Muslims want national holiday for Eid-Ul-Adha

The appeal has come as millions of Muslims all over the world and here in Trinidad and Tobago observe the occasion, revered in Islam, Christianity and Judaism, when the Prophet Ibrahim was told by God Almighty to sacrifice his son Ishmael to demonstrate his obedience and love for his creator.

Chairman of Ummah T&T, Imam Rasheed Karim said yesterday that Muslims observe two Eids: Eid ul-Fitr marking the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting; and Eid ul-Adha, commemorating the sacrifice asked of the father of Islam. Imam Karim, head of the Masjid Al-Furqaan of Felicity, Chaguanas said that Eid ul-Adha is the greater Eid for Muslims and should be accorded greater prominence in the list of national holidays.

“Even Guyana which has a smaller Muslim population than Trinidad and Tobago has accorded the status of a public holiday for Eid ul-Adha because they realise its importance to the Islamic community, and its role in the Muslim way of life,” said Imam Karim.

He called on his fellow brothers and sisters in Islam to follow the example of the prophet Ibrahim, to symbolically make personal sacrifices for the betterment of their personal lives and the national community at large.

“We must all strive to cleanse ourselves of all negative traits that do not conform to what God Almighty ordains, and to keep away from what he has prohibited for us, if we are to achieve success in this life and the next,” said Imam Karim. “We must strive daily to make the sacrifices necessary to secure our livelihood, take care of our families and contribute to the safety and security of our fellow citizens, and build our nation one day at a time,” said Imam Karim.

He said that Muslims especially, must recognise their role as exemplars who must uphold what is right in the eyes of Allah Most Gracious, and forbid what is wrong, by hand, word, or belief in our hearts, whichever is possible