THE MJC HALAAL TRUST (MJCHT) (Est. 1945)
Eid-al-Aḍḥā 1441 (2020)
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Dear Respected Colleagues & Fellow Muslims
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
I hope and pray that you are safe, in the best of health and good spirit by the Grace of the Almighty Allāh, ameen.
As you know, we are approaching the first 10 days of Dhil Ḥijjah, which is indicative of the importance of the ḤḤḤḤḤajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah). I, hereby, wish to encourage that we participate in Fasting (Ṣiyām), Repentance (Taubah), Invocation (Dhikr), and recital of the Glorious Quran, thereby enhancing our spiritual connection with Almighty Allāh and benefiting from His Special Grace during these precious moments.
Eid-al-Aḍḥā is not only commemorating the sacrifice of the Prophets Ebrahim and Ismail (a.s), but it is also celebrating and acknowledging the Blessings (Barakāt), Favors (Ni’am), and Sustenance (Rizq) Almighty Allāh has bestowed upon us so that we can share it with the poor, needy and destitute.
Eid-al-Aḍḥā is also a sacred period of introspection about socio-economic, cultural and family lives concerning ourselves, the environment, our food supply and food security (e.g. agriculture, animals, poultry, etc.); and our fellow human beings, especially those who are struggling, like the poor, the needy, the vulnerable and the destitute who are living in desperate, deplorable and abject circumstances, as well as the unemployed, the elderly and the physically and mentally challenged people. Says Almighty Allāh:-
وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٖ جَعَلۡنَا مَنسَكٗا لِّيَذۡكُرُواْ ٱسۡمَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِۗ فَإِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞ فَلَهُۥٓ أَسۡلِمُواْۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُخۡبِتِينَ
And to every nation We appointed acts of devotion that they may mention the Name of Allāh over the beast of cattle, with which He had provided every nation, as food and nourishment. So, your God is One God, therefore to Him you should submit, and give good news to the humble, devotees of worship [Al-Ḥajj: Q22: 34].
We should be consistent in bringing about positive changes and constructive improvements personally to appalling situations or human disasters, irrespective of race, caste, creed, gender, or status. We are an integral part of the Creation of Almighty Allāh and He has commissioned us to take care of such things. Almighty Allāh reminds us about the Essence of Eid-al-Aḍḥā and that we have to interact with His creations, within the parameters of His guidance. The qurbān (offering sacrificial animals), effective during the period of Eid-al-Aḍḥā and the Days of Tashrīq, is a means of achieving higher aspirations in life and the Hereafter. The Prophet Muḥammad (Pbuh) is reported to have said:-
إِنَّمَا هِيَ (أَيْ: يَوْمُ الْعِيْدِ وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيْقِ) أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرٍ للهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
Indeed, the day of Eid-al-Aḍḥā and the days of Tashrīq are days of eating and drinking, and remembering Allāh, the Most High.
Almighty Allāh says:-
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنكُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
It is neither their (i.e. sheep, goats, cattle or camels, etc. – the sacrificial animals’) meat nor their blood that reaches Allāh, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus, have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allāh for His guidance to you. And give glad tidings [O Muḥammad (Pbuh)] to the muḥsinīn (doers of good) [Al-Ḥajj: Q22: 37].
On behalf of the Board of Trust, the Management and the Personnel of the MJC Halaal Trust (MJCHT), I would like to extend our sincere greetings by wishing you and your loved ones a Joyous and Blessed Eid Mubarak. May the Almighty Allāh shower us all with His Mercy (Raḥmah), Blessings (Barakāt) and accept all our Prayers (Ibādāt), ameen.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
And Allāh knows best
عِيدٌ سَعِيْدٌ
وَكُلُّ عَامٍ وَأَنْتُمْ طَيِّبُونَ وَبِخَيْرٍ
وَتَقَبَّل اللهُ صَالِحَ أَعْمَالِنَا
___________________________
Shaykh Achmat Sedick
Director (MJCHT)
17 July 2020