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Black Church News in Virginia

The Ink of the Scholar: Eid Al- Adha and 9/11

fareed
By Imam Vernon Fareed

There have been numerous false statements made by one U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump, regarding the response of Muslims in New Jersey to the World Trade Center bombing on 9/11. He repeatedly made claims that Muslims were seen rejoicing and celebrating in New Jersey after witnessing the destruction of the two towers in New York. Ultimately this was proven to be baseless and false; but in the interim many innocent and unsuspecting individuals had become victims of this fearmongering! Since that fatal day of 9/11 there has hardly been any mention of the fact that 32 Muslims were killed during that horrendous event. Those who lost their lives had worked in various occupations in the towers including; stock broker, janitor, restaurant worker, newspaper vendor, etc.

There has also been little mention of the fact that Muslims were among first responders as firemen, police officers and in other capacities. One such case in point was an EMT and onetime NYPD cadet who lost his life trying to save others. Despite this ultimate sacrifice, they refused to place his name on the wall with other first responders who had lost their lives. The mother of this victim along with others began expressing outrage and disappointment about this treatment. To add insult to injury, this individual was also accused of being involved in the attacks. After 13 years of fighting for justice Mohammed Salman Hamdani was honored by the NYPD and also had a street in Queens named after him.

The fear mongers are continuing to stoke the coals in the fire by suggesting that Muslims will be celebrating the attacks on the World Trade Center on this coming 9/11. Nothing can be further from the truth, and those promoting this propaganda are well aware that it’s false! It is once again, intended to influence unsuspecting people into believing that Muslims are terrorists, and they support the killing of innocent human beings! The fact of the matter is that Muslims who are at Hajj (pilgrimage) will be observing the (9th) Day of Arafaat, and it will coincide with 9/11. The following (10th) Day is the Festival of Sacrifice called Eid Al-Adha. Because the months in Al-Islam are based on a lunar calendar (cycles of the moon), Muslims have no control over the Day of this Observance. The Eid Observance is always the 10th day of Thul Hijjah (the 12th month – and the one in which Muslims perform the Pilgrimage to Mecca). This year the Eid Al-Adha observance will take place on Monday September 12th, but the Day of Arafaat will coincide with 9/11 on the solar calendar, and the detractors are attempting to make hay of it.

Eid Al-Adha is the commemoration of the willingness of Prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son (Ishmael) out of obedience to G-d. Muslims have a difference with Jews regarding whether it was Isaac or Ishmael, but we hold to it being Ishmael, because even Bible Scripture says it was the oldest son. The purpose here however is not to debate the issue over Muslims difference with Jews, rather it is to draw attention to the Sacrifice. Nevertheless G-d intervened before Abraham could carry out the act (of sacrifice) and a sheep was substituted instead, but Abraham had already fulfilled his commitment through his willingness to obey his Lord. The major highlight of this Eid Observance is “the willingness to sacrifice out of obedience to G-d.”

We trust that people will not be deceived by those seeking to paint the wrong picture of Muslims and Al-Islam (the way of life that they adhere to). G-d is always in control of the heavens and the earth, and He determines the when the sun rises and sets, and He determines the phases of the moon!

Note: The spelling of “G-d” when used in my articles is not a typo, it is intentional. We have a serious issue when the reverse spelling for the Name of the Great Creator is “Dog” and this is our way of drawing attention to this concern!

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