150 goats, 90 cattle as Islams pray for peace and stability

MANZINI - The Islamic community in Eswatini has celebrated their 2021 Eid al- Adha by praying for peace and stability in the country.

They also advised emaSwati to connect with the Almighty more than ever before in order to get the peace they desire.

This message was relayed by the Islamic community in the country to emaSwati during the celebration of their Eid al- Adha on Wednesday, where they slaughtered about 90 cattle and 150 goats.

When they slaughtered the livestock as the commemorated the sacrifice of Abraham, who sacrificed with his son, Ishmael on the command of the Almighty to test his beloved slave and show his rank and worth to the entire creation, the Ezulwini Islamic Institute’s Mufti Feroz Ismail said their message to people of Eswatini was that connection to the Almighty was their only means of salvation.

“Nothing happened or is happening or will happen except by the Almighty’s command. So, if you ( emaSwati) need something, you need to have an aspiration and learn to tap into the divine to see miracles happen and have peace,” he said.

He said the sacrifice is something which was integral on the part of anybody who is a believer in the Almighty to show that he is willing to go through trials and tribulations, to purify and exalt himself in the eyes of the Lord.

Ismail said it was also a way of physically showing that he is willing to give and to spend from his wealth in the path of the Almighty in helping and uplifting society at large. He said it was not the meat, the blood or the parts of the animals that the Almighty required from someone, but it was the connection with him.

“What the Almighty wants is what is in the mindset of the sacrifice that is being offered to him to help those who are more in need and for us to show that we are willing to part with they have in the best of resources of a sacrifice in the sense of an animal; cow, sheep or a goat,” he said.

UNDERPRIVILEGED

Ismail said this animal should be eaten by the participants, who would share it with their families and neighbours, who were underprivileged. He also said this was also a means of brotherhood and sharing.

Again, he said at this time and stage, there was an ongoing turmoil in the Kingdom of Eswatini, there were people who could not afford meat or some luxuries of life, so the sacrifice was also a means of soothing the heart, calming people and giving them hope of humanity that there is brotherhood out there.

“This also gives them hope that there is sense of sanity, security and there are people who are willing to assist them to be strong again,” he added.

He said in a nutshell, this was the message of the sacrifice which relive and play out practically so that it benefits the people and helps those who are receiving. He said their normal message was that those who are giving should be generous and humble and those who receive should be grateful and appreciative.

SLAUGHTERED

The said livestock were slaughtered and shared with emaSwati at Ezulwini Islamic Institute and in the other mosques which included Nhlangano, Manzini, Pigg’s Peak, Siteki and Mbabane.

It is worth noting that Islamic people celebrate Eid al- Adha annually and hundreds of emaSwati take part and receive meat to share with their families and neighbours.

At the end of June 2021 and beginning of July 2021, there pro- democracy protest actions across the country which culminated to vandalism, looting and torching of businesses. As a result, according to government, the damaged amounted to about E3 billion, while about 5 000 jobs were left at stake.

Again, in the process, dozens of people were shot dead, allegedly by State security organs, while others were injured.