Today is eid el kabir, day when Muslims all over the world congratulate one another for witnessing the most glorious day in Islam, the day of Arafat when Muslims converge to worship the Almighty in unison.
The Hajj period is unique because it is a time when the dignity of the soul is what matters most: not gender, not nationality, not race, not social status, not religious affiliations.
It is a time when the Almighty instructively reminds man that:
“Hajj is performed [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein, there is [to be for him] no lewdness and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do – Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.”
Despite the challenges encountered in the process of organizing this onerous task which we know is invaluable to government, the pilgrims and other stakeholders, we in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) remain committed to delivering the best services to all. We are making concerted efforts to improve on pilgrimage-centrism in every humanly possible way.
To our pilgrims, our leaders, our clients and stakeholders, your unwavering support and constructive criticism drive us forward every day. The challenges we faced, we faced them together, and whatever milestones we achieved, we achieved them together. As we continue this journey together, we know that success is not just about reaching the destination, but also about what transpires within the journey itself. Sometimes it is rough, with accusations and heated debates. Yet, we remained focused and resilient, motivated by the hope that greater reward await us if we get it right together. Our collective efforts will lead to greater heights in the interest of those we serve.
Eid el kabir mubarak and thank you for being an essential part of this journey.