In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

On behalf of the Shia Muslim Council of Southern California, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a blessed and joyous Eid al-Adha.

Eid al-Adha marks the celebration of the completion of the Hajj rites. Let us all pray for the safety of all Hajj pilgrims and congratulate them on successfully performing this important act of worship.

Eid reminds us of the story of courage and sincerity as expressed by the great Prophet Abraham in his relentless pursuit to express devotion to the Creator. It is incumbent upon each of us to reflect on the great lessons that we may learn from Prophet Abraham’s life and his many struggles in overcoming the various trials he faced throughout his life. The story of Prophet Abraham also reminds us of the significance of sacrifice in the way of our Lord and for the betterment of society. We are also reminded of the powerful strength of patience as described by Prophet Ishmael: “You will find me, God willing, one of the steadfast” (Qur’an 37:102).

Eid is a time of joy and celebration, but it is also a time of reflection and contemplation. Today, while we celebrate, countless people suffer from war, poverty, oppression, and destruction. As we come together to celebrate this joyous occasion, let us also not forget those who are in need in our communities and reach out to them in any way we can. Let us also not forget those who our hands may not reach, but who we can remember in our thoughts and prayers.

Once again, I congratulate you all on Eid al-Adha, and I pray that this Eid brings blessings and comfort to you and to all around the world.

Wassalaamu alaikum,

Dr. Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini

President, Shia Muslim Council of Southern California