NO time is more auspicious than now for Nigerians to reflect the deep lessons of Eid-el Kabir, the Muslim festival of rams, also tagged Eid-el-Adha, which is being celebrated worldwide today. The celebration, normally observed with a lot of fanfare, however goes beyond mere slaughtering and eating of rams.Underscoring the Eid is a reminder to all mankind - Muslims and Christians alike - of the existence of God, his holiness, his divinity, his faithfulness and his mercy, all of which are available to his entire human creation, but for our intransigence.The fact that today's Eid-el-Kabir took its root thousands of years ago is significant. The story is repeated over and again of how God asked Prophet Ibrahim (May the peace of Allah be upon him) through repeated visions, to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael to God.It was obviously a most trying time, considering that Ibrahim (Abraham) was 99 years old at the time, and he had Ishmael only after years of prayerful request and supplication to God. For any other being, the rational question would have been; why is God taking with his left hand what he gave with his right hand'Ibrahim never questioned God. Nor did Ishmael object to being a sacrificial lamb when his father informed him of God's demand. That God substituted a ram for Ishmael, moments before his father slaughtered him, was a clear testimony that Ibrahim passed a crucial test.It is then apt to ask whether any Muslim, Nigerian or not, can boast of half the faith of Prophet Ibrahim, or the total submission of Ishmael to Allah's will. Yet, the principle of faith and submission constitutes the tenet of Islam that we all like to preach and breach at the same time.To reflect the true spirit of Eid-el-Kabir therefore, Muslims need to renew their faith in God and accept without question His divine powers to make human beings of, or enjoin them to, certain circumstances, which they would otherwise not wish themselves. Above that, there should be no doubt as to Allah's infinite mercy and kindness for his human subjects.The circumstance in which this country finds itself today is a pointer to the absence of a God fearing spirit in the leaders as well as the followers. Nor is there a genuine willingness to sacrifice anything for the benefit of our neighbours or kinsmen.Rather, the whole country is awash with greed, avarice, corruption, hatred, envy and the pull-him-down syndrome. Without a human thought to the people they supposedly lead, those in government adopt an unbridled practice of amassing public wealth for personal aggrandizement. Consequently they fail to build or maintain public roads; they neglect public schools and expose the ordinary citizen to exploitation of owners of private schools.The leaders similarly seize the funds meant to buy drugs and medical equipment in public hospitals, thus directly causing the untimely deaths of the common man. At the same time, the elite leaders derive pleasure in sending themselves and their families to medical centres overseas, at the slightest opportunity.By neglecting public infrastructure including the supply of electricity, Nigerian leaders suffocate the business environment and strangulate industries, leading to mass unemployment, poverty, disease, crime and a restive youth population. Where is the love, or faith or spirit of sacrifice in all these'Certainly, there is nothing in the doctrine of Islam or Christianity (the two major religions in the country) to support the wanton destruction of lives and property being played out daily in several parts of the country. Those perpetrating such crimes only hide conveniently under religion, when in reality they are far from being among God's faithful.It is important therefore to observe the Eid-el-Kabir not as an occasion to self-indulge in food and drink; but as a time to reflect on how human beings have-failed God and yet continue to ask fervently for His favour. In particular, this country and its people need a drastic change of attitude towards our collective good, and to move away from the self-destruction path that we all tread.Eating and drinking today and for the three days of sallah should be moderate, both for the spiritual and health benefit; and for the avoidance of ugly social consequences such as violent confrontation and automobile accidents. In particular, Nigerians should be worried that failure to retrace our steps on corruption, greed and uncontrolled lust for material gain will sooner or later give vent to political and socio-economic disorder in the country.Our mind goes at this time to Nigerian Muslims performing the hajj in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage's connection to the Eid-el-Kabir is instructive, just as the hajj itself constitutes a pillar of Islam, observance of which is enjoined on Muslims at least once in their life time.Against a soaring cost of living and high prices of commodities that will inevitably prevent many Muslims from slaughtering rams, we wish all Muslims and other Nigerians a happy and fulfilling Eid-el-Kabir.
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