Eid al-Adha: Time Off from Our Sorrows

Eid al-Adha is fast approaching. We should make the occasion of Eid a time to set aside our pains and our sorrows. We should take a holiday form our worries and our woes.

Indeed, let’s make it a long vacation from our woes, and in doing so, we will show our appreciation for why we celebrate Eid. We are celebrating nothing less than Allah’s grace.

For the Eid of Ramadan, we are celebrating the completion of a whole month of fasting for Allah’s sake. Likewise, for Eid al-Adha, we are celebrating the rites of Hajj and of the sacrifice. In both cases we are glorifying Allah in celebration of the guidance that He has blessed us with. Indeed, this is something to rejoice in.

We should therefore celebrate the Eid by visiting our friends and family, and by spreading goodwill to our fellow human beings. We should let joy enter our hearts and spread that joy to others.

We must therefore act fast to cleanse our hearts of resentment, anger, and enmity. We can neither feel joy ourselves nor spread happiness to others when our hearts are tainted. We should, starting now, fill our hearts with positive thoughts in preparation for the Eid. We should make our outlook optimistic, and hope the best for ourselves, our families, our communities, our fellow Muslims, and humanity at large.

Let’s make this Eid a real occasion and take the first, necessary step towards ridding our hearts of and minds of discontent. Let us strive to rectify our relationships with others and improve the way we conduct our affairs.

For husbands and wives whose marriages are strained, the Eid is an opportunity to make it special. Let it be a time of happiness, like it is for newlyweds, so together they can set aside their differences.

For brothers and sisters who have let worldly interests drive a wedge between them, the Eid is a golden opportunity for them to make their parents happy by embracing each other and reconciling their differences. Even if their parents are deceased, they should renew their bonds of affection in honor of their parents’ memory.

Those whom Allah has blessed with wealth can take the opportunity to increase their bounty and bring joy to others by giving to the orphans, the poor, and needy.

When we bring joy to others, we receive much more than what we give. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us that Allah says: “O children of Adam! Give others and I will give to you!” [Sahīh al-Jāmi` (4317)]

We need to show others that we care about them, love them, and respect them. We should make an effort to help them through their difficulties and ease their sorrows. Even if we cannot give any money or material assistance to give, we can still show kindness.

We should never succumb to pessimism and despair. These destructive tendencies are to be dispelled by our trust in Allah and the hopes we have in Him. We must make it our habit to beseech Allah in prayer and express our hopes to Him in our supplications.  

We will realize the benefits forthwith, for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed us that Allah says: “I am what my servant thinks of Me, so think of me as you wish.” [Musnad Ahmad]

We should therefore think of Allah with the expectation of His forgiveness and mercy. We should be confident that he answers the prayers of those who beseech Him, and that He is the best of whom we place our hopes and our trust.

May Allah bless us this Eid and every day thereafter. Ameen.

by: Sheikh Salman al-Oadah
Source: Islam Today