President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali have urged the Muslims on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha to make sincere efforts for unity, brotherhood and fraternity among them.
"I appeal to the nation to exhibit Islamic fraternity and brotherhood to share Eid festivities", the President said in his Eid message.
He asked people to follow the injunctions of Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) to be able to overcome the challenges facing the country, and be ready to offer every sacrifice for verity and righteousness.
The President said: "The occasion of Eid reminds us of the supreme sacrifice offered by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) to submit to the will of Allah Almighty."
He underscored the importance of this great occasion that symbolises the spirit of sacrifice and submission to the will of Almighty Allah to be emulated by the entire world, specially the Muslims.
"The Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi reminds us that we should not hesitate to offer sacrifice, everything that we cherish to win Allah's blessings."
He said while celebrating Eid, one should not forget the poor and the needy and share happiness with them to enjoy the true spirit of Sunnat-e-Ibrahimi.
He prayed to Allah Almighty to enable the Muslim Ummah, specially the people of Pakistan to follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
"I pray that may Allah Almighty bless us with his bounties and enable us to progress and prosper as a responsible and a dignified nation."
JAMALI: In his Eid greeting message, the prime minister said: "We must resolve to follow the commands of our Maker with complete obedience and willingness and be prepared to make whatever sacrifice truth and righteousness demand of us."
The premier said efforts should be made to bring about an atmosphere of unity, brotherhood and fraternity. Jamali said every action of the Muslim should be as true followers of God and His Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
He said: "In every moment of personal comfort and pleasure, people should strive to keep in mind those of God's creatures who are in need of help and sustenance in any way."
"Today is Eid-ul-Azha. On this day we commemorate the great sacrifice that Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and his beloved son Hazrat Ismail (AS) made on the command of Almighty, Who was so pleased with this unparalleled and boundless act that He ordained the faithful to ritually follow its example every year," Prime Minister Jamali said.
He said, those whom Allah has blessed with the privilege, perform Haj in the House of God, repeating the words "0 Allah, I present myself," and thus revive the memory of the great sacrifice.
"In the eyes of God," he said, "sacrifice is the noblest of acts."
"His message conveyed to humanity by all the prophets is marked by a spirit of sacrifice, equality among human beings, tolerance, mutual affection, forgiveness and justice tempered with mercy."
He said: "The teachings of Islam about duty towards one's fellowmen are also founded on these attributes, while the entire life of our Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) was a practical example of acting on them."
"Today there is an urgent need in the Muslim world, particularly in Pakistan, for reviving these splendid human qualities," he said.
He pointed out that absence of these splendid human qualities in the past has cost the Muslims dearly. The prime minister said it was this realisation that prompted us to invest our government with qualities of unity, sacrifice, tolerance, service to the people and mutual accommodation as its foundations.
"I sincerely believe that, in the existing world situation, the present national solidarity and progress in Pakistan are, by the grace of God, the direct result of adhering to these sentiments," he said and asked to be infinitely grateful to Almighty Allah for this blessing.
He expressed the confidence that if "we continue to resolve our national problems in the same spirit, we shall succeed in building an affluent society that will earn us an honourable place in the comity of nations.
The premier said: "The unmatched sacrifice and the festival of Eid-ul-Azha that commemorate it, reflect our religious beliefs and ideas and, at the same time, mirror our history and traditions."
"If we celebrate it in the light of the Holy Prophet's (peace be upon him) precepts, we shall be better able to understand the spirit of Islam and its universal message and also explain it more clearly to others."