Sacrificing every day

The essence of the Day of Sacrifice, which Muslims all over the world celebrate today or tomorrow, is that in life we must be prepared to part with our most valuable possession. Life in this predominantly Muslim nation would probably be so much better if everyone could live life in the spirit of Idul Adha throughout the year.

According to the Koran, in explaining the origins of the Sacrifice Day, it tells us that the Prophet Ibrahim was asked by God to slaughter his son Ismail, his most treasured possession. Ibrahim was well on his way to do as ordained until God intervened at the last second. In place of his son, Prophet Ibrahim was asked to slaughter a goat.

Every year on Idul Adha Day, Muslims are asked to slaughter a goat or a cow. This is meant to be a symbol that in life, one must constantly make sacrifices.

Most of us would probably never have a situation when we are called on to part with our most treasured possession. But are we making our share of even small sacrifices in this life?

Life in many respects is about giving and taking. Since most of us take more than we give, some sacrifices should be in order. They are a small price to pay for what we have gained in life.

It is this spirit of making sacrifices that Idul Adha is meant to inculcate within us. The rituals that Muslims go through, from the mass prayers, the celebration with family and friends, to the slaughtering and the feast, are reminders of the need for us to count our blessings, and to share some of those blessings with those who are less fortunate.

If that spirit lived among us all year round, and if we all had followed that teaching consistently, this nation would probably not be in its current predicament.

A lot of what is wrong about this country came about because people are taking a lot more than their due share, and they are giving back a lot less. A lot of what is wrong about Indonesia could be traced to the greed that prevails in society.

Some of us in this country have become too greedy, whether for wealth or power, so much so that we are not even making the minimum sacrifices required of us. Some of us are taking far more than we should, and are giving far too little than we are supposed to.

Redressing this imbalance would go a long way in making life in this country, and in this world, so much better for everyone. A little sacrifice will heal many wounds.

May the spirit of Idul Adha fall upon all of us, and not just today, but everyday.