon their resilience and resoluteness. Eid Mubarak!

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GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION
In any lifetime, mankind is often confronted with the choice of making significant sacrifices. Whether a person or a family, a community or a Government, some sacrifices leave no options. Something held dearly in some esteem has to be given up for a general better good. That is the essence of the Eid-ul-Azha festival which Muslims commemorate to celebrate the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to hand up his son’s life in obedience to God’s command.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) relates to this story of obedience to God and joins Muslims in their observance of Eid-ul-Azha, 2019.
By this act in response to God’s request, the Prophet Abrahim and his son Ismail were put to the ultimate test of faith, submission and sacrifice. Ibrahim passed that test and thus showed the strength of his belief and willingness to submit to God.
In Guyana at this time, Guyanese are made to make choices that entails sacrifices in order to live from one day to another. An economy under siege forces collective sacrifice of one kind or the other literally daily. Our Muslim members in the sugar sector as well as from other beliefs know all too well about sacrifice and choices. Unlike the reprieve that God granted to Prophet Ibrahim, Guyana’s working-class cannot easily identify any savior in these times when it is really needed.
GAWU trusts that the inspiration embedded in the festival of Eid-ul-Azha can result in early rewards for all.
A blessed Eid-ul-Azha to all from GAWU.

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INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE
The Indian Action Committee (IAC) wishes to extend greetings to all Guyanese citizens, especially those who are adherents of Islam, on the sacred occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, a national holiday.
The IAC recognizes that Eid–ul–Adha is a time for believers to learn the value of self- denial by making a sacrifice of the things they love, to Almighty God.
The IAC understands that Prophet Ibrahim’s great act of submission is thus regarded solely as an example of genuine surrender to the will of his creator.
The IAC feels that today, more than ever, human beings need to incorporate the lesson of this great sacrifice with humility thus underlining the importance of the festival in memory of Prophet Ibrahim’s great act of faith, many centuries ago.
The IAC exhorts everyone in the spirit of self-sacrifice to not forget the poor and needy in our community, by sharing the sacrificial offerings with them.
The IAC sincerely hopes that this holy observance can bring people of different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds together in a spirit of national unity.
The IAC understands also that the festival of Eid-ul-Adha falls on the third day of Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca which is made by millions of Muslims every year. The IAC congratulates our brothers and sisters from home, who have undertaken this journey and extend good wishes for their safe return.
The IAC calls upon all Guyanese to ensure that this country remains a peaceful one and in the future, a prosperous nation.
Eid Mubarak from the IAC.

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ERC EMBRACES EID-UL-ADHA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE
The Ethnic Relations Commission, ERC, on Friday held a simple ceremony in its Georgetown compound to observe Eid-ul-Adha.
The programme was organised by the Public Education and Awareness Unit of the Ethnic Relations Commission and Haji Dr. Roshan Khan, ERC Commissioner for the Muslim constituency, offered remarks to those gathered.
The Islamic observance commemorates the selfless act of the patriarch Ibrahim to test his obedience to Allah; the ERC also calls on all Guyanese to embrace the message of Eid in our multi-religious society.
Eid Mubarak to all Guyanese from the Ethnic Relations Commission!

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The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana

Remembering the sacrifices of
Prophet Ibrahim and his family
Even after 40 centuries, the message and the character of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) remains exemplary for millions of people. A proponent of monotheism, he declared the Oneness of Almighty God at a time when the whole world was submerged into darkness of polytheism. In this backdrop, he heralded his determination to turn his face to the Almighty God, the One Who is the Creator of the universe.
Born in Babylon (modern Iraq) some 2000 BC, Ibrahim traveled through Syria, Egypt, Hijaz and Palestine, where he died and is buried at a place which is known after his name as Al-Khaleel. He made the entire Middle East areas as his area of operation for his mission, and assigned his nephew Lot to Sodom; his son Isaac to Palestine and planted his elder son Ismail at Hijaz. He is ancestor of most of the Prophets referred to in Old Testament, New Testament and the Holy Qur’an. He holds the highest position in world history with no parallel to him. Here we analyze his life and mission in light of the Holy Qur’an.
Ibrahim: God’s friend
Almighty God chose him as His friend (Khaleel). The people of his time in Syria would worship stars (thurayya). He is said to have been invited to select a star for his own worship. But after examining the sun and the moon, he rejected the idea and turned his face towards Allah the Creator of the heavens and the earth: “When the night covered him over, he saw a star: he said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said: ‘I love not those that set.’ When he saw the moon rising in splendor, he said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when the moon set, he said: ‘Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among those who go astray.’ When he saw the sun rising in splendor, he said: ‘This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all).’ But when the sun set, he said: ‘O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah. ‘For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth and never shall I give partners to Allah’.”
Ibrahim the iconoclast
In Iraq, King Nimrud then was powerful and a tyrant. The people were generally idolatrous and had many temples. Ibrahim was astonished to see people assigning their aspirations to idols of stones. One day when they were out of town for a festival, he entered the temple and hammered the stone-idols, mutilating their faces except the big one on which he placed the axe. When the people returned and saw their deities smashed and mutilated, they became angry. Although they felt ashamed of worshipping the idols that could not save themselves, they however decided to kill Ibrahim.
“So he broke them to pieces (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it. They said, ‘Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!’ They said, ‘We heard a youth talk of them: he is called Ibrahim.’ They said, ‘Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear witness.’ They said, ‘Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Ibrahim?’ He said: ‘Nay, this was done by, this is their biggest one! Ask them, if they can speak intelligently!’ So they turned to themselves and said, ‘Surely ye are the ones in the wrong!’ Then were they confounded with shame: (they said) ‘Thou knowest full well that these (idols) do not speak!’ (Ibrahim) said, ‘Do ye then worship, besides Allah, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? ‘Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides Allah! Have ye no sense’?” (21:57-67)
“So naught was the answer of (Ibrahim’s) people. Except that they said: ‘Slay him or burn him.’ But Allah did save him from the Fire. Verily in this are Signs for people who believe.” (29:23)
Argument with the king
When caught and brought before the king, Ibrahim declared the power of his Lord in the open court: “Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Ibrahim said: ‘My Lord is He Who giveth life and death.’ He said: ‘I give life and death.’ Said Ibrahim: ‘But it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the East do thou then cause it to rise from the West?’ Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected Faith. Nor doth Allah give guidance to a people unjust.” (2: 258)
The migration
Ibrahim left his father and the fatherland, and migrated to Egypt with his wife Sarah and he returned triumphant to Palestine with many gifts from the Egyptian king including a maid named Hajrah. Since Sarah was barren, Ibrahim married Hajrah who gave birth to a baby boy at his old age of 95. A jealous Sarah pressed her husband to take Hajrah away from her. On the Divine Guidance, Ibrahim took Hajrah and the new born Ismail to a distant place (present day Makkah) in Hijaz. Ibrahim left his beloved wife and infant son in the barren valley with no greenery, water or human inhabitation and prayed for the prosperity and security of his offspring in this barren valley.
Moments of trial
When the little amount of dates and water left by Ibrahim was over within few days, she felt thirsty and her infant son Ismail was crying to death. She ran madly between the two nearby hillocks of Safa and Marwah looking for water. She ran seven times. The hills and hillocks echoed with her cries. This was an ordeal, a great ordeal of God. She cried again and again but called none except Him. God showered His mercy upon her and a forceful spring of sweet water gushed out near Ismail’s feet. She called it Zamzam and it is flowing at the same place for the last 4,000 years. Almighty Allah declared Safa and Marwah as His signs and ordained the pilgrims to run seven times between them like His devoted lady, Hajrah: “Behold! Safa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the House in the Season or at other times, should compass them round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own impulse to Good, be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and knoweth.” (2:158)
The great triumph
Ibrahim returned a few years later to find his infant Ismail an energetic boy. He was tested again. He saw in a dream that he was offering his son Ismail as a sacrifice to his Lord. Ismail was his only son at this ripe age. Having decided however to win His pleasure, Ibrahim told the son of his dream. Being son of a great soul, Ismail immediately agreed, for this he said was ordained by God. Ibrahim took him to Mina (near Makkah) and as he laid Ismail to slaughter him, his Lord awarded him with great pleasure and ransomed Ismail with a goat sacrifice. This is the practice which is followed by all Muslims throughout the world as Eid Al-Adha or the festival of sacrifice.
The great assembly of Haj
Haj was started by Prophet Ibrahim. It is the perfect replica of the incidents and occasions of the life of Prophet Ibrahim and his family. Here we mention the main rites of Haj and their relationship with this noble family.
I. Construction of Holy Kaaba: Almighty Allah bestowed great favor on Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail to build the Holy Kaaba at Makkah Mukarramah, which is the focal point of the true faith in the world. Muslims turn their faces towards it in prayer, five times a day from every corner of the earth. Even their dead are buried facing the Holy Kaaba.
II. Performing Tawaf: Later Almighty Allah told him to call the people to perform Haj and Tawaf.
III. Saie of Safa and Marwah: Every pilgrim is obliged to run between the two hillocks.
IV. Zamzam: This is the water, which gushed out as a gift to infant Ismail. Pilgrims drink it and take it with them as holy water to the four corners of the world.
V. Rami Jamraat: When Prophet Ibrahim was taking his son, Ismail for a sacrifice in Mina the Iblees tried the seduce the family three times and they threw dust and pebbles upon him. The pilgrims follow the same practice and throw pebbles upon Iblees seven times each in three days of Haj.
VI. Animal sacrifice: This is in commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s decision to sacrifice his son Ismail and God’s Mercy upon him to ransom it by a sheep. The pilgrims in Mina and other Muslims celebrate the Great Win by sacrificing sheep, goat, cow and camels throughout the world. About two million animals in Mina and many millions abroad are slaughtered within three days whose meat is distributed to the poor. This is the largest free food distribution program of the world on the ‘Eid Al Adha’ annually.
VII. Maqam-i-Ibrahim: This is the place of a stone, marked with the foot print of Prophet Ibrahim where he was standing while raising the walls of Holy Kaaba. Every pilgrim offers prayer at this blessed place in every Tawaf.
VIII. Hijr Ismail: This place marked with Prophet Ismail’s name is now a part of the holy Kaaba and pilgrims offer prayer at this place.
The above rites of Haj are directly connected with the noble family of Prophet Ibrahim. Although Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) initiated Haj, there is however no Haj rite connected with his life. It is the commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim and his submission to the will of Almighty Allah.
Islam is the religion of Prophet Ibrahim. This is mainstream of Divine guidance including all prophets of Torah and the Bible. Judaism and Christianity are the offshoots of that one thread of divinity.

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Ministry of the Presidency, Dept. of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport

On behalf of the Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, I wish to extend sincere greetings to all Guyanese, particularly our Muslim brothers and sisters, on this auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.
The story behind today’s ‘Festival of Sacrifice’ or ‘Qurbani’ dates back to many centuries ago, when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was commanded by Allah (God) to sacrifice his son. Just when Abraham was about to make the sacrifice, Almighty God spared Ishmael’s life and replaced him with a lamb.
But it was Ibrahim’s willingness to knife his son that was seen as the ultimate act of submission, and continues to be honoured by the adherents of Islam.
This sacred day is observed during the 10TH day of the Islamic month of Zul Haj (Holy Pilgrimage).
Each year, Muslims from around the globe undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca – the holiest city for Muslims. This journey is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and this year a number of Guyanese Muslims have embarked on this Holy Hajj. We want to wish them a most rewarding experience, and a safe return home.
For our brothers and sisters at home, we hope that the real lessons of this sacrifice will be embraced. We hope that Muslims and non-Muslims will be able to sacrifice their egos, prejudices and ill thoughts so that we can all live in love and harmony.
In the spirit of Social Cohesion, let unite to partake in today’s festivities of charity and true faith.
EID MUBARAK, GUYANA!