By Haroon Balogun
As Muslims world-over warm up for the Eid-il-Kabir festival, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned Nigerian Muslims to spend within the limit of their incomes and shun borrowing for slaughtering rams.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’d Abubakar III, also declared Tuesday 21st August as Eid-il-Kabiir day. This followed Saudi Arabia‘s declaration of Monday August 20 as Arafat Day.

In a statement signed by the Director of the organisation, Prof Ishaq Akintola said: “We must distance ourselves from this culture of waste. What pride is there if we borrow money to slaughter ram but whistle for our dinner for weeks after the festival? What wisdom lies behind wasting money on sacrificial ram or festival clothes when we are yet to settle our children’s school fees? Which one should come first: the children’s education or Salah ram and clothes? We must get our priorities right”.

“Just like hajj, the sacrifice of ram is only for those who have the wherewithal. It is not mandatory. This dogma of compulsory annual sacrifice is sheer bunkum. We urge every Muslim bread-winner to be wary of the dire consequencies of overspending. Allah does not place a burden heavier than any soul can bear on him or her (Qur’an 2:286). The Glorious Qur’an warns against extravagance and calls spendthrifts brothers of Shaytan (Qur’an 17:26 – 27). It is even our piety that Allah needs, neither the meat nor the blood of the rams which we sacrifice reaches Allah (Qur’an 22:37).