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Haj festival messages

Haj message of special significance to Lankans: President

The message of Haj is of special significance to all Sri Lankas today while we are striving to achieve a negotiated and lasting peace, President Chandrika Bandarnaike Kumaratunga said in her Haj message.

The message today is a significant day in the Islamic calendar. It is said Haj is a high point in the lives of all followers of Islam. This Holy festival of Haj symbolises the importance of sacrifices which is the fifth pillar of Islam.

The others are Iman or faith, Salah or prayer, Zakat or the obligation to help the needy, and sawm or fasting.

Every Muslim rich or poor as he celebrates Haj reminds himself of his own submission to God, and his own willingness to sacrifice anything to God's wishes.

The Haj pilgrimage for those who can afford it, signifies the importance of parity among all humans, obedience, peace and universal brotherhood enshrined in Islam.

The message of Haj is of special significance to all Sri Lankans today while we are striving to achieve a negotiated and lasting peace.

I fervently believe that following the Islamic precept, of treating all alike will certainly lead us towards a solution to the existing crisis and to build a prosperous Sri Lanka".

"Haj infuses strong sense of brotherhood among all"

Haj message of M. H. Mohamed MP, Minister of Western Region Development and Chairman, Sri Lanka Islamic Centre.

It gives me great pleasure to send this message of felicitation on this sacred and joyous day. Haj festival is celebrated on the tenth day in the month of Dhui Haj. The obligation of Haj is to fulfil the fifth Pillar of Islam.

Haj is a spectacle of Muslim fraternity cutting across ethnicities, politics, and cultures. It is certainly a grand assembly before Almighty Allah which infuses a strong sense of brotherhood among all.

For the last two decades our country was engulfed in turmoil. This year we are celebrating Haj festival at a time our beautiful motherland is on the threshold of achieving permanent peace. All of us should resolve on this special day to contribute our share to the ongoing peace process and pray for its success.

I extend my greetings to the people of Sri Lanka and appeal to all of them to forget the racial, caste and religious differences and to work together to build a united and prosperous Sri Lanka.

May Almighty Allah bless our country with peace and prosperity.

"I hope Haj will bring peace and harmony to everyone"

Haj festival message by Al Haj A.H.M. Azwer, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs:

"The most fascinating feature of the Haj is the spirit of enchantment, devotion and self-effacement which pervades the entire pilgrimage from the beginning to the end.

In the soulful melodies in the prayer, supplication and repentance that fill the atmosphere constantly, the vital element, that indescribable quality is still present which infuses a new life, imparts a new keenness, instills a new hope and revives the languishing flame of love and evokes the Mercy of the Lord.

"The Haj is a victory for Islamic universalism, transcending racial linguistic or territorial nationalism.

To visit the birthplace of Islam, to tread the sacred ground of the Holy Prophet's struggle to call erring humanity back to God and to relive those hallowed by the memories of Holy Prophet Muhammad's long toil and sufferings in glorious years of sacrifice and martyrdom, is to have one's soul kindled by that celestial fire which lighted the whole earth.

"The Haj plays a vital role in the protection of the spiritual roots of the Muslim millet which is still inspired by the ideals associated with Prophet Hazrath Ibrahim, which can be described as simplicity, profundity, uprightness, fidelity, tenderness, love and dedication.

"The message of the Haj is of particular importance at a time when our government under the inspiring leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe is relentlessly pursuing the path of peace to enthrone a system of government acceptable to all communities.

We in this country can derive inspiration from the ideals of the Haj which has such a splendid record of success in uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity and of endeavour so many and so various races of mankind.

"I hope that this Haj festival brings a message of hope, joy, celebration, fulfilment, national reconciliation, integration, peace and harmony to everyone."

"Haj offers redemption through sacrifice and perseverance"

From the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Minister of Port Development and Shipping and Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Rauf Hakeem.

I convey my heartfelt good wishes to all Muslims celebrating Eid-Ul-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, today. Celebrations follow the completion of the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the obligatory pillars of faith in Islam.

Islam is a religion of peace and the most magnanimous human ability to sacrifice gives credence to Haj.

It is a festival bearing hope for the suffering Muslim brothers and sisters the world over, in these tumultuous times that they are experiencing.

In Sri Lanka, at a time when the peace talks have been shelved and peace negotiations stalled, my earnest expectation is to see the peace process revived soon.

As for the concerns of us Muslims, we hope, the tripartite negotiation process we seek with a significant role played by the Muslims, will become a reality without undermining our grievances and dignity.

This is crucial, especially for the Muslims of the North East. I pray for tensions and insecurities to be eased and for confidence and solidarity to build up among communities.

This Holy Month brings to mind the steely resolve and unswerving faith of Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail (Peace be upon them) who were subjected to Almighty Allahs' Supreme test of sacrifice whilst reflecting on their most enduring qualities of perseverance, tolerance and sacrifice, I pray for peace on this Holy Day for all. Eid-Mubarak.

"Sacrifice connotes deeper perspective in Islam"

From S. Alavi Mowlana, Governor, Western Province

"I consider it a great privilege to send a message of felicitation on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Adha which is being celebrated today.

My thought goes to millions of faithfuls who are gathered in the House of Allah, just to oblige His call of duty.

The chants that pervade the air ring with millions of supplications Oh! Almighty !! Here we are !!! There is no god but Allah!! What is central to these recitals is that we have no desires or aspirations but to obey His commands and Edicts and nothing else.

"It may be the reason why it is called the Feast of the Sacrifice. Sacrifice connotes a deeper perspective in the religion of Islam. Apostle Ibrahim Alaihissalam showed us what sacrifice is and the reward for total commitment despite painful experiences. Contentment in times of adversity, patience in the light of provocation and share what you have with others are the main lessons through these pilgrimages and rituals.

"Hence my fellow brothers and Hajjis - your stature and standing among the society have risen to considerable height.

Islam enjoins you to live up to these great expectations once you return after visiting Holy Kaaba, Rawdha Shareef and other Holy places.

"On a joyous occasion such as this, it is our bounden duty to pay a little attention on those whose lives are in miserable condition.

The plight of the displaced people, mostly Muslims, has not been properly attended to. The volatile situation in the East is not abating.

The need of the hour is the divine intervention. Let's pray that Almighty Allah safeguard the oppressed".

"Prosperity thru' peace and unity"

From Mohamed Mahroof, MP, Minister of Urban Public Utilities.

Haj is one of the five main duties in Islam. It is a festival which brings the history of Islam into focus and reinforces unity among the world Muslim community through the virtues of generosity, sacrifice and co-existence.

The Haj Festival is a day of special significance to Muslims in Sri Lanka. Therefore Muslims should take it to heart and act with deep foresight to foster peace and unity in our country.

I sincerely feel that they should act with a sense of urgency by following the virtues of sacrifice, dedication and co-existence reflected by the duty of Haj.

On this great day I wish and pray that our country will march towards prosperity through peace and unity forged among Muslims and the people belonging to all other religions, states Mohamed Mahroof MP, Minister of Urban Public Utilities.

"We pray for unity and peace in Sri Lanka"

National President All Ceylon YMMA Conference - M. Ashroff Rumi, states in his Haj message:

Muslims of the world rejoice on the day on which the Haj festival is celebrated. It is called the Festival of Sacrifice.

It coincides with the performance of Haj in the Holy City of Mecca where muslims all over the world gather in one place at Mount Arafa standing equally before God and supplicating for their well-being.

Haj Ritual and festival demonstrates unity of faith and equality of man before God. It symbolises peace. It also involves feeding the poor through Ulhiyyah (Qurban). YMMA conference, has made arrangements to distribute Qurban to the poor at Colombo and as well as in outstations where several branch YMMAs are situated.

We pray Almighty to help bring unity and peace among all races in Sri Lanka.

"Pray to Almighty for peace and prosperity"

Message from National Council of the YMMAs of Sri Lanka, National President, Jainudeen, Ahamath.

Today Muslims in Sri Lanka and the world over are celebrating the festival of Eid-Ul-Azha which is generally known as the Haj festival - the Festival of Sacrifice.

Haj festival recalls the sacred memories of the life of Prophet Ibrahim, his spirit of sacrifice and the total submission to the Call of Almighty Allah. This festival also brings to us the message of brotherhood and peace.

Humanity today is in a state of moral and spiritual crisis. Mankind has lost the sense of brotherhood and fellow feeling. The narrow mindedness, parochialism and religious linguistic and cultural prejudices have torn the fabric of human society into pieces.

Hence, there is an urgent need to inculcate the value of broad mindedness, sense of justice, brotherhood and equality of mankind.

On this auspicious day let us raise our hands in prayer to Almighty Allah for peace and prosperity for our beloved country on this significance day.

"Pray for peace"

From M. Fawzan Anver (Colombo District SLFP Organiser)

The Sri Lankan Muslims who have been fortunate to make this year's Pilgrimage have an obligation to continue to pray for peace in the country in order to usher in prosperity and happiness to all our people.

May all of us be showered with the blessings of the Al-Mighty. Eid Mubarak

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