Eid Ul-Adhaa Mubarak
“Lam Arafah, Islâm Arafah... May Allaah make it the Eid day of sacrificial slaughter of the cow, may He not make it the Eid where Muslims are slaughtered.”
These words have been repeated by Hararis every year since the tragic Eid Day massacre in Harar on August 30th 1897. It is related that on the morning of that Eid ul Ad’Ha day, Muslims of the city and beyond left their homes to pray Eid prayers in the fields outside Jogol (the walled city).
Unbeknownst to them, Menelik, ruler of Ethiopia, chose to use this event to begin his transformation of the largest mosque in Harar, the Aw Bazikh mosque, into a church. Upon returning from the joyous Eid prayer, the Muslims were met with the sight of the destruction of their grand mosque and immediately rushed to defend it.
Expecting such a response, Menelik’s governor commanded that all 5 gates of Harar be shut and that his troops fire into the crowds that were trapped in the city. Many were also rounded up and slaughtered in the Horse Market right in front of the mosque. It is also related that a large number of those who were killed were from the Somali tribes that frequented Harar and traditionally visited the city for Eid celebrations. “Îd yâm, darma yitkâhalbâzâl, wahachi titshêlambazât... Eid day, where young men anoint with kuhul, when the young women adorn themselves”.
Menelik’s police chief and his guards marching through the Walled city in 1897, a year after the tragic massacre on Eid ul AD’Haa.
We ask Allaah to honour us by the honour of the martyrs. Ameen. May this Eid bring you joys unlimited, and a memorable time with your family during these strange times. The Hararian Organisation wishes you and your loved ones a joyous Eid Ul-Adhaa.
عيد مبارك ,كل عام و انتم بخير