Vice-President, Mahamudu Bawumia and Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu
Vice-President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has asked Muslims to use today’s Eid prayers to say special prayers for the country and their beloved ones.
In an Eid-Ul-Adha felicitations to Muslims, the Vice-President reminded members of the faith about “the inspiring story of obedience, sacrifice and selflessness Prophet Ibrahim (alaihi salam) by willingly obeying Allah’s command to sacrifice his only beloved son.”
Muslims and their non-Muslim compatriots, he said, “should imbibe the values demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim in their everyday life towards our nation, family and humanity.”
Muslims, he said should be thankful to God for granting them another Eid as he pointed out that this year the world was witnessing a special limited Hajj occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
“As we celebrate the Eid, let us continue to observe all the Covid-19 safety protocols,” he added.
“Together with my dear wife Samira and the entire family, we wish you all Barka da Sallah,” he said.
Virtual Prayers
The Vice-President will join the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, this morning as the latter leads virtual Eid Ul Adha prayers at the forecourt of the inner reception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
Sheikh Arimiayao Shaibu, the spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, while speaking to DAILY GUIDE yesterday, conveyed the cleric’s well-wishes for the occasion to all Muslims.
The Chief Imam, he said, had asked that the previous arrangement as witnessed during the Eid Ul Fitry prayers be maintained.
The second easing of the Covid-19 restrictions, he explained, starts on August 1, 2020, and so did not fall within today’s spiritual activity; hence the maintenance of the virtual prayers.
Obeying the protocols is the contribution of Muslims towards the war against COVID-19 he said.
The Chief Imam has also reiterated he said the importance of obeying leadership. ‘You don’t go ahead of the leaders. You walk behind the leader. So under the circumstances let us listen to our leaders and obey the directives of health experts’ he said.
The Chief Imam has also demanded of Muslims to maintain the highest hygiene standards as they undertake the spiritual sacrifice of animals today. This he added is important as we continue the fight against COVID-19.
NPP Statement
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has, on this special occasion, saluted Muslims and asked they renew their covenant with Almighty Allah; asking also that they say special prayers for the world and Ghana in particular to contain and ultimately defeat the Covid-19.
The statement signed by the party’s general secretary, John Boadu, stressed that “we are in this together, and certainly, in the name of Almighty Allah, (Subhaanahu Wa ta Aala), this too, in the words of President Akufo-Addo, shall pass to the glory of Allah and the country.”
Today, the statement pointed out, “marks the day of Arafah, signalling the commemoration of Prophet Muhammed’s (SAW) final sermon and the completion of the Message of Islam.
“Ordinarily, this day would see some millions of Muslims worldwide, who have made it to the Holy land of Makkah, move from Mina to mount Arafat, also known as the “Mount of Mercy”, for the most important part of the Hajj pilgrimage,” the statement went on, adding however that these are unusual times,” the party said, saying that Covid-19 has changed the face of Hajj this year.
“The climax of Arafah on the ninth day of Dhu-Hijjah paves way for the observance of Eid-Ul-Adha, the following day by the rest of the Muslim Ummah. Friday, July 31, 2020, is therefore the Eid day.
“Eid-Ul-Adha, in essence, marks the culmination of the holy pilgrimage and significantly, it is a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s famous sacrifice to Almighty Allah,” the party continued.
As these two historic events are being observed, the NPP is pleased to wish all Muslims the very best in these celebrations, both of which mark an important milestone on the Islamic calendar and to remind them that the day be used for reflection on their sacrifices.
By A.R. Gomda