The Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement Blog

Eid-ul-Adha Message from Head of Lahore Ahmadiyya, Dr. A.K. Saeed

Link to pdf file of the message

Text of the message

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

“And be not like those who became divided and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them. And for them is a grievous chastisement.” The Holy Qur’an, 3:104

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hu.

On this happy occasion of Eid ul Adha, I would want us to remember that all Islamic prayers and devotional acts remind us that the true path to Allah is in the unity of human beings. This unity is exemplified by all followers praying towards the Ka‘bah and bowing and prostrating at the same time. They fast in the same month following the same code of fasting. Together they also perform the pilgrimage to Makkah and go around the Ka‘bah dressed in the same apparel, chanting the same prayers. All colours, creeds and nationalities move in the same direction – all three million or so every year. No gender discrimination, no sectarian hatred, no nationality bias; just the true spirit of Islam fully focused on One Allah and one Ummah.

All Muslims believe in the same Oneness of God, Allah, and the same final prophet, Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the same revealed Book of Allah, the Holy Qur’an. We all believe in the absolute finality of prophethood and follow the same tenets of Islam. We all have faith that the commandments of Allah revealed in the Qur’an and shown in practice by the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, have to be followed.

Now Muslims, having fulfilled their lifetime dream of performing the most coveted of worships, i.e. Hajj, are returning home. However, it will be tragic if they forget the spirit of Hajj – the spirit of unity, the spirit of love and the spirit of hatred for none – and return to the same disunity, hatred, bigotry and defamation and, in some cases, back to terrorism and taking lives of innocent men and women, not even sparing children. In doing so they forget the injunctions of Islam as stated in the verse I have cited above.

Sisters and Brothers,

Let us all pray that this Eid will be different. That this time after performing the pilgrimage we will be celebrating Eid with the firm resolve to remain united, “And be not like those who became divided and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them”.

I pray that Muslims all over the world live in harmony, not only with other Muslims but with people of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
Aameen.

Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed
Ameer and President
Worldwide Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement