AS Muslims across Guyana joined millions around the world on Wednesday to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha, religious leaders used the occasion to promote messages of unity, compassion, charity and national harmony, while highlighting the continued importance of family and community during one of Islam’s holiest observances.
Eid-ul-Adha or the “Festival of Sacrifice”, is a reminder of the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah’s command, a powerful act of faith at the heart of Islamic teachings.
Every year, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, millions of Muslims gather in prayer and reflection during the observance.

Muslims throughout Guyana celebrated the occasion with special congregational prayers, family gatherings, charitable giving and the traditional Qurbani sacrifice.
Many also took advantage of technology and social media platforms to connect with relatives and friends abroad, making the celebrations more global and inclusive.
President of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), Shahabudeen Ahmad, has called on believers to embrace faith, sacrifice, unity and compassion while remembering those facing hardship both locally and internationally.
In his Eid-ul-Adha message for May 2026, Ahmad extended greetings to Muslim families nationwide and prayed for Allah’s acceptance of their prayers, sacrifices and acts of devotion during the sacred observance.
Eid-ul-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the unwavering faith and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who was prepared to sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael), in submission to Allah’s command.
Ahmad described Prophet Ibrahim as a timeless symbol of devotion and sacrifice whose example continues to inspire Muslims worldwide.
“This sacred occasion reflects upon the profound trials endured by Prophet Ibrahim and his family, rooted in complete submission to the Divine Will,” Ahmad stated.
Quoting from the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, he highlighted Prophet Ibrahim’s submission to God’s command: “When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.’”
The CIOG President stressed that the essence of Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice associated with Eid-ul-Adha, goes beyond the physical act of offering an animal.
“The Qurbani is not merely about the animal we offer; it is about the sincerity, obedience, and taqwa that must fill the heart,” Ahmad said.
He urged Muslims to sacrifice pride, selfishness and harmful habits that distance individuals from faith and spirituality, while referencing another Quranic verse from Surah Al-Hajj: “It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him.”
Ahmad also reflected on the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, where millions of Muslims gather dressed alike before Allah, describing it as a powerful reminder of equality, humility and brotherhood.
“As millions gather in Makkah for Hajj, clothed alike before their Lord, this season calls us to let that same spirit shape our lives here in Guyana: strengthening family ties, honouring our elders, guiding our youth, and working together for peace,” he said.
He further emphasised the importance of national unity and mutual respect in Guyana’s multicultural society, quoting from Surah Al-Hujraat: “People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another.”
Ahmad encouraged Muslims to use the Eid period to strengthen family relationships, reconcile differences and ensure vulnerable individuals are not forgotten during the celebrations.
“May Allah accept our sacrifices and worship, forgive our shortcomings, protect our families, and let this Eid be a time of joy, generosity, and remembrance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Imam of the Meten-meer-Zorg East Masjid, Halim Khan, said Eid ul-Adha is a strong reminder of the values that bring Guyanese together despite differences in race, religion and culture.
Traditionally, in the days leading up to the celebration, Muslims prepare for Eid through prayer, reflection, charity and acts of kindness, and families clean and decorate homes and prepare meals for relatives and guests, Khan explained.
“The sermons are about faith, sacrifice, obedience and compassion,” Khan said, referring to the special Eid morning prayers at mosques and open grounds across the country.
The observance revolves around the Qurbani sacrifice, in which meat is distributed to family members, neighbours, friends, and people in need, reinforcing Islamic values of charity and social support.
“In Guyana, Eid ul-Adha is also celebrated with large family reunions, visits to relatives and friends, sharing of meals and extending good wishes to all walks of life,” Khan said.
He said the observance is a reflection of Guyana’s multi-cultural identity where persons of different faiths often come together in the recognition and respect of each other’s religious traditions.
Khan said the meaning of sacrifice goes beyond ritual observance to speak to larger values of selflessness, service and responsibility to others.
“The sacrifice is more than a physical thing. “It is the willingness of the believer to put faith, morality and service to humanity above personal desires and material interests,” he said.
Eid celebrations’ face in Guyana has changed, says Khan.
He also noted that social media and digital communication have strengthened ties between local families and members of the Guyanese diaspora during the holiday season.
Muslim organisations and mosques across the country have increased their charitable outreach efforts over the years, including food distribution programmes and support initiatives for vulnerable families, he said.
Khan emphasised that those changes have not altered the core values of prayer, sacrifice, charity and gratitude at the heart of the observance.
He said Eid continues to be a strong expression of faith, family values, cultural heritage and national unity in Guyana’s multi-cultural society.
Khan called for peace and tolerance to prevail and urged Guyanese to reject division and work together for national development and social cohesion.
“Guyana’s greatest asset is the diversity of its rich culture and religion, with people from different backgrounds still living, working and celebrating together in harmony,” he said.
“As our country continues to grow and develop, we must continue to strengthen the bonds of unity and national solidarity that make us one people and one nation.”