Your say / Eid
‘Eid is a reminder that love requires sacrifice’
As the early morning takbirs (Glorifications) echo through the streets of Bristol and Muslims gather in mosques, parks and homes for Eid al-Adha, I find myself reflecting deeply on a word that is so central to this day, yet so rarely understood in its full depth: sacrifice.
We live in a time where the world moves fast.
Headlines change by the hour.
is needed now More than ever
Voices grow louder, but not always wiser.
In this noise, the quiet yet earth-shaking lesson of the Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is often drowned out.
Eid al-Adha is not about meat.
It’s not about ritual. At its heart, it’s about obedience. About love. About a man willing to give up everything – even his beloved son – because his Creator asked him to.
It’s a story so powerful that it lives on in the shared scriptures of Muslims, Jews and Christians alike.
Yet, we often forget, the sacrifice wasn’t just physical – it was spiritual. It was about surrendering the ego, the desire and the illusion of control.
Abdul Malik is one of three councillors who represent Ashley Ward – photo Abdul Malik
What would we be willing to sacrifice today? That’s the real question.
In a world plagued by greed, division and war – the message of Ibrahim (AS) becomes urgent.
He teaches us that faith means action. That belief without principle is hollow.
That true love – whether for God, for our families or for humanity – is proven in what we’re willing to give up, not just in what we hold onto.
As Muslims in Bristol and around the globe mark this Eid we slaughter animals in remembrance of Ibrahim’s test.
But the deeper test remains ours: will we stand up for justice even when it costs us? Will we speak truth when it’s unpopular? Will we open our hands to feed the poor, even as the world tells us to hoard?
For me, this Eid is also about unity. The unity of all believers who look to their Creator.
The unity of communities striving to live in peace. The unity of purpose in serving something greater than ourselves.
In a time when division seems profitable and polarisation political, sacrifice means giving up our prejudices, our assumptions and sometimes even our comfort to build bridges where others build walls.
And I must say our city, Bristol, has often risen to this challenge.
Whether it’s feeding the hungry, protecting the vulnerable or welcoming refugees – there are countless quiet sacrifices being made every day by Bristolians of all backgrounds. That, to me, is the spirit of Eid.
To my fellow Muslims – may your Eid be filled with peace, forgiveness, and reflection.
And to all our neighbours, Muslim or not, I invite you to see this as more than a festival.
See it as a reminder. That love requires sacrifice. And that sacrifice, when done with sincerity, can change the world.
This is an opinion piece from Abdul Malik, one of the councillors for Ashley Ward
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Main photo: Martin Booth
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