eid-ul-adha wembley, uk · eid al-adha congregation at the uk centre, wembley (uk) [contributor:...
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Eid-ul-Adha at
Wembley, UK
Celebrated on
Sunday, November 6, 2011
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
.......... The HOPE Bulletin ………..
Health, Ongoing Projects, Education
www.aaiil.org
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Akbar Ibn Abdullah, Editor
Alhamdollillah, as a part of Hazrat Ameer-i-Qaum, Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha Sahib’s tour
of Europe we are publishing this Eid report separately for your reading and viewing pleasure, which
normally would be included in our worldwide supplement.
At the Darus Salam Center in Wembley, UK, Hazrat Ameer-i-Qaum delivered a khutba on the Eid-ul-
Adha topic of “sacrifice” which is stored in the audio archive of the Central Anjuman’s website.
You can listen to Hazrat Ameer’s Eid khutbah in Mp3 media at
http://www.aaiil.org/text/snd/uk/2011/soundislamahmadiyyauk2011.shtml
We are indeed indebted to the two energetic and dedicated young doctors of the UK Jama‘at, Dr. Mujahid
Ahmad Saeed, eldest son of Hazrat Ameer, and Dr. Jawad Ahmad, elder son of our venerable Brother
Nasir Ahmad Sahib, who submitted these elegant and informative photographs which made this
supplement possible. Jazak Allah!
For the addition of text material to this supplement we commend the submission of our dear respected
brother, Nasir Ahmad Sahib of the United Kingdom. Jazak Allah!
Finally, we are immensely appreciative of Hazrat Ameer-i-Qaum’s exhaustive tour of Europe, visiting all
the Jama‘ats and missions in Holland, Germany and the United Kingdom, which gave us the opportunity
to publish several special supplements, covering a major portion of his tour. Jazak Allah!
As always, your comments are welcome.
A Brief Note on …
Eid al-Adha congregation at the UK Centre, Wembley (UK)
[Contributor: Brother Nasir Ahmad, United Kingdom]
Thanks to Allah that this year Eid al-Adha was celebrated on the same day throughout Europe. The UK
centre announced this date last year based on calculation. It was also the first time that Hazrat Ameer was
present at the Wembley centre for Eid al-Adha.
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Before the start of prayer
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Two separate prayer congregations were held; one for ladies and the other for men.
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Sermon by Hazrat Ameer
Then Hazrat Ameer delivered a brief but impressive sermon explaining the significance of the sacrifice.
He said that sacrifice of an animal is symbolic. The real purpose is to sacrifice or cut at the root of the
animal in one’s inner self.
He also referred to verse 4 of chapter 60, called Abraham, where Abraham has been regarded as “a good
example” by Allah, and said that it is the Muslims who are carrying on and following that model in the
form of Hajj.
In connection with the purpose of sacrifice intended by Allah, Hazrat Ameer referred to the following two
verses of the Qur’an where submission to the commandments provides true guidance to the believers for
achieving success in this life and the life hereafter:
“Say: My prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are surely for Allah, the Lords of the
worlds” (6:163).
“Not their flesh, nor their blood, reaches Allah, but to Him is acceptable observance of duty on
your part. Thus has He made them subservient to you, that you may magnify Allah for guiding
you aright” (22:37).
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While explaining the underlying significance of submission, Hazrat Ameer gave a beautiful illustration:
When one offers a cup of tea to one’s guest, it is not the outer beauty of the crockery but what matters is
what is in the cup and the affection and sincerity with which it is offered.
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The sermon ended with a du‘a.
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Explanation of 6:75-79 of the Holy Quran
A short programme followed in which Shayaan Ahmad (9 years of age) recited beautifully verses 75-79
of chapter 6, and Irfaan Ahmad (11 years of age) presented the explanation of these verses. The English
translation of the Arabic text and its explanation run as follows:
“And when Abraham said to his sire, Azar: Do you take idols for gods? Surely I see you and your
people in manifest error. And thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the
earth and that he might have certainty. So when the night overshadowed him, he saw a star. He
said: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: I do not love the setting ones. Then when he saw the
moon rising, he said: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: If my Lord had not guided me, I
should certainly be of the people in error. Then when he saw the sun rising, he said: Is this my
Lord? Is this the greatest? So when it set, he said: My people, I am clear of what you set up (with
Allah). Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and
the earth, and I am not of those who set up partners (with Allah).”
The explanation:
“The Surah tells the tale of Prophet Abraham seeking sincerely for the One True God. He
reflected on the objects that his people worshipped and reasoned that the heavenly bodies followed
a pattern, a course and cycle and could not be identified as the Creator; he realised that there was a
Creator Who was making the sun, the moon and the stars move across the sky in perfect balance.
The Surah ends with Prophet Abraham stating: ‘O people, I have turned my face away from what
you associate with Allah.’
Allah has used allegory in this set of verses. Prophet Abraham found patterns in the world around
him and reflected on its Creator and Sustainer, the Rabb. Scientists study the world around them
and find patterns in Nature. This is exactly what Prophet Abraham did and it drew him closer to
Allah.
Allah has used assonance in the last sentence of verse 79, ‘Wal arza haneefaa, wa maa anaa minal
mushrikeen.’ Notice the use of the ‘AA’ sounds in this sentence, giving the impression of being
upright. The structure of an Alif is straight and Haneefaa means the straight one. Allah is trying to
emphasise the fact that Prophet Abraham remained upright, facing Allah while all the other people
around him were bending down to other idols.
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On Eid al-Adha we remember the dream that came to Prophet Abraham in which Allah informed
him to sacrifice his son. However, his son was replaced by a lamb. True to his character, Prophet
Abraham remained upright, faithfully obedient to Allah.
Our challenge too is to remain on the straight path; true to Allah even when the pressure is great
and the upright way appears difficult. Once on the path of Allah, the Quran is replete with
examples of how Ar-Rahim (the Beneficent) eases the way of those who earnestly pursue His
way.”
Messages
After these contributions, Sister Jameela Khan, President of the Jama‘at, read out messages and apologies
from members of the Jama‘at in the UK and abroad.
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As usual, people hugged and exchanged Eid greetings.
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Zuhr prayer and lunch
By then it was 1 pm and the Zuhr prayer was held in congregation.
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This was followed by a sumptuous lunch. On such occasions, individual contributions provide a variety of
sweets which add tasty treats such as khurma from Trinidad, Pakistani sweets, and home-made cakes.
Live radio programme
Br. Shahid Aziz, Secretary of the UK Jama‘at, had arranged a live slot from 1.15 to 1.40 pm on Punjab
Radio, London, which has a large Sikh following. Besides Br. Shahid Aziz, Dr. Zahid Aziz and Dr.
Mujahid Saeed, Hazrat Ameer took part in it and in his 15-minute talk emphasised that the Founder of the
Ahmadiyya Movement initiated inter-faith dialogue among various faiths in the early 1900s and we, as
his followers, are pursuing that mission.
He said we are pleased that Guru Nanak Ji’s birthplace and other holy places of Guru Ji are in Pakistan
and that Sikh pilgrims are warmly welcomed and honoured.
We too venerate the Chola Sahib, which carries several verses of the Qur’an, and shows how greatly the
founder of Sikhism was influenced by Islam.
Br. Shahid Aziz recalled that recently when some members of the Shrine of Mian Mir Sahib of Lahore
came to the UK, the Punjab Radio management gave them a very hearty welcome just because Hazrat
Mian Mir Sahib laid the foundation stone of the Golden Temple of Amritsar.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Akbar Abdullah
Editor, The HOPE Bulletin
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 232811
Sacramento, California 95823-0430, U.S.A.
E-mail Address: [email protected]
Telephone Number: (773) 539-6892
“ISLAM” stands for “I SHALL LOVE ALL MANKIND”