As followers of the Islamic faith in Guyana and globally observe Eid-ul-Adha, the Ethnic Relations Commissions (ERC) in accordance with its mandate to respect the country’s religious diversity, has also joined in celebrating the holiday’s significance.
Commissioner, Roshan Khan during his presentation
During the agency’s annual Eid-ul-Adha celebrations on Friday, non-Muslims present were given an insight into the background story, as to why this holiday holds much significance. This informative piece was shared by the ERC’s Commissioner, Roshan Khan, who firmly asserted that the Islamic faith is one without discrimination.
“There is about three million or four million people Makkah all to observe the period of the Hajj, which is basically three days. A place called Meena, which is desert lands where Prophet Abraham and his firstborn, according to the religion of Islam and according to us who follow the religion on Abraham, it was Ishmail, his firstborn was to have been sacrificed.
“All that’s taking place right now technically is honouring an African woman while you’re worshipping God, by the English name Hagar but her real African Egyptian name is Hajjar and that’s where the word Hajj comes from. That’s why in the religion of Islam we are not allowed to have any form into discrimination or racism” the Commissioner communicated.
Traditional Quesadas (or Islamic songs) performed by Nawaz Khan and Imran Ali, complimented the backstory of the memorable holiday, whose celebrations commenced on Saturday and will conclude today.
The religious holiday, Eid-ul-Adha, is also called the “festival of the sacrifice”, and is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year. It is considered the holier of the two.
This holiday honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
