Mombasa, Kenya: Differences have emerged between a section of Muslim clerics and the Chief Kadhi over the date to celebrate Eid-Ul Hajji (the festival of sacrifice).
Wednesday, Chief Kadhi Sheikh Sharif Al Muhdhar declared the celebration will be held on Sunday but majority of Muslim clerics have vowed to celebrate on Saturday.
Sheikh Muhdhar, the overall Muslim leader in the country also insisted that Muslims should be united and celebrate the festival on Sunday.
He also said there will be no public holiday but advised Muslims to liaise with their employers to allow them a day off to celebrate with their families.
Eid Ul Hajji is a day when Muslims sacrifice animals in commemoration of Prophet Abraham, who the Quran says had obeyed God when he tempted him to sacrifice his own son Eshmael.
The celebration marks the end of Hajj, a religious pilgrimage undertaken by millions of Muslims each year to Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
More than 3 million Muslims worldwide including an estimated 3,000 Kenyan Muslims are currently in Saudi Arabia performing the 10 days of pilgrimage rituals, an annual religious event.
Hajji or Pilgrimage to Mecca is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation which must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim in the world who can afford, and is at least done once in a life time.
Chairman of the Kenya Muslims National Advisory Council Sheikh Juma Ngao said Muslims should pray on Saturday, since Arafa climax of the celebrations) falls on Friday.
“It’s unfortunate that Muslims will pray on two separate days but I urge both groups to show respect to each even if they differ on opinions,” said Ngao.
Healthy animal
He noted that since all Muslims in the world will be at the Mountains of Arafa on Friday, which is the ninth day of the pilgrimage, Muslims in Kenya should join their colleagues to pray on Saturday like neibhours in Uganda and Tanzania.
“I appeal to the Chief Kadhi Sheikh Muhdhar to convene a conference with all Muslim leaders to solve this difference once and for all,” said Ngao Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya Secretary General Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa remained non-committal on the matter but urged Muslims to remain united and follow the principles of pilgrimage according to the Quran.
Khalifa however urged Muslims to make sure the animal to be slaughtered as a sacrifice must be healthy. He advised them to be united instead of engaging in divisive debates that could create more disunity.
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Saudi Arabia’s ‘Al Arabiya News’ announced last week that the Muslim Eid-Ul Hajji would fall on Saturday (October 4).
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