Al-Qalam 
By Imam Dr A. Rashied Omar
Muslims all over the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha, literally the festival of sacrifice. Eid al-Adha was established as a celebration for completing the rites of the pilgrimage – the hajj – the fifth and final pillar of Islam. At the very heart of the symbolism of the hajj is that of the sanctity and reverence of human life and the equality in which Islam holds all humankind. This is also at the heart of the social message of the celebration of Eid al-Adha. When contextualising the social message of the hajj to the unfolding genocide in Gaza, the following picture emerges:
Despite the application from the ICC chief prosecutor seeking the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes on 20 May, followed by the ruling from the International Court of Justice on 24 May that Israel should immediately halt its military assault on the Southernmost Gaza City of Rafah, the Apartheid State has intensified its inhumane bombing campaigns and slaughter of innocents.
In light of this grim reality, all predictions are that the 2024 Eid al-Adha festival in the Gaza Strip will be a scaled-down event compared to that of previous years. Eid al-Adha in Gaza this year will be taking place under the shadow of daily Israeli bombing, the consequent killings of scores of innocent children, mothers and fathers, and the slow death caused by famine and starvation.
It will be difficult, if not impossible, for many Gazans to enact the symbolic Eid sacrifice, given their dire plight. They will, without a doubt, share whatever meagre belongings they do have with each other to mark the blessed occasion of Eid al-Adha. Even if a ceasefire agreement is reached before or after Eid, the lasting effects of the war and the blocking of humanitarian aid will be felt for a long time to come. Despite the challenges posed by Gaza’s precarious situation, the people of Gaza will come together to celebrate Eid al-Adha with resilience and solidarity. They will exchange Eid greetings and find much-needed comfort in their shared traditions and faith commitment, albeit in a more subdued manner.
At this sacred time of Eid al-Adha, we should ask ourselves: how can we sustain our modest acts of solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza? We continue to pray for an end to the suffering and the liberation of the people of Palestine. We pray that all of those who have been blessed to perform the pilgrimage will return home better able to live up to the anti-racist message of Islam.
May you all enjoy a festive ‘Eid and May you live well and in the Grace of God.
