Muslims at the Praying Ground
President Muhammadu Buhari has penned some heart-warming messages on his Twitter account to felicitate with his fellow Muslims at home and in diaspora, on account of the Eid celebrations. He wrote, “this celebration is, as always, an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual significance embodied by Eid, and to rededicate ourselves to showing love and care to our neighbors and others.”
Speaking on the state of the nation, the President who initially shared his disappointment on how possible it was, for terrorists to attack the Kuje Correctional Centre and got away with it. “How can terrorists organize, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?” has now in a newer post on Salah celebration, reveal his awareness on Nigeria security issues.
He wrote, “In Nigeria today, we are indeed facing challenges related to security and the cost of living. I am aware of all these challenges, and our administration is working hard to resolve them. I want to assure that I will not rest until I bring relief to Nigerians”.
However, amidst the insecurity issues and the high cost of living in the country, Muslims all over the country have chosen to celebrate the Eid Kabir in their own way and also bring smiles to faces of their loved ones.
Some Muslims in a dialogue with The Pendulum Media, shared how difficult it was to get rams for the celebration as the prices of rams are high starting from #180,000 and above. And as a result of this, there were more sellers than buyers in the markets.
Another reveal that he could not go out today to perform the prayer with the rest of the congregation as he and some others were disturbed by heavy downpour of rain in Alagbado area as well as several areas in Lagos as many muslims had their prayers in neighbourhood mosques; while another shared with The Pendulum Media reporter in Ibadan that, the weather was fair as she and her family members participated in the prayers but of course, it was not without some trickles of rain.
The second and biggest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam is known as Eid il Kabir. It recognizes and celebrates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as acts of obedience to Allah’s command. According to Islam, Ibrahim was believed to be very patient and in constant search for truth.
This, however necessitated the importance of sacrificing animals such as sheep, camel or goat to commemorate the event. One-third is eaten by immediate family members, one third to friends, one third to the poor. It signifies things that are of benefit to them or close to their hearts
Prior to this day, the Federal Government through the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had declared both Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th as public holidays for Salah celebrations.
The Minister in a statement released by the ministry’s Permanent secretary, Dr Shuaib Belgore, he congratulated all Muslims and also noted that, “we must all take responsibility for the security of lives and property as we celebrate this year’s festival…” he urged Nigerians to take responsibility by reporting any suspicious individual or criminal activity they observed around them to law enforcement agencies.
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