Alaafin to Nigerians: Consider others first, shun selfish desire

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has admonished Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love that considers others first, prefers others above personal and selfish desires, and which seeks to emancipate, unshackle and liberate.
He also said obedience begets mercy “and the ransom that
substituted the sacrifice of Ismail with a ram thus became a mercy for believers”.
In a message on this year’s Idel-Kabir celebration by his Chief Press Officer, Bode Durojaiye, the paramount ruler stated that Prophet Ismail’s total submission to the will of his father and to the command of Allah symbolizes genuine obedience, which is the basic essence of the festival.
According to him, ‘’indeed, the timing of the festival this year could not have been more auspicious, given that the economy is now in recession due to the global pandemic, COVID 19, with all the attendant implications for millions of Nigerians. What that suggests is that the socio-economic conditions of most citizens presently make it compelling for adherents of Islam to look beyond themselves and their immediate environment, especially in this holy season.
” The lessons of Eid el Kabir are simple: by paying attention to the plight of the poor, we invariably place the welfare of our neighbours as important as ours; by allowing others to partake of our wealth or material possessions, we honour the One who made the provision in the first place’’.
Said he, ”Eid-il-Adha, the ritual of animal sacrifice has remained a means of attaining nearness to Almighty Allah. It is a sacrifice that Muslims offer with fervour and enthusiasm on the 10th of Zhul-Hijjah. Its import and  essence is to show taqwa, piety to the Creator; it also serves the purpose  of sadaqah because the meat of the animal is distributed for eating.
”Those who can afford a ram are enjoined to do so while those who cannot afford to buy ram for sacrifice may be excused. What is absolutely necessary is the piety, and the will to always submit to His ordinances. That is why the killing of a ram is not the ultimate on  this occasion but the state of your heart to Allah”.