We begin in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Him from the evils of our souls and the wrongs of our actions.

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), his family, his noble com­panions, and all those who follow his path until the Day of Judgment.

Understanding the essence

of Eid-ul-Adha

Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacri­fice, is one of the two major Islamic celebrations observed by Muslims across the world.

It commemorates the unwavering submission of Prophet Ibrahim (Abra­ham, peace be upon him) to Allah’s command when he was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son Isma’il (Ishmael, peace be upon him). Allah, in His infinite mercy, intervened and replaced the son with a ram, thus honouring Ibrahim’s sincerity and faith.

This moment of sacrifice is recorded in the Qur’an: “Then when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead, We called out: ‘O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the vision.’ Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.” (Surah As-Saffat, 37:103–105)

This act of obedience is not mere­ly a historical account. It is a living symbol that forms the essence of Eid-ul-Adha.

Ibrahim (A.S): The Architect

of Submission

Before the moment of sacrifice, Prophet Ibrahim and his family played critical roles in establishing Islam’s foundational pillars:

1. The building of the Ka‘bah

Prophet Ibrahim and his son Isma’il were chosen to construct the Ka‘bah, the sacred House of Allah in Makkah. The Qur’an records this noble mo­ment:

“And [mention] when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Isma’il, [saying], ‘Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.’”

(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:127)

This structure remains the spiritu­al centre of Muslim worship, facing which over a billion Muslims direct their daily prayers.

2. The struggle of Hajar (Hajara) between Safa and Marwa

The mother of Isma’il, Hajar (Haja­ra), exemplifies a profound lesson of patience and faith. Left in the barren valley of Makkah with her infant, she ran between the hills of Safa and Mar­wa, desperately searching for water. Her perseverance was rewarded when the well of Zamzam sprang forth at the feet of her baby.

Her sincere struggle is now ritual­ised in Hajj as the Sa‘i between Safa and Marwa—a reminder of the role of women, the power of du‘a, and the value of trust in Allah’s provision.

Sacrifice at Mina and the

Rites of Jamarat

During Hajj, pilgrims reenact Ibra­him’s confrontation with Shaytan at Mina, where he rejected the devil’s temptation and cast stones at him. This act is now observed in Hajj as the ritual of stoning the Jamarat, sym­bolising the rejection of evil, tempta­tion, and disobedience.

It is a vivid spiritual lesson: the path to Allah is one of resistance to distraction and sin, and one must be prepared to fight these forces with unwavering faith.

The essence of Arafat in Hajj

The Prophet Muhammad said:“Hajj is Arafah.” (Sunan al-Tir­midhi, 889)

Standing on the plain of Arafat, in deep humility and supplication, is the heart of Hajj. It represents the Day of Judgment, when all of humanity will stand before their Creator. The Proph­et said: “There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Fire than the Day of Arafah.” (Sahih Muslim, 1348)

For pilgrims, Arafat is a time of repentance, reflection, and renewal— and for non-pilgrims, fasting on that day is highly recommended.

Three core lessons from the

Sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim

(A.S.)

1. Absolute obedience to Allah

Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son teaches that the essence of faith is unquestioning obedience to Allah. He prioritised divine command over emotion, logic, or comfort.

Takeaway:

In our lives, we must also be ready to put aside our desires, egos, and even attachments if they conflict with Allah’s instructions. This may involve sacrifices such as waking up for Fajr, staying away from haram income, or being truthful in difficult situations.

2. Sincere intention and inner sac­rifice

The real essence of the sacrifice lies in the heart’s submission to Allah.

It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him.”

(Surah Al-Hajj 22:37)

Takeaway:

Every act of worship should be grounded in sincerity. Whether it is prayer, charity, or sacrifice, what mat­ters most is the purity of our inten­tion.

3. Sacrifice for the greater good

The legacy of Eid-ul-Adha teaches us that sometimes, faith requires us to give up what we love for a greater purpose. Sacrificing wealth, time, or status in the path of Allah or for the benefit of others leads to spiritual elevation.

Takeaway:

Use your re­sources such as time, money, skills, for acts of benefit: support the poor, educate the young, assist the sick, and build your community.

Celebrating Eid-ul-Adha: A

Festival for all Muslims

Even for those who do not go on Hajj, Eid-ul-Adha holds immense sig­nificance. Muslims across the world participate in the act of Qurbani (sacrifice) to hon­or the tradition of Ibrahim (A.S.).

Types of ani­mals and their

symbolism

Permissible animals include goats, sheep, cows, and camels. Each must meet a minimum age and be free of defects. The sacrificed animal is then divided into three parts: one for the family, one for rel­atives and friends, and one for the poor and needy.

This distribution reflects the spirit of sharing, com­passion, and social responsibility—val­ues at the heart of Islam.

The eternal message of Eid-ul-Adha

Eid-ul-Adha is not merely a celebra­tion; it is a living tradition that calls us to:

• Submit like Ibrahim,

• Strive like Hajar,

• Sacrifice like Isma’il,

• Reflect like the pil­grims at Arafat.

May this Eid awaken within us a renewed commitment to obedience, sincerity, and compassion.

Let us make every Eid-ul-Adha a step forward in our spiritual journey, embodying the values of submission, sacrifice, and service to humanity. I wish every Muslim Eid Mubaarak

By Imaam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai

(Kpone Katamanso Metropolitan Chief Imaam)

In Ghana, the increasing prevalence of drug abuse in schools has led to absenteeism, violent behaviour, academic failure, and mental health issues.

Some school dropouts have become part of gang culture, especially in ur­ban areas, threatening future national development. These environments must be purified and protected with strong policy, parental involvement, and faith-based education.

UNICEF, Ghana Health Service, and Other Reports

UNICEF (2019) highlighted the cor­relation between substance abuse and early childhood trauma, noting that youth exposed to abuse, neglect, or poverty are more susceptible to drug use.

The Ghana Health Service’s 2022 report showed a 17 per cent rise in mental health cases linked to drug abuse, with youth between 15–35 years most affected.

Narcotics Control Commission Sta­tistics

According to the 2022 Annual Report of the Narcotics Control Commission, over 8,000 arrests were made for drug offenses.

Cannabis remains the most abused drug, with growing concerns about synthetic drugs and pharmaceutical abuse, especially tramadol and cough syrups with codeine.

Islamic Law and Maqasid

al-Shari‘ah

The five universal objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shari‘ah)— preserving religion (deen), life (nafs), intellect (‘aql), lineage (nasl), and wealth (maal)—are all endangered by drug abuse.

Any initiative that protects these objectives is not just legally encouraged but religiously man­dated.

Imam Al-Shatibi, in al-Muwa­faqat, asserts that laws are de­signed not for hardship but to pre­serve human dignity and collective wellbeing.

Therefore, illicit drugs threaten the very fabric of what Shari’ah seeks to protect:

1. Preservation of Religion (Hifz ad- Deen) – Drug use weakens a person’s sense of religious duty. Addicts often neglect prayer, fasting, and remem­brance of Allah, falling into sin and heedlessness.

2. Preservation of Life (Hifz an-Nafs) – Drugs increase the risk of premature death through overdose, suicide, or violence. Islam strictly forbids self-harm: “And do not kill yourselves.

Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merci­ful” (Qur’an 4:29).

3. Preservation of Intellect (Hifz al-‘A9ql) – One of the clearest reasons in­tox­icants are forbidden. The mind is the seat of moral judgment. Losing one’s intellect means losing the capacity for faith and responsibility.

4. Preservation of Lineage (Hifz an- Nasl) – Drug addiction often leads to moral decay, fornication, and broken families, harming future generations.

5. Preservation of Wealth (Hifz al- Maal) – Addicts squander wealth on drugs, harming families and communi­ties. Islam commands us to be custo­dians of our resources.

These objectives guide the Islamic legal position that drug abuse is not just a sin, but a social threat that must be collectively confronted.

By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, the Author