NIGERIA: Lagos: Eid al-Kabir (Part 1)

We celebrated Eid ul-Fitr (Aidil Fitri) in Malaysia and that was during the school summer holiday, but Eid al-Kabir, Aidil Adha, Hari Raya Korban or Hari Raya Haji (Hajj) in Nigeria for a change. It's a two day public holiday, so going back to Malaysia is not an option. 

certainly a one way ticket for the ram

This year's Hajj season was marred with tragedy. First was the crane accident at Masjidil Haram in Mecca and the stampede in Mina (May Allah grant them Jannah). In my mind, the previous Friday's khutbah (sermon) by Imam Sulaiman Ibrahim urging Muslims to do the Qurban (slaughtering of livestock). 

If you've met or have Nigerian friends, they can be very animated during conversation, so does this particular Imam. 
He told the story of Allah's prophet Abraham and his son, Ismael in a very out of ordinary manner....but in a nice way, actually (all the hand gestures and slaughter was a hand across the neck). He mentioned about the livestock, the age, the condition, price and the dividing of the meat. Regarding price, he was talking about the need to strive for the best livestock...but within budget. Do not abandon your niat (intention) and focus on the reward in hereafter....and that is faith. He reminded the verse from the Holy Koran which we recite at least 5 times a day...

"Say. Indeed My prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah, The Lord of The Worlds"

- Surah Al An'am/The Cattle (6:162)

I put off the idea of doing the Qurban this year until the moment we were on our way back to Lagos from Abeokuta, Ogun state (story here) where we passed the Kara Market which was full with goats and cattle. 

Kara livestock market, Lagos

#365dayson #ChibokGirls #NeverToBeForgotten

It has been a long time since I posted anything on the blog. Some I wrote and then delete, most of it still in draft form. 

I've been busy too (not really). Meeting with some people, making new friends. Spoke to some people from the other states in Nigeria and some from back home. I was online with a prominent photographer from Malaysia, Saiful Nang of Candidsyndrome (www.candidsyndrome.com). We met way back in 2004 and now a big man in the industry.  With some friends, they ran an orphanage back in Malaysia as a way of giving back to society that has given him so much. Other than that, I went to the National Stadium at Surulere and Lekki Market checking out some merchandise there. We took the motorboat out to Tarkwa Bay last week and had great time there, playing by the beach with the children...ahhh the children.

Tarkwa bay beach in Lagos

Children. How something so small can give you so much....trouble (in a nice way). Life changes when they came into my life. The first one was about 2.4 kilo and the second one was even smaller, at 2.2  . Ohhh...how they turn my life and of course all parents out there inside out, upside down and every other way around. Oh yes they did. Everyhting was about them. I mean everything....

So when the news about the plight of parents whom children were abducted by the Boko Haram (BH) in Chibok, Borno state..I could feel their anguish. 

All in all, it had been over a year. Most papers would report on daily basis on any news regarding the girls. From the commitment of the new President elect, the statements made by the National Security Advisor, past and present governors to the various group and agencies local and international included. All giving assurance, bringing hope and some very direct to the point condemning the authorities, but in a very proper way..Queen's English, no less!

The Guardian newspaper ran the numbers every day to remind others especially the government (incoming and outgoing) of the missing girls. 

The Guardian and This Day newspaper

A pageful just about the girls and related news