Academic says Eid al-Adha fosters social empathy
Purwokerto (ANTARA) - Academic from the State Islamic University (UIN) of Purwokerto Muridan said that the spirit of Eid al-Adha has a broader meaning than just an annual religious ritual because it also serves as a means of building social empathy, care, and solidarity.
“Eid al-Adha is not only a religious ritual that comes every year, but also a space for social reflection for Muslims,” he said in a written statement received in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Central Java, Friday.
He, who is currently performing the Hajj pilgrimage, said that amidst the echoes of takbir and the implementation of sacrifices, Islam is actually teaching the meaning of care, sacrifice, and love for one another.
According to him, Eid al-Adha should not only be understood as a symbolic worship, but also as a social education that shapes people to be more sensitive to the conditions around them.
He said that the thoughts of classical Muslim scholar Ibn Khaldun regarding ashabiyah or social solidarity are still relevant in modern life which tends to be individualistic.
“A community will become strong if its members have a sense of togetherness, care, and collective responsibility. Conversely, society will weaken when each individual is only busy thinking about themselves,” he said.
He assessed that technological advances do make it easier for people to connect, but not necessarily closer emotionally, so the spirit of Eid al-Adha is important to revive the sensitivity of the heart to the conditions of others.
He also mentioned the thoughts of Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali who emphasized the importance of cleansing the heart from greed, arrogance, and excessive love for the world because a healthy heart will be more easily feel the suffering of others.
He said that the distribution of sacrificial meat to the community without distinguishing social status reflects the values of equality, love, and also strengthens social relations in society.
“In the end, the spirit of Eid al-Adha reminds us that the best people are not those who live only for themselves, but those who are able to benefit others,” he said.
Muridan hopes that the spirit of Eid al-Adha can continue to be understood as a spiritual and social exercise to build a more caring, supportive, and blessed society.