KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged Muslims in the country to mark the Aidiladha celebration this year as a starting point to motivate themselves towards improving the virtue of self-sacrifice .
The prime minister said they should learn from the story of sacrifice mentioned in the Quran, which also touched on the determination and courage of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail.
“This is the spirit we should have in facing our struggles,” he said in a message in conjunction with the Aidiladha celebration via his blog at www.najibrazak.com
Najib pointed out that performing the deed of sacrifice (korban) was not just a mere ritual, but it also put into perspective the sacrifices that a Muslim needed to make in life, setting aside self-interest and personal demands.
“Sacrifice requires perseverance and it should start from ourselves. This is what we learn from the history of Prophet Muhammad, which inspires and strengthens us in our struggle to develop this beloved country,he said.
He thus encouraged the people to fight and sacrifice for the nation's future, build a more advanced and progressive Islamic state based on the objectives of the syariah.
The prime minister added that he and his family prayed for the wellbeing of the Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land, so that they could safely complete their Haj.
“As for the rest (Muslims who have not gone for Haj), let us join them (pilgrims) in performing prayers and the deed of korban.
“Let us also take the opportunity of these blessed days to pray for the welfare and continued wellbeing of our beloved country,” said Najib.
Muslims in the country celebrate Aidiladha tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid in his Aidiladha message called on Muslims in Malaysia and around the world to confront the constraints, problems and challenges they faced with full determination.
Citing the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his own son Prophet Ismail on the command of Allah, Ahmad Zahid said Muslims should take lessons from the incident, and be prepared to sacrifice for the sake of their religion.
“May all the sacrifices we make for our religion be for the sake of empowering and strengthening it, and not to undermine it,” he said in the video recording on his YouTube page.
Ahamd Zahid also reminded all Muslims to stop differentiating among themselves, and sacrifice to ensure the sanctity of the religion was maintained at all times.
He also took the opportunity to wish “Selamant Aidiladha” to all Muslims, especially the pilgrims who are performing the Haj in Mecca. — Bernama
