By Goodluck Ikiebe.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has urged Muslims to render sacrifice for national security and unity in their prayers for this year’s festival of sacrifice, known in the Islamic word as Eid’il Adha.
General Magashi stated this in a message to felicitate with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the celebration of Eid’il Kabir festival.
He said the festival of sacrifice with its symbolic slaughtering of rams is an act of expression of individual piety and conformity with the Almighty Allah’s injuction as contained in the holy Quran and the hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad , may the peace of Almighty Allah be upon him.
The Defence Minister underscored the need for Nigerians to patriotically sacrifice and support National aspirations to end the spate of insecurity bedeveling the nation, pointing out that National Security is the responsibility of all.
He appealed to the Muslims to intensify prayer for peace and stability to reign in the country as a matter of priority in this period of celebration.
While extolling the ideal and idea of mandatorily sharing the sacrificial ram with non Muslim and Muslim neighbours alike, who are not privileged to slaughter ram, he said by so doing, societal peace, progress, friendship and relationship will be unconditionally strengthened.
General Magashi said, “Almighty Allah whose name is invoked on the animals before slaughtering does not need the pieces of the meat but He enjoined absolute show of piety and proper sharing to allow the merry to go round and to put smiles on the faces of all irrespective of religious differences”
He besieged Almighty Allah to accept the sacrifice by muslims as an Act of Ibadah and prayed to Him to bless the sacrifice of the troops in the frontlines, who are not opportuned to celebrate Eid’il Kabir festival with their loved ones.
