By Imam Murtadha Gusau
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions.
Dear brothers and sisters! This coming Friday, we find ourselves celebrating significant occasion: Eid Al-Adha, a significant holiday for Muslims worldwide. Though rooted in different traditions, this celebration offer many lessons in leadership, sacrifice, and gratitude. Many of us might wonder about Eid Al-Adha and why it holds such importance. I will take this opportunity to share some information about its teachings and how they touch all of us regardless of our backgrounds or beliefs.
First of all, all Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid Al-Adha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice.”
Eid Al-Adha commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. At the last moment, Allah provided a ram to sacrifice instead, symbolising His mercy. This story teaches us about faith, sacrifice, and the importance of placing trust in something greater than ourselves.
This act of devotion, sacrifice, and trust in a higher purpose is deeply inspiring.
Respected brothers and sisters! At the core of Eid Al-Adha is the theme of sacrifice. In our daily lives, we often make sacrifices for the greater good of our families, followers, lovers, supporters, teams, or organisations, whether it’s time, comfort, or personal desires. True leadership involves putting others first before oneself, much like Prophet Ibrahim did. It’s about making tough decisions. Many executives today will tell you that their biggest fear is not the disruptions in the world but the ability of their leaders to make decisions and their resistance to the challenges found in the way.
Fellow Muslims! Eid Al-Adha is also a time to come together, share meals, support the orphans and those in need. This sense of community and empathy is something we can all learn from not only in our professional lives but also in our personal ones. Fostering a world with a culture of empathy and understanding can lead to more robust, cohesive units. It’s about being there for each other, especially in times of need, and lifting each other. Let us not forget about family, mainly those with us today, so we don’t regret not having them tomorrow, not only on these special occasions but every day.
My great people! One of the beautiful aspects of the Eid Al-Adha holiday is its universal themes that resonate across different cultures and religions. Many religious holidays, from Christmas to Thanksgiving, celebrate similar values of sacrifice, gratitude, and community. Recognising and respecting these diverse traditions can help us find common ground and build more inclusive environments. It reminds us that, at our core, we share fundamental human values that transcend specific beliefs.
The Eid Al-Adha holiday encourages sharing with those less fortunate. While showing off what you have worked hard for may be appealing, we must remember that there are many less fortunate people for various reasons. Some may be in that situation due to their own choices, while others may have had no control over their circumstances. It’s essential to set aside our egos and remember our humble beginnings. In leadership, this also means showing empathy and support. Great leaders lend a helping hand and ensure that everyone has a fair chance, feels valued, and is included.
Prophet Ibrahim’s story is a testament to unwavering faith. Regardless of your beliefs, Leaders, too, must trust their vision and team first before they can expect others to trust and have faith in them. We will always face uncertainty, but with a strong faith, we can inspire and motivate each other to overcome challenges.
The Eid Al-Adha holiday also encourages personal reflection and growth. It’s a time to assess our faith and actions over the past year and make amends where necessary. In leadership, self-reflection is crucial. If I can highlight one of the common opportunities I see in leaders who may be struggling or young professionals who may be slow at progressing, I would touch on their inability to overcome their emotions and personal challenges to pause, reflect, and grow. I’m here to tell you that Regularly reflecting on your decisions, actions, and their impact will lead to continuous personal and professional growth. Others around you could help in this process if you allow them to speak their mind about you. It’s about learning from your experiences and striving to improve daily. No human is perfect; if you think you are, I will tell you you will struggle.
Today is a powerful reminder to me and others that your power or authority carries no weight in real life. It’s never about those two, but the love you provide to your family and people. The service, sacrifice, and commitment to your values. It’s about making decisions that may not always be easy but are necessary for the greater good. It’s about the world you create around you, even if you are not there.
As we go through our daily lives, let’s embrace these lessons. Let’s lead with empathy, make sacrifices when needed, respect and celebrate our diverse backgrounds, and continuously strive for personal and professional growth. These qualities make great leaders and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Dear brothers and sisters! The essence of Eid Al-Adha is to sacrifice something close to our hearts because it is supposed to signify our readiness to give away something dear to us, in order to follow Allah’s commands and submit completely to Him.
The Eid Al-Adha sacrifice is a symbolic sacrifice which shows our willingness to let go of something/someone dear to our hearts for Allah’s sake.
By ordering us to sacrifice an animal on Eid Al-Adha, Allah the Almighty doesn’t necessarily want us to give up something dear to us; rather He wants us to be ‘ready’ to give up something dear to us for His sake. The sacrifice is symbolic, and it symbolises our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah’s commands. This offering is the essence of Islam because the meaning of Islam is that one should surrender to Allah the Almighty, and submit one’s most prized possession.
The sacrifice we offer every year is basically intended to remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). It is made in the remembrance of the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim (AS).
When Prophet Isma’il (AS) was about thirteen, Allah the Almighty decided to test their faith and submission to Him. Both father and son were put through the most difficult test of their love for Allah. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) dreamt that he was sacrificing Prophet Isma’il. An unimaginable act: sacrificing the son he begot after so much Du’a (supplications), the only one he had, and the one who had been the center of his affection and love for all these years. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) knew that the dreams of the Prophets were inspired by Allah the Almighty. They were one of the ways Allah communicated with his Prophets. This must be what Allah wanted him to do. When the intent of the dream became clear to him, Prophet Ibrahim willingly surrendered to the perceived commandment.
Prophet Ibrahim presented the matter to his son, and asked for his opinion. Prophet Ismail’s reaction was absolutely astounding. He did not show any hesitation or reservation even for a moment. He said:
“Father, proceed to do what you have been commanded. You will find me, In Shaa Allah (Allah willing), very patient.”
His mature response, his insight into the nature of his dad’s dreams, his willingness to sacrifice his life for the sake of Allah, and his commitment to Allah’s submission were all unparalleled.
But the loving Lord, Allah, Who is most merciful, and kind, didn’t want it this way. It was just a trial and test. The life of Prophet Isma’il (AS) was saved, and compensated with another sacrifice, the sacrifice of a ram.
Therefore when we offer our life symbolically to the Almighty by offering the sacrifice of an animal, we express our gratitude on the guidance of submission which was expressed by Prophet Ibrahim by sacrificing his only son. A Muslim must submit to Allah in any circumstances, and love for Allah should be over and above any other love in the life of a true and sincere Muslim.
By making a sacrifice in the true essence by giving something beloved to us, we also learn the true act of sacrifice for our everyday life. This teaches each of us to make small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us; it helps us to sacrifice our favourite TV program in order to offer prayer, or sacrifice a visit to the market in order to recite the Qur’an, or sacrifice an outing with friends in order to listen to some beneficial Islamic lecture. Such sacrifices teach us how to give up our small worldly wishes to attain Allah’s blessings. They symbolise our willingness to give up things close to our hearts in order to follow Allah’s commands. A true and sincere Muslim is one who submits himself or herself completely to the Lord, and is willing to follow Allah’s commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us, and the sacrifice made on Eid helps us attain it.
Moreover, the sacrifice also teaches us sharing; meat from the sacrifice is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. It symbolises our willingness to give up some of our own bounties in order to strengthen ties of friendship, and help the less privileged ones. We recognise that all blessings come from Allah, and so we should open our hearts and share them with others.
Lastly, I’m saying Eid Mubarak to all! May these celebrations fill your hearts with gratitude and inspire you to lead with compassion and integrity. Let’s cherish these moments with our loved ones and carry forward the lessons of sacrifice and love in all we do.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: