As Kashmir celebrates the Festival of Sacrifice, it is time to revive the true spirit of faith, compassion, and collective responsibility
Eid-ul-Adha arrives in Kashmir this year with the same enduring promise: that faith, sacrifice, and compassion can light a way through even the darkest of times. As families prepare for congregational prayers, exchange greetings, and share meals, it is worth pausing to reflect on what this festival really asks of us, not just as individuals, but as a society. At the heart of Eid-ul-Adha lies the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), whose readiness to sacrifice what he cherished most was met with divine mercy. This act is not about ritual alone; it is about a profound inner willingness to place duty, conscience, and the common good above personal comfort and narrow self-interest. Celebrating Eid-ul-Adha, therefore, cannot be confined to new clothes, decorated homes, or lavish feasts. It’s true celebration begins when we recognise our obligations towards those who have less: the widow who has no breadwinner, the labourer whose wages do not last the month, the student whose dreams are stalled by poverty. The act of Qurbani itself reminds us that meat must be shared, that no table should remain empty when others are feasting. This year, let Eid be an occasion to renew our social contract with one another. Let well-off families consciously reach out to neighbours in need, to local charities, orphanages, and old-age homes. Let political heads, civil society leaders and religious scholars reinforce that piety is not measured by the number of animals sacrificed, but by the sincerity of our hearts and the breadth of our generosity. Eid-ul-Adha also invites us to a more personal sacrifice: giving up bitterness, healing fractured relationships, and choosing dialogue over division. In our homes and mohallas, we must teach our children that Islam’s message is inseparable from justice, kindness, and respect for human dignity. In our public life, we must insist that policies and priorities reflect care for the weakest and most vulnerable. As we greet one another with “Eid Mubarak,” let those words carry more than formality. Let them signal a shared resolve to build a kinder, fairer, and more hopeful Kashmir, where the spirit of Eid is not confined to a single day, but lives in our choices throughout the year.