As Muslims in the world preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha on June 16,2024 many muslims in the country have been shocked by the news from Hear Uganda charity organization announcing that they won’t be able to donate cows to muslims to slaughter on Eid day as the case has been previously .
“We don’t have any programme of slaughtering cows and donating meat to people this Eid-al-Adha. Our donors have diverted all the donations to South Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Iran, Gaza and other war zone countries, claiming that those countries need more donation than us. They have put us on waiting list,” Hajj Ahmed Muguluma, the head Humanitarian Effort and Relief (Hear) Uganda said.
He added, “All our donors, three of them, who have been donating cows to sacrifice on Eid al-Adha day, have already sent regrets, beause they will not be able to support us this year.”
At the end of the Hajj (the fifth pillar of Islam or annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia), muslims throughout the world celebrate Eid al-Adha also known as greater Eid (Festival of Sacrifice), which is the most important festival in the muslim calendar.
Hajji Buruhan Kawume of Kawempe said, all their hopes for meat donations was with Hear Uganda donation as it has been doing all the years.
“But with this bad news of not giving us meat this time, it’s a very big shock to us and the entire muslim community since Eid celebrations last for three days, when muslims are enjoying meat. ”
Sheikh Haidari Kizza of Hear Uganda said, they have been donating cows to biggest number muslims in the country to slaughter on Eid-al Adha day, and their absence in donation has affected many Ugandans who have been depending on them during Eid celebrations.
“As it happened in the last Ramadhan, and we failed to donate food packages of Ramadan to many Ugandan, it’s the same issue this time. May allah help us to end wars in those countries, so that many needy Ugandans who are also waiting for these donations of cows and Ramadan packages can benefit,” he said.
There are two Eids celebrated in Islam which follow major acts of worship. The first is Eid al-Fitr which follows Ramadan and the second is Eid al-Adha which follows the Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.
Eid al-Adha which follows the day of Arafat on June 15, involves animal sacrifice as a symbol of Ibrahim’s sacrifice to Allah. It is centred on prayer and animal sacrifice. Eid al-Adha symbolizes prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son as a sign of devotion to Allah.
Ismail was replaced with a lamb which is the traditional meat to eat on Eid al-Adha. Muslims also slaughter other animals like goats for the occasion, sharing the meat with their families and donating portions to the poor.
Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, when Muslims break their month-long fast.
