Written by Chriseana Ramrekha
MEMBERS of the Muslim community in Guyana yesterday gathered at their respective mosques to observe Eid-ul-Adha, a celebration which is considered a “festival of sacrifice” with the singular goal of remembering the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God.According to the narrative, when Prophet Abraham was about to sacrifice Ishmael, Allah intervened to provide him with a lamb to sacrifice instead, and Abraham’s great act of submission is thus regarded solely as an example of genuine surrender to the Will of God, and is to be followed as such.

The Guyana Chronicle visited the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown, where persons gathered to participate in the activity witnessed the slaughtering of animals and the distribution of beef to all those present.

General Manager of the CIOG, Shaykh Zakir Khan, told this publication that the CIOG sacrificed approximately 70 animals, whose meat would be shared accordingly, with each person receiving two or three pounds.

He related that the CIOG expected to share this meat to approximately 2000 persons, while pointing out that this activity followed the Morning Prayer and a sermon reminding persons of the significance of Eid-ul-Adha.

According to him, persons share the meat to their family members, friends and the poor; and basically cook and make it a joyous day. “Eid-ul-Adha is an act of sacrifice with the intention to get closer to God Almighty. It’s a representation of the sacrifice that Prophet Abraham (made) when God commanded him to sacrifice his son; and so what we do is a representation of that,” he explained.

Mr. Khan added that what Muslims care about is not the meat or the sacrifice, but the intention of a man’s heart, and that the man was willing to do this for the sake of God Almighty.

This publication spoke to Mr. Ashmead Ali, a Guyanese residing in the United States for 38 years, but who has come home for the third time especially to observe this activity. The Long Island, New York resident said this was the first time he had seen so many animals being slaughtered, and he was pleased with what he observed taking place.

He opined that this was an occasion when all Muslims come together, and they are very cooperative and spend their money to slaughter the animals to share its meat to all the poor people.

He said he would encourage his friends and family members back home, and more widely in the entire world, to come to Guyana and spend their money to participate in this activity.

Yunus Jahurally reflected on the significance of Eid-ul-Adha while stating that he hoped to collect his meat. He said each wife would then cook the meat brought home and invite guests over to have a meal.

He explained that the meat is shared in three different categories: to the poor or needy, regardless of their religion; to family members, and then a third would be used for personal use.

The Guyana Chronicle also spoke to Mustafa Baksh, who reflected on the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham while pointing out that the activity is in continuation of that sacrifice. “It is said that it is not the flesh or the blood that reaches God Almighty, but it’s the piety in which we do it,” he said.

According to Baksh, each hair of a sacrificed animal signifies that all the sins of the one who has made the sacrifice is being forgiven; and the main thing for the doer of the sacrifice is to ensure that the meat is given to all his friends and family members, as well as the poor must receive their share.