Allahu Akbar kabira. Wal hamdu lillahi kathira. Wa subhanallahi bukratan wa asila.
Allah is Great, immensely so! And praise be to Allah, abundantly! And glory be to Allah, both early and late. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of a month of fasting and sacrifice. It is an occasion for rejoicing and an opportunity for Muslims to gather in joy, as well as in remembrance of those less fortunate. It is a Day of Graduation for all those who have faithfully observed the commands of God Almighty and an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves, not only to achieving spiritual growth, but also to the cause of peace among all people of the earth. Our challenge now becomes one of finding ways to maintain our focus. As the appearance of the new moon brings to a close the holy month of Ramadan, we extend to all our Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid ul Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.  May peace be with you and your families.

Eid finds us more content and happy with ourselves. We have reawakened our faith. We stand at a crossroad today: how shall we continue this journey toward Islam? How shall we remain at peace? The habits that we have established  during this month must be nurtured. As we return to our roles in this society, the world in which we live faces us with difficult choices. Our guidance comes from our willingness to turn toward Allah and to find peace within ourselves. Then and only then will we feel content in our choices. Our global society could and should be an example of co-existence and cooperation, of mutual benefit and human concern. Muslims need to create an inner environment of peace and faith, of tranquility, non-violence, and security. Then we can hope to find solidarity and to create cooperation by supporting one another, standing by one another in what is good and right and needed for success, growth, and sustainability.  We are to let everyone know the true basis of Islam, its real values, its true principles, its way of life based on pluralism, democratic principles, faith, and mutual respect. Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society. Because of the growth of Islam, people of all faiths are coming to appreciate the significance of these great Islamic festivals and observances. Muslims the world over are also united in their commitment to being an integral part of the human family and building a society rich in diversity and grounded in mutual respect. The world is made stronger by the core values of Islam — commitment to family, compassion for the disadvantaged, and tolerance for other human beings and groups. We must not allow anyone, within or without of us, to destroy that. Islam espouses peace and security and safety for all people, regardless of nationality or religion or gender or race.

It is our sincere hope and prayer that we are able to affirm the unity possible among Muslims, and between Muslims and other religions. We face the challenges of living in a globalized world where there is greater alienation and distance between classes of individuals based on economics and education.  We must work hand in hand with people who have faith in the essential goodness of humankind. The ethical, social, economic, political and spiritual challenges before us are enormous and demand mature, sincere, tolerant, open-minded “good people” to meet the growing challenges. We extend to all Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid ul Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead.  May peace be with you and your families.

EID MUBARAK  EID MUBARAK  EID MUBARAK