HAPPY EID UL ADHA TO ALL!:HABIB YOUSAFZAI,
CHAIRMAN KASHMIR DIASPORA ALLIANCE
ASSLAAM-O-ALAIKUM!
As another Eid comes around, and another year passes, many are celebrating this joyous occasion with times with family, and sacrificing of an animal in the name of Allah, to the benefit of the poor and needy, and perhaps to amend old ties that were once broken.
However, we should always remember that the significance of Eid is not merely the act of sacrificing an animal; its basis is the act of self-sacrifice. Looking back to this great celebrations origination where Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his beloved son, Prophet Ismael the individual that he loved most. This is the core values that this celebration signifies; sacrificing oneself for the sake of Allah (SWT) and the benefit of mankind. This celebration is a moment of self-reflection and analysis of where we actually stand in the serving of others.
How many voices have we raised for the oppressed? At this moment, a flood has swept across occupied Kashmir [Internationally Disputed Areas of Jammu Kashmir (IDA:JK)] and we cannot expect the oppressor and the occupier, the Indian government to be the cause of relief. In fact, the Indian government is the cause of untold hardship and atrocities for the people on the ground having murdered over 200,000 civilians since occupation. What are we doing for the cause of the oppressed? What are we sacrificing? Are we really living up to the celebration that is Eid Ul Azha and its true message?
As such, we must push forward to sacrifice first and foremost for all those around us, but we must not forget that our sacrifice whether through wealth, time, or physical effort is also a necessity for the betterment of humanity, whether in occupied Kashmir, or any other group which is oppressed. Over 2 million people were gathered for Arafat this year and they were from all walks of life whether white, black, Kashmiri, Nigerian, Libyan, Arab; but the bottom line was that they were all unified by one cause and that is the faith of Islam. Rather than sacrificing for others, what is our state of affairs? We are determined to nothing but dividing amongst one another. If we are too busy causing rifts within our families, within the nation, can we claim to be holding to the principles of Islam, to the true message of Eid Ul Azha? Can we ever claim to have sacrificed for others?
Let us come together and unite so that we can help not only ourselves, our families, but the entire world including those in (occupied Kashmir) IDA:JK.
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