THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EID-UL KABIR IS THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S VIEWPOINT. IT IS WRITTEN BY DR. KAZEEM OLALEKAN, CHIEF IMAM OF OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY, EJIGBO CAMPUS MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Eid – ul- Kabir is the second and bigger of the two celebrations in islam.The other celebration is Eid – ul- Fitri.
Eid- ul- Kabir has been traced to the strong faith displayed by prophet Ibrahim.
It is so significant that many of hajj rites were linked to prophet Ibrahim and his family.
Among the lessons that are expected to be learnt include not giving up on the mercy of Allah.
Prophet Ibrahim was challenged with childlessness till old age but he never gave up on the mercy of Allah.
Again, Eid-ul- Kabir is also to encourage Muslims to be submissive to Allah, either in prosperity or in adversity.
Prophet Ibrahim and his household were found upright, despite the challenges they faced.
To prove this, Allah revealed to prophet Ibrahim to offer as sacrifice, the only son that he had longed for.
The prophet agreed, and also did his wife and the son, Nabiyy Ismail.
Allah in his magnanimity replaced the son with a ram that he slaughtered.
Slaughtering of rams during Eid-ul Kabir festival is a remembrance of that great event.
However, deeper than the slaughtering of animals is the expected increase in piety from all Muslims, as displayed by prophet Ibrahim (ASW).
In Qur’an 22: 37, Allah says he is not in need of either the flesh or the blood of the slaughtered animals but his interest is in the accompanied piety.
In order words, it means we are expected to be as submissive to Allah as the rams are submissive to us.
Lastly, Eid-ul- Kabir is about fulfillment of promises, particularly as regards our promise of worshipping Allah, and this should be extended to fulfillment of promises we make among ourselves.
In summary,Eeid – ul Kabir, is about faith, it is about trust in the judgment of Allah and being upright.
