Today Muslims in Ghana join their worldwide faith counterparts to commemorate an important date on the Islamic calendar.
The occasion follows the religious activities on Mount Arafat otherwise called Mountain Of Mercy as part of the Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.
This is the occasion when Muslims in Ghana and elsewhere would have been looking forward to the arrival of their loved ones after partaking in the annual pilgrimage. Unfortunately the pandemic has informed the decision by the Saudi authorities to restrict the annual pilgrimage to persons within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ghanaian Muslims like their worldwide counterparts have not performed the Hajj this year. They are however commemorating the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham or Ibrahim as evidenced by the slaughtering of livestock and the sharing of meat in their individual homes across the world.
The element of sacrifice is deeply ingrained in today’s rites as evidenced in the sharing of a portion of the slaughtered animals to those who are unable to buy livestock for themselves. Such meat is not intended to be distributed to  have slaughtered livestock but for those who because of their circumstances are unable to do same for themselves.
Sacrifice and caring for the have-nots in society is critical in both of the Abrahamic faiths.
Parting with so much to buy a bull, ram or other livestock prescribed for slaughtering is a great sacrifice which the faithful is enjoined to perform.
The prices of bulls and rams two most popular livestock for the annual ritual neared rooftop in the run-up to today.
The effective acquisition of livestock considering the high cost constitutes a great sacrifice which the faithful do as a mark of their submission to the dictates of the Omnipotent and Omniscient God.
On such occasions the tendency to overlook the importance of reflection is high even though we think this should not be so.
Reflecting and even resolving to recommit ourselves to the service of humanity which is to God Almighty should not be lost upon us even as we feast on mutton and beef.
It is not for nothing that on both Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid-Ul-Adha the element of giving is pronounced. Let those blessed with wealth remember the deprived not only such occasions but beyond. The lessons of the two great celebrations should teach us to love each other as creatures of God and to above all let peace prevail.
This year’s Eid-Ul-Adha is coming on the heels of the commissioning of one of the most beautiful mosque complexes in West Africa. It is a special occasion therefore, worthy of relishing and reflection. We wish our Muslim compatriots a wonderful celebration.