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As the Ummah marks Eid-ul-Adha amid the suffering in Gaza, Sudan, the Congo, and across the globe, this reflection calls Muslims to return to the spirit of sacrifice of Nabi Ibrahim (AS), which is based on divine justice and moral courage.
By SAYED RIDHWAAN MOHAMED
AS the takbeerat resound from our minarets across South Africa, they carry a profound and heavy resonance this year. We are at a historical moment where the tyrants of the earth behave as though they are sovereign.
Our brothers and sisters are standing on the plains of ‘Arafah, weeping for the state of an Ummah fractured by geopolitical borders. Simultaneously, we look at our screens and witness a modern, broadcasted ghazwah (assault) against the defenceless in Gaza.
Furthermore, brave souls sailing to break the siege on the Freedom Flotilla languish in the prisons of the Zionist occupation.
Given these heavy realities, this Eid-ul-Adha cannot be an occasion for detached celebration or empty ritualism. We must return to the Minbar of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) to understand that Qurbani is not merely an annual culinary tradition; it is a foundational lesson in spiritual defiance and absolute loyalty to divine justice.
The prophetic anatomy of sacrifice: Beyond the blade
Many believers mistakenly reduce the udhiyyah (sacrificial ritual) to the physical act of slaughtering an animal. However, our classical teachings suggest that the physical animal is simply the outward container of an inward reality.
When Prophet Ibrahim laid his son down, he was not performing an unthinking ritual. He was executing a complete surrender to Allah that required breaking away from the pagan, oppressive structures of his own father’s house.
The Ulama teach that every drop of blood spilled during Qurbani is meant to symbolise the slaughter of our own comfort, fear and complacency. If we feed our bodies with the meat of the sacrifice while allowing our hearts to remain indifferent to the starvation of our brothers and sisters, we have preserved the outward form of the Sunnah while missing its internal spirit. Notably, within the Sufi tradition, every outward act of the Sunnah is a vessel designed to cultivate an internal state.
As Muslims living in South Africa, our context places a specific moral responsibility upon us. We are a community that survived the system of apartheid through a combination of local resilience and international solidarity. Our historical memory aligns closely with the prophetic mandate to oppose systemic tyranny.
We must understand that true taqwa (God-consciousness) cannot coexist with silence in the face of injustice. The South African Ummah must continue to use its distinct historical voice to challenge the theological narratives used to justify colonial oppression.
The captive Flotilla and the legacy of Yusuf (AS)
Prophet Yusuf (AS) represents the physical and spiritual fruit of Ibrahim’s (AS) absolute submission to Allah, inheriting a legacy of enduring immense trial for the sake of truth. On this Eid, we have a collective responsibility to direct our prayers toward the modern captives of the Freedom Flotilla, who Israeli occupation forces detained for attempting to deliver humanitarian aid. Their situation directly mirrors the historical imprisonment of Prophet Yusuf (AS), who an unjust authority cast into a dungeon simply for refusing to compromise his moral integrity. Their actions represent a literal embodiment of sacrifice – jeopardising individual liberty to protect the lives and dignity of others.
The capture of these activists highlights the lengths to which modern oppressive systems will go to isolate those in need. In response, our masajid must become centres of active solidarity. We should speak of these captives by name in our khutbahs (sermons), support their families, and recognise that their willingness to risk their personal freedom for others represents a genuine expression of prophetic sacrifice.
A spiritual manifesto for this Eid
Let us transform our grief into structured, faith-driven action. This Eid, as we perform our sacred duties, let us pledge to uphold three commitments:
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- Purify the wealth of Qurbani: Ensure that your financial transactions do not support global corporations or institutions linked to the military-industrial complex or illegal occupations.
- Establish communities of accountability: Turn our Eid gatherings into places of education. We must teach our children that loving the Prophet (peace be upon him) means standing against the Pharaohs of our time.
- Maintain constant supplication (dua): Never underestimate the weapon of the believer. In the final third of the night, raise your hands for the oppressed, the captives and the martyrs, recognising that their struggle is a core part of our own faith.
This Eid-ul-Adha cannot be treated as a period of detached celebration. It offers an opportunity to transform our grief and moral outrage into disciplined, sustained advocacy.
We pray that Allah accepts our sacrifices, liberates the captives, grants victory to the oppressed, and allows us to see an Eid where justice spreads across the globe.
Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed is a South African community journalist, researcher and Honours graduate in Islamic Studies. A steadfast advocate for humanitarian rights and global justice, he lends his expertise to numerous committees specialising in interfaith advocacy and the advocacy of human rights in Palestine and beyond. He currently serves on the exco of the Cape Town Ulama Board, is an executive member of the Sunni Ulama Council (Cape), and is a co-founder of the Ahlus Sunnah Media Network.
