Eid-ul-Azha, the second biggest religious festival of the Muslims, will be celebrated across Bangladesh tomorrow (Wednesday) with due solemnity and religious fervour. The holy occasion revives the memory of the Prophet Ibrahim’s (AS) faith in Allah and his complete readiness to sacrifice his dearest son Hazrat Ismail (AS) as a token of surrendering himself to the divine will. There lies the true message of Eid-ul-Azha. The Almighty Allah, in His infinite kindness and being satisfied with the prophet’s resolve, withdrew the decree and instead sent a ram to be sacrificed.
On this occasion, the Muslim devotees will offer prayers in congregations across the country and sacrifice animals in the name of Almighty Allah. They will offer munajat seeking divine blessings of Allah for peace, progress and prosperity of the country as well as welfare of the Muslim Ummah. The Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on the 10th of Zlhajj month of the Hijri calendar as Prophet Ibrahim (AS), on this day, some 4,500 years ago, offered to sacrifice his beloved son Ismail (AS) who also willingly submitted to the will of his father to please Allah.
The government has announced a three-day holiday for the Eid-ul-Azha from today (Tuesday). Government officials and employees will however enjoy holiday for another two days as the weekend follows Eid holiday. Five Eid jamaats will be held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque with the first one beginning at 7:00am and the last one will be held at 10:45am.
This year the Eid-ul-Azha is being observed at a time when hundreds of thousands of people are struggling with the coronavirus pandemic. Obviously they are not in a position to celebrate Eid the way they would have liked to. It is our moral and religious obligation to support the poor and needy people who are in extreme difficulties due to coronavirus restrictions. Let the rich and well off people extend their helping hands to those who are less fortunate. Our prayers are also with those world Muslims who are not able to celebrate the festival with the usual joviality because they are besieged by the pandemic, poverty or other difficulties. Muslims will celebrate the Eid in line with the government’s directives by maintaining physical distance and avoid embracing each other as the country is in the midst of a third wave of fatal Covid outbreak. Eid Mubarak.
