Goodluck Jonathan’s Facebook Address: “Happy Eid-el-Kabir!”

Today, Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid-el-Kabir (“the Big Holiday”), also called Eid al-Adha (Arabic, “festival of the sacrifice”), Feast of the Sacrifice, the Major Festival, the Greater Eid, Kurban Bayram, or Eid e Qurban.

goodluck_jonathanIt is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims to honour the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismail (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah’s command, and his son’s acceptance to being sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Abraham with a Lamb to sacrifice instead.

Eid al-Adha celebrations start after the descent of the Hajj from Mount Arafat, a hill east of Mecca.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has just addressed the Muslim part of our country via his Facebook account: 

“On this day, when our Muslim brothers and sisters celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, I see a point of congruence between Islam and Christianity, in that this day of celebration is held to honour the willingness of the Patriarch, Ibrahim, to make sacrifices to God.

“Ibrahim, or Abraham, is a central figure to both faiths, and is proof that there are a lot more that unite us as Muslims and Christians.

“As we celebrate the sacrifice of this patriarch, I call on all Nigerians to join the Islamic Ummah in praying and working for a greater Nigeria. This is what we should take from this holy day and beyond.

“Happy Eid-el-Kabir to our Muslim brothers and sisters and also to all Nigerians.

“GEJ.”

Naij.com also wishes our Muslim readers a meaningful and peaceful celebration.