Rameez Bhat
Eid-ul-Adha – as we all know – is an Eid of sacrifice. It is celebrated for two and a half days. The festival is observed by the Muslim ummah who remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S);
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
“Surely Ibrahim was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. We choose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous.’’ (Al-Quran 16:120-121)
One of Ibrahim’s (A.S) main trials was to follow the command of Almighty Allah to sacrifice his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah’s will. When he was all set to do it, Allah revealed to him that his “sacrifice” had already been accepted. He did show that his love for his Lord was above all other considerations and that he would offer his own life or the lives of those dearer to him and submit to God. At that time Almighty Allah sent an animal from the heaven and commanded prophet Ibrahim (A.S), to sacrifice the animal instead of his son. All Muslims follow the same path. Every Muslim or Muslimah offer sacrifice of allowed animals to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s (A.S) sacrifice and follow Allah’s command.
In Kashmir, 96.4% constitute the Muslim population who celebrate this Eid, but the fact is that, we are in a state of anguish stemming from September floods and last year’s unrest; therefore we are not in a condition to celebrate Eid with ebullience and splendor.
Coming to the September floods, we not only faced the devastating flood but the loss was heavily hefty; some of the families in central Kashmir as well in south Kashmir are yet to come out of the trauma. Somehow the locals, NGO’s and government tried to help these flood victim families. But the unrest 2016 was another jolt for the people of Kashmir; in 2016 unrest we lost more than 110 lives for the sake of right to self-determination and 18000 people were injured in which more than 500 persons lost their vision due to the relentless use of pellet guns.
The Eid Gah’s of the valley during the 10-days of Zil-Haj are likely to remain busy where lakhs of people will buy and sell sacrificial animals. Millions of people have planned for the celebration but are we in that condition as to celebrate eid with exuberance? The visible trail of killing and injuries of our youths would hardly stir these affected families into festive spirits. Reminiscence of the pellets, PSA, apprehension, nocturnal raids and Killing of our young generation makes the Eid celebrations of Kashmiri people a difficult affair where one can hardly celebrate it the way it was traditionally celebrated. Muslims should help others in this excruciating time and it is the only after that their sacrifices may be rewarded.
From 1931 to 2017 we are in a state of agony, in 1931 we were fighting against the dogra rule, after securing release from the clutches of ‘’Dogras’’ and now we are facing India. And this world’s largest democratic country brutally killed around 7-lakh people of Kashmir including Jammu Muslims.
Now is it right time to celebrate when Kashmir has been torn to pieces? Killing of innocents. Chastity of our omen robbed off. Disappeared. Widows. Half-widoes. And the politicians of this oppressed land including present and former CM’s ( Mehbooba & Omer Abdulla) still chant the praises of the Indian democracy. How can they become so apathetic and indifferent when their own people have had been killed ruthlessly by the paramilitary forces of world’s so called largest democratic country?
Since the last decade we have undergone horrible times either by nature or by the Indian forces. Our generation are in a state of agony, we have only seen the bloodshed of our dear ones. In 2005 when massive earthquake hit Uri and parts of Kashmir where more than 1500 people died and more than 6000 got injured. We are yet to recover from the pang of distress, we again faced the agitation of 2008 and 2010 in which our 214 loved ones lost their lives.
Are we still able to celebrate the Eid with enthusiasm? I don’t think we are. It is time to assist each other, as Almighty Allah says that we should be the first to take initiative and do well to others, but if others have been kind to us, in the first place, we have no choice, but to return the favor. The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness. (Al-Quran 55:61)
Whosoever are in a position to give charity on this EID; I make request to them give more charity and hopefully your charity will put some balm on the faces of repressed people of Kashmir and celebrate this Eid with austerity. I also request to UN, IND & PAK we have suffered on a multitude of fronts, now it’s time to solve this long pending issue, or else this bloodshed will continue to inundate our streets.
Author is a student of University of Kashmir. Ideas expressed are his own
