Muslims in Rwanda have been urged on respecting the preventive guidelines against the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to being selfless in their daily lives.
The message was passed to Muslims during the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
Known as the "Festival of the Sacrifice”, Eid al-Adha is considered the holier of the two Islamic Eid festivals as it honours the famous story of the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
To mark the day, Muslims take part in slaughtering animals as sacrifice to God, in addition to sharing meat and other material things with the needy.
For this year’s Eid al-Adha, the main prayers were held at the Kacyiru mosque in Kigali where Sheikh Salim Hitimana, Rwanda’s Mufti led the congregants in the day’s activities that were done under social distancing and other Covid-19 preventive measures.
The Mufti asked the Muslims to be exemplary in observing the guidelines for preventing the pandemic, reminding them that the fight against it is everyone’s responsibility.
He urged them on the necessity of wearing facemasks, social distancing, washing hands with soap and water.
Referring to the importance of the Eid al-Adha day, the Mufti called upon Muslims to be selfless, picking a leaf from Ibraham the prophet who showcased willingness to sacrifice his son on such a day when Allah tested him.
"As you know this day happens because of our predecessor Ibrahim whom God tested by asking him to offer an unusual sacrifice: his son Ismael whom he loved very much. He obeyed to do it, but God replaced Ishmael with a lamb which Ibrahim slaughtered instead,” he said
This, he added, has something to teach us as Muslims in regard to patience and selflessness.
"These are needed very much in the way of religion and following God…Abraham didn’t look at himself nor consider so much the son he loved even though he had got him at an old age,” the Mufti added
"If it is God that wants it, I will do it.”
The Mufti explained that there is no act that children of Adam can do that has value and prominence before God except the act done on this day and that includes shedding the blood of an animal as an offering to God, and also sharing with people.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that Muslims in Rwanda experienced a massive reduction in the number of animals for sacrifice this year, as compared to previous years.
Speaking to The New Times earlier in the week, Sheikh Suleiman Mbarushimana, the Advisor to the Mufti said that according to the figures they have currently, about only 1500 animals will be slaughtered this year.
This is quite a small number compared to the 3,000 to 5,000 animals that Muslims in the country have been slaughtering on average in the previous years, according to him.