Let’s develop habit of sacrifice to ensure development - Ahmadiyya leader

Alhaji Maulvi Mohammed Bin Salih, the Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Ghana, asserts that the country cannot achieve meaningful development unless its citizens are prepared to sacrifice for one another.

He stated that true sacrifice must be deeply rooted in selflessness, obedience to God's commands, and the willingness to give up something valuable for the sake of God.

The Ameer made these remarks in Accra during the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha, a Muslim ritual animal sacrifice that commemorates the story of Prophet Abraham and his wife Hagar.

He explained that the story symbolized the willingness of the two to practically sacrifice their son Ishmael in obedience to God's command.

He recounted that God instructed Abraham, "Instead of sacrificing your son, here is a ram, an animal that you should slaughter as a sacrifice."

The Ameer noted that this gesture demonstrated that God prohibited human slaughter as a sacrifice.

Alhaji Salih stated that the culture of sacrifice transcends all religious divides of the world as a means to purify oneself and strengthen one's relationship with God.

"Sacrifice in Islam is closely tied to the ideals of faith, obedience, and selflessness," he said. "Without these elements, no act can be deemed a sacrifice because sacrifice demonstrates our commitment to God and the well-being of our fellow human beings."

He emphasized that true sacrifice requires us to prioritize our faith and submission to God over our worldly desires and attachments.

He called for peaceful, upcoming elections in the country and urged all to avoid any acts that would disturb the peace and stability of the nation.

The Ameer stated that elections should not result in the loss of any life and called on everyone not to engage in activities that would tarnish the peace enjoyed by the country.

He led a prayer for peaceful elections ahead of the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.