GAWU Eid-Ul-Adha/Azha Message 2009

The heartwarming historical tale of Hajar’s courage and determination as a mother alone with her son Ismail in a desert, is one origin of Eid-ul-Azha festival.

Then there is the devout obedience to God by Ibrahim who was willing to make the supreme and ultimate sacrifice of his well-loved son Ismail.

All these virtues – courage, resilience, determination, sacrifice – are embodied in the festival of Eid-ul-Azha which Guyana’s Islamic community commemorates over this week-end.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins Muslims in the Spirit of this celebration. The Prophet Ibrahim followed his God’s instructions and Mecca and the Kaaba are now both physical and spiritual symbols of a people’s faith.

In Guyana today all groups need to make that spiritual pilgrimage to re-new our faith in the hopefulness of our destiny. Material economic well-being, good governance, social justice for all Guyanese are all wrapped up in a strong spiritual foundation – whatever our religious beliefs.

May this joyous Eid-ul-Azha celebration of obedience and eventual prosperity inspire us all to share what is positive and good instead of engendering hate, prejudice and poverty in our society.

May this particular Eid promote the ideal of good charitable deeds, even as Muslims share their bounty and our national planners endeavour to ensure that we do NOT need charity endlessly.

Happy Eid-Ul-Azha 2009!