Muslims urged to shun extravaganza on Eid

Shahid Burney                   December 9, 2008                  Muslim India

LUCKNOW:: The recent terror attacks in Mumbai were denounced by Muslim Ulema and imams during the Friday prayer sermons in several mosques in Uttar Pradesh. The clerics also prayed for the protection of the country from terror acts.

They said that Islam was a great religion that preached peace and brotherhood and did not advocate any kind of hate or terrorism that results in the deaths of innocent people as also destruction of properties.

Expressing deep sympathies with the families of those killed in the Mumbai terror attacks and as an act of being united with the people of India in their fight against terrorism, the Ulema and imams appealed to the Indian Muslims to observe Eid Al-Adha with simplicity and to shun extravaganza.

Maulana Khaled Rasheed Firangi Mahli, the deputy imam of Aishbagh Idgah in Lucknow said that while the rituals of animal sacrifice and Eid Al-Adha prayers be performed religiously, the Muslims should avoid holding lavish Eid parties.

“Hosting big feasts and other extravagant spendings should be avoided at all costs this year, as the country had passed through sad phase in the form of terrorist attacks which had killed hundreds of innocent people in Mumbai. How can we rejoice and celebrate when the country is suffering? The Eid festival should be observed with all solemnity,” he said.

Firangi Mahli also called for special supplications after the Eid Al-Adha prayers for the welfare and security of the country and that a letter in this regard would be dispatched to all Idgahs across the country.

Extending support to Firangi Mahli ‘s move, Maulana Hamza Hasani of the famous Nadwatul Ulema institution here said, “The step taken by Firangi Mahli is commendable and should be followed. How can one celebrate the Eid when our brothers have died and darkness looms in their homes,” he asked.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also appealed to the Muslims to follow the rituals of sacrifice but strictly advised against hosting celebration parties.

AIMPLB spokesperson Abdul Rahim Qureshi said “After the Mumbai terror attacks when the entire families of those killed are drowned in the sea of tears and sorrow and there is an atmosphere of terrorism in the country, then there is no significance of holding celebrations and parties. This is not a time for rejoicing,” Qureshi said.

Meanwhile, in a joint press communiqué released to the media, several Muslim personalities from film industry, sports and journalism have appealed for strongly condemning the Mumbai attacks.

The appeal is signed by cricketers Mohammed Azharuddin and Syed Kirmani, actors Aamir Khan, Sanjay Khan and Javed Jaffery, film producers Abbas Mastan, Aziz Mirza and Saeed Mirza, poets and writers Javed Akhtar Siddiqui and Salim Khan and renowned journalist M.J. Akbar along with several others.

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Photo credit: Indian Muslims in Hyderabad offer prayers for the religious festival Eid-al-Adha. The celebrations commemorate the willingness of the patriarch Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. 

Article courtesy: Arab News