Emma Aziken, With Agency Reports
18 December 2007
Lagos — MORE than two million Muslims from across the globe, about 95,000 of them Nigerians, gathered yesterday around Mount Arafat near Mecca, as the hajj rites gathered momentum. This came ahead of the celebration, today, of the Eid-el-Kabir.
At Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, a massive crowd of the faithful spent the day praying and asking for God's forgiveness, in a symbolic wait, or "wuquf", for the final judgement.
Among this year's pilgrims is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, invited by Saudi King Abdullah to become the first president of the Islamic republic to take part.
Ahmadinejad was due to have joined Iranian pilgrims at Arafat but an announcement at the gathering said that "due to the heavy traffic, the president was not able to make it."
Men wearing two pieces of unstitched white cloth, called the Ehram that Muslim tradition says will serve as their shrouds, and women entirely covered apart from their face and hands tirelessly repeated the formal refrain.
"I am here in response to your call, Lord, I am here," they cried.
It was on Mount Arafat - also called Jebel ar-Rahma, or Mount Mercy - that the Prophet Mohammed gave his final sermon more than 14 centuries ago.
At the Grand Mosque, the massive Kaaba monument was being draped in a new "kiswa", its silk cover adorned with Koranic verses embroidered in gold and silver-plated thread, costing more than five million dollars.
Muslims face the Kaaba when they pray five times a day.
At sunset yesterday, the faithful moved toward Muzdalifah valley, several kilometres from Mount Arafat, to spend the night and collect pebbles to cast at columns in Mina symbolising the Devil.
This morning, pilgrims flock Mina for the last part of the hajj the ritual stoning of Satan.
Later in the day, the pilgrims will sacrifice a ram, in remembrance of the sacrifice God asked Abraham to perform by giving up his son to prove his devotion. This ritual marks the start of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice.
The hajj, which ends on Friday, is one of the five pillars of Islam that Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lives if they have the means to do so.
Meanwhile, political leaders at home have been congratulating Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir.
Pray for democracy, Mark urges Muslims
Senate President, Chief David Mark, urged Muslims to pray for the perseverance of democracy, saying the challenges facing the country called for sober reflection beyond the facade of merry making.
The National Assembly, he said, was on its part determined to be guided only by the aspirations and yearnings of Nigerians.
In calling for prayers for the sustenance of democracy, Senator Mark also tasked the Muslim faithful to pray for harmony between and among various sects as he pointed out that all religions profess peace, love and good neighbourliness.
Bankole tasks Muslims on love
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, described the festival as an important occasion to reflect on Allah's infinite love to humanity as a whole.
Besides, he enjoined all Muslim faithful to show love and compassion to one another, stating that such is the only way to demonstrate one's appreciation to God's continued divine intervention in our lives.
The Speaker reminded the faithful that the underlying factor in the Eid-el-Kabir celebration is the spirit of sacrifice.
The speaker said Prophet Ibrahim's (PBUH) unshaken faith in Allah and his honesty earned him the divine intervention of Allah at a critical time he needed to fulfill his promise to the Almighty Allah.
Akala preaches fear of God
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State enjoined all Muslims to continue to abide by the injunctions of the Holy Qu'ran which emphasize love for mankind, strict obedience to constituted authority and fear of Allah in dealing with their fellow compatriots.
"If we all have the fear of God as our guiding principle, love will permeate amongst us and we will have a conducive atmosphere that will promote peaceful co-existence in the society," he said.
Saraki tasks Muslims on patience
Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State enjoined Muslims to exhibit patience and other virtues of their faith to sustain the peace and harmony prevailing in the state.
Saraki said Muslims should rededicate themselves to the injunction of love, tolerance and perseverance, as exhibited by the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim.
Ali preaches tolerance
Governor Mamman Ali of Yobe State enjoined Muslims to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and religious tolerance.
In his Eid-el-Kabir message in Damaturu, the governor urged the people to make sacrifices for the attainment of a happy society. "We must imbibe the spirit of sacrifice to make our children morally upright, to share the good things we have with neighbours and to make the poor and needy happy," he said.
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