Dear Muslim brothers,

We celebrate one more feast in an unusual way. This year Eid al-Adha will be celebrated in homelands because the coronavirus prevented those Muslims who wanted to be in Makkah and Arafat, to be there. Furthermore, the festive prayer will be performed outdoors in order to protect ourselves from the infection.

The holiday of Eid al-Adha is the most supreme day with the Exalted Allah not only because an animal (qurban) is sacrificed on this day, but because this is also a day when Muslims gather to express their gratitude to Him and to show empathy to the community that He honored and glorified.

Muslims’ identity is one of the most important issues on which we must pay attention, because in our time materialism prevail over spiritual values and human dignity. In connection with this everyone needs to turn to himself and to his family, to see to what extend the religious principles and the human values are respected. In the recent months the Exalted Allah has sent us mercy, reminding us that without spirituality we cannot protect ourselves against trials and tribulations, without religion life loses its meaning and Islam is the only opportunity to protects ourselves from falling and misguidance.

Now we are celebrating the Eid because despite our shortcomings, the Exalted Allah has sent His mercy which is enough for all, but only the God-fearing and reasoning ones reach it. Like we can see in every aspect the wisdom of Allah, so we can see its reflection also in the feast. Eid is time both for material and for spiritual delight, but most of all it is time for doing good deeds, this is also the meaning of the narration in which the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that the Muslim is in good situation during all of his life – the believer never losses, he does not go astray from the right path, and he does not miss any opportunity.

From a religious point of view, the qurban has a spiritual dimension because it is the godly fear and awe which reaches Allah, and not the blood and the meat of the sacrificed animal. Along with this the meat of the qurban has a role to bring together poor and rich, Muslims and non-Muslims. The days of the Eid are days for celebration, but the social mutual help is a reason for the people to be happier, which is also a reason for the satisfaction of Allah.

In our times we need to look at ourselves, to rethink about our mission and to try to change for the better, because the change comes from inside, no from outside.

With Allah every person is valuable and important, but people should also mutually respect and help each other, because only in this way they can find the place they deserve on this world and to be rewarded in the Hereafter. Eid is a good opportunity to rethink about these principles.

May Allah accept your acts of worship! Happy Eid al-Adha! May Allah grant you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. Assalamu alaykum.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Mustafa Hadzhi

Grand Mufti