Praise be to Allah; we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our thoughts and from the evil consequences of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, there is none who can lead him astray, and whomever Allah leads astray, there is none who can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, alone without partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims (Quran). O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the kinship. Indeed, Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.
O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great success.
Today, we gather to celebrate the blessed occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the sacred month of Ramadan. This is a momentous day, not only because it is a day of joy and celebration, but also because it is the first Eid celebration in our beloved Isinigbo community.
As Allah says: “And that you may complete the number (days of fasting) and that you may exalt Allah for His guidance to you, and that you may be grateful.” (Quran 2:185)
As we come together to observe this Eid, let us reflect on the significance of today’s occasion. Eid is a time of gratitude, forgiveness, and renewal. It is a time when we reaffirm our commitment to Allah and renew our pledge to live according to His commandments and the spiritual growth we acquired during the last Ramadan.
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwa (piety).” (Quran 2:183)
The presence of the Eid ground (facilitated by our amiable Oba Adu Omotayo, the Ashinigbo of Isinigbo) in our Isinigbo community is a blessing from Allah, bringing numerous benefits and goodness to our people, including unity and togetherness, community bonding, and cultural preservation. I have no doubt that our prayers on this ground are a sure harbinger of positive growth and developments to the Isinigbo community.
“But Allah would not punish them while you (Prophet Muhammad) are among them, nor would He punish them while they seek forgiveness.” (Quran 8:33)
“But if the people of the towns had believed and had the piety, certainly, We should have opened up to them blessings from the heaven and the earth…” (Quran 7:96).
In conclusion, as we celebrate this joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr, let us remember the significance of this day and the importance of living a righteous life. Let us continue to seek forgiveness, guidance, and mercy from Allah, and let us strive to be better versions of ourselves. Let us also express our gratitude to Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon us, and let us pray for the continued peace, prosperity, and growth of our beloved Isinigbo community.
May Allah accept our prayers, forgive our sins, and guide us on the right path. Amin.
Dr. Taoheed Owolabi,
Chief Imam, Isinigbo Community,
Akure North, Ondo State
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