The Chief Imam of Uyo mosque, in Akwa Ibom capital, Imam Mohammed Adamu, yesterday in Uyo listed the essence of Ed-el Kabir cerebration by Muslim faithful as sacrifice, obedience to Allah, loyalty and love to one another.

The Chief Imam who was speaking to newsmen shortly after the Ed-el Kabir prayers at their praying ground in Uyo, stated that the symbolic slaughtering of rams by Muslims faithful during the sallah, was not mandatory.

“Whoever goes to steal ram or borrow money in order to celebrate sallah, sins against Allah and humanity, and must be consequently punished as any other sinner.”

Imam Adamu warned that “Only those that can afford to buy can slaughter ram at sallah, and those who cannot afford, it is not mandatory. Likewise going for pilgrimage to Mecca is equally for those who can afford, and for anyone who can afford to embark on the pilgrimage but fails to perform, is sin before Allah.”

The Chief Imam enjoined Muslim Ummar across Nigeria to live in peace with their neighbours, “irrespective of his or her believe and religion.”

In answer to a question, Imam Mohammed Adamu, stated that “a total of 72 Muslim pilgrims residing in Akwa Ibom State performed this year’s hajj to Mecca, as allocated to us by the National Hajj Commission.”

Highlight of the occasion was the symbolic slaughtering of a ram, each by the Chief Imam, followed by the leader of the Hausa community in the state, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki after the prayers, to kick starts the sallah celebrations.

“I have to do this task first as the Chief Imam, so that as everyone goes home, he can then perform his sacrifice, as Allah directed Ibrahim.”

•Photo shows President Muhammadu Buhari slaughtering the Ed-el Kabir ram . . . yesterday in Katsina.