Dear compatriots!
I sincerely congratulate all of you on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
I wish each and every one of you good health and happiness, and peace and tranquility in your homes.
Eid al-Adha is one of the most important traditions of the blessed religion of Islam and has many virtues.
Strengthening friendship and mutual affection, promoting moral values, performing good deeds, showing respect for parents and elders, supporting the poor and those in need, and practicing thrift and moderation are among the virtues of this holiday.
In other words, while this holiday is a purely religious observance, it is also a suitable opportunity to perform good and charitable deeds.
On the day of Eid al-Adha, the Tajik people, in accordance with the requirements of the Hanafi school of Islam, perform three acts: first, they offer prayers and good wishes for the deceased; then they visit their parents, the sick, those in need, and bereaved families; and those who have sufficient financial means perform the ritual sacrifice.
Performing the sacrifice — caring for one another, showing compassion and mercy toward orphans and persons with disabilities, and supporting low-income families — is an obligation for those who have the means and ability to give charity and who face no difficulties in providing for their own families.
For those who do not have the means or ability to perform the sacrifice, carrying out this act is not obligatory.
In the Holy Qur’an, wasteful practices and unnecessary expenditures that a believer undertakes to the detriment of themselves and their loved ones are categorically condemned 23 times.
In general, all acts that God has permitted His servants to perform are within the limits of a person’s means and living conditions.
This matter is clearly stated in verse 286 of Surah Al-Baqarah: “God does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.”
Furthermore, according to Islamic law, the sacrifice of livestock may be performed over the course of three days.
Therefore, it is not necessary to carry out this practice all on one day amid crowds and disorder. Rather, it is preferable that the slaughter of animals take place at designated locations and in compliance with sanitary regulations.
I would like to emphasize that supporting those in need, orphans, persons with disabilities, the poor, and the sick is not only a virtuous act, but also a sign of strong faith, good moral character, and the social responsibility of members of society toward one another.
It is worth noting that approximately two decades ago, our country adopted the national Law “On the Regulation of Traditions and Celebrations in the Republic of Tajikistan,” which played a significant role in regulating the culture of holding ceremonies and preventing excess and wasteful spending.
In accordance with the provisions of this law, during celebrations and ceremonies, particularly on holidays, we should practice thrift and moderation, avoid ostentation and wastefulness, and not turn religious and faith-based observances, which encourage people toward charity, generosity, and moderation, into demonstrations of superstition and fanaticism.
Saving money and refraining from unnecessary expenses enables families to pay greater attention to the education and upbringing of their children, creating better living conditions for their family members, and improving their daily lives.
Let us not forget that God has placed the benefit and happiness of human beings at the center of all religious obligations, duties, ceremonies, and traditions!
Our dear compatriots are well aware of the unstable and crisis-ridden situation in today’s world.
Food products are becoming increasingly scarce in many countries around the world, while prices are rising rapidly day by day.
Under such circumstances, we must, above all, give priority to the development of the domestic economy and the efficient use of every inch of land, and think about securing a two-year reserve of food products, thereby ensuring the needs of our children and families.
We must act with due regard for the current global situation, work harder, produce as many goods as possible, and ensure our country’s food security, which is one of our national strategic goals.
In this regard, I reiterate that Eid al-Adha is not a wedding celebration, but a religious observance and act of faith that should be held on the basis of moral values and in compliance with the principles of thrift and moderation.
Dear compatriots!
Islam is a religion directed toward the moral and spiritual upbringing of human beings, with the aim of shaping righteous, knowledgeable, self-aware, and virtuous individuals.
The Prophet of Islam emphasized in an authentic hadith: “I was sent to perfect human character.”
Human morality and conduct, in turn, depend on the literacy, knowledge, awareness, and self-consciousness of every individual.
That is why the first verse revealed in the Holy Qur’an was devoted to knowledge and enlightenment, calling upon people to “read.”
The Divine Word calls upon the servants of God to worship and obedience 70 times, while 779 times it emphasizes the necessity and importance of knowledge, learning, reason, and wisdom.
All of this demonstrates that the status of knowledge, learning, education, and literacy in the sight of God is higher than any act of worship.
I reiterate that people must distinguish genuine religious values from fanaticism and superstition, and this can be achieved by a person only through literacy, enlightenment, science, and knowledge.
For precisely this reason, the blessed religion of Islam has established a high status for knowledge and learning as a means of human happiness and clearly declares that acquiring knowledge and education is an obligation for every Muslim — both woman and man.
In His heavenly Word, God says regarding the promotion of knowledge: “Are those who know (that is, those who possess knowledge and learning) equal to those who do not know (that is, those who lack knowledge and enlightenment)?”
Indeed, the mission of all prophets and the essence of the teachings of all world religions is also to guide people toward happiness through knowledge, learning, and noble moral values.
Dear compatriots!
We are currently in the period of preparations for the great national celebration — the 35th anniversary of State Independence.
In order to properly welcome this sacred celebration, every patriotic and honorable member of society has a duty to contribute to strengthening the achievements of independence — peace and tranquility, political stability, and national unity — and to strive for the bright future of independent Tajikistan.
Independence is a great and historic achievement, and its protection is the civic responsibility, human mission, and filial duty of each and every one of us.
We must always be grateful that we have a prosperous and peaceful homeland and a free and sovereign state, and that, thanks to our independent state, we are able to exercise our rights and freedoms and practice our religious beliefs.
Gratitude for independence and freedom is not limited to words; it is expressed through the constructive daily actions of each of us and through faithful service to our homeland.
I am confident that all the honorable people of the country will continue to spare no effort, beginning with every home and family, to develop our beloved homeland, protect peace and stability, strengthen the foundations of Tajik statehood, and enhance the position of Tajikistan on the international stage.
Once again, I congratulate all of you — the honorable people of Tajikistan and our compatriots living abroad — on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and wish you good health, happiness, joyful hearts, and prosperous homes.
May the arrival of Eid al-Adha bring blessings to you, dear compatriots!
