Eid-ul-Adha and the 15th Remembrance of 9/11 – How Should Muslims Proceed?

Farouk Peru, “Person Al-Islam” – Share Our Qurbani

Eid-ul-Adha (Hari Raya Korban in my native Malay) is the lesser of the two Eids. Malays don’t spend as much on it, nor do we get lengthy holidays. In my family, only the immediate members used to attend the special prayers together. Still, some fond memories linger of those simpler times.

This year, Eid-ul-Adha almost coincides with the 15th anniversary of 9/11, occurring one day after. For me, 9/11 was an ominous day. I remember coming home and seeing the glaring explosion on our living room TV. I remember telling my dad that the twin pillars of civilization had fallen. Later, when it was said that Islamic extremists were behind it, I knew the world as I knew it was about to change.

Fifteen years and countless acts of terrorism have transpired since then. Islamophobia is now so commonplace, almost normalized. With Eid-ul-Adha and 9/11 almost coinciding, we should take advantage. I call upon Muslims who contribute towards the qurbani (slaughtered meat) to ask that their contribution be given in equal measure to everyone regardless of faith. In this broken world, every act of reconciliation counts.