Muslims told to imitate Ibrahim in facing crisis

Muslims told to imitate Ibrahim in facing crisis

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Millions of Muslims throughout the country packed mosques for
Idul Adha prayers and handed over sacrificial cattle and goats on
Sunday in solemn and peaceful observance of the annual Day of
Sacrifice.

On this day Muslims across the globe celebrate their victory
against evil as shown by the Prophet Ibrahim and his wife Hajar,
who were ready to give up their only son Ismail for God.

A Muslim preacher says Ibrahim's obedience of God's order to
sacrifice Ismail carries a noble message to people facing
hardships.

"One message is that life is an endless trial for those of
faith," Lukman Thahir was quoted by Antara as saying in his Idul
Adha sermon at Darussalam Grand Mosque in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

He said all human beings experienced problems, such as those
experienced by Ibrahim centuries ago.

"In the case of the Prophet Ibrahim, we see how God challenged
his family to prove their true faith by ordering him to slaughter
his son," he added.

Lukman, who is a lecturer at the Dato Karamah State Islamic
Institute in Palu, said people face temptation everyday but they
need to be patient and have faith.

Those with powerful positions in society should refrain from
misusing their power through corruption, collusion and nepotism,
for example, he added.

"What is most important is that we should seek God's approval
for every one of our deeds," Lukman said. "If we can maintain
this, we will become like Ibrahim and his family, who succeeded
in facing their trials," he added.

Lukman said another message embodied by Idul Adha was that in
order to be successful in life and to be closer to God, people
should stop behaving like animals and rid themselves of immoral
ambitions, greediness and lawlessness.

"Slaughtering animals symbolizes that we are required to kill
our animal instincts," he added.

The preacher said Idul Adha should inspire people to be ready
to make sacrifices if they want to achieve their goals in life.

Similarly, another preacher Abdul Latief told a Idul Adha
congregation in Jambi province that the history of Ibrahim and
his family represented the sincere dedication of Muslims to God
almighty

The symbolic meaning of Idul Adha should serve as a guideline
for Indonesian Muslims, he added.

"We can have different opinions but should remain united and
cohesive," said Latief from the Sultan Thaha Syaipudin State
Institute of Islamic Studies in Jambi.

In Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Muslim scholar
Bukhari Daud said Ibrahim's sincerity in sacrificing his son
should set an example for all national leaders.

Prophet Ibrahim and Ismail were sincere in accepting and
carrying out God's instruction, and they eventually managed to
pass their challenges against Satan," he said.

In Jakarta, preacher Muhammad Siddiq said, that as one of the
world's largest religions, Islam was not a religion of violence.

"Islam is a long way from violence. If ever there was an idea
that Muslims followed that direction, it was simply the
incrimination of western countries panicked over the development
of Islam in the world," he was quoted by Antara as saying in his
Idul Adha sermon at Cut Meutiah Mosque in Menteng, Central
Jakarta.

He said that most Muslims at present believed that "love" was
the only way to get closer to the Creator.

Meanwhile, Muslim scholar Atho Mudzhor urged the nation to
take into account the importance of brotherhood.

"As we are getting closer to the elections, a sense of
brotherhood is needed," he said in his sermon at Istiqlal Mosque,
Central Jakarta.

"We should remember that whatever the results of this year's
general election, we have to keep and protect the integrity and
sovereignty of the Unitary State of Indonesia," Atho added.

The Idul Adha prayer was attended by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri. The President was accompanied by her husband
Taufiq Kiemas, and Vice President Hamzah Haz who later handed
over cows to be sacrificed.