Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr amidst war

ACROSS the globe there are escalating tensions intra-nation and between nation-states that eventuate in full-scale war, even in the midst of holy celebrations, with warring parties who are precipitating and causing endless suffering on the innocents of the world, seeking the blessings of the Father of the Universe to bestow blessings on them so that they can achieve victory.But what constitutes victory? Burning more public buildings – such as hospitals et al, destroying priceless artifacts and national infrastructure, as well as homes of citizens who have harmed no one and wish no one ill? Even worse, maiming and killing people – including little children and babies; creating homeless and starving refugees? What heroes!
Why should the Father in Heaven bless perpetrators of such evil? Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists – all religions pray to a loving, all-powerful Father; so on which of his children should he bestow his blessings to grant them victory over their universal siblings in humanity?
Id-ul-Fitr is one of the biggest festivals of Muslims. The word ‘Id’ means happiness – literally it means breaking of fast: Therefore, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month in the Muslim calender, to mark the end of a month-long fast during Ramzan or Ramadhan. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and with great fervour in Muslim communities throughout the world.
Id is a major festival that lays great importance on sacrifice and purity of life. It teaches us the values of love, brotherhood, mercy and compassion. Muslims keep fast for a month so that their souls are purified.
They pray five times a day and give alms and food to the poor and the needy. They cherish a belief that Allah has given them health, strength and opportunities of life to fulfill their obligations of fasting and other good deeds during the month of Ramzan.
The day on which Id falls is a day of great merry-making. It is a day of love, affection, harmony and brotherhood. On this day, Muslims wear new colourful dresses to visit their respective mosques to offer Namaz and to seek blessings from Allah, after which they visit their friends and relatives and share offerings to neighbours, friends and the poor and vulnerable.
They embrace each other, forgetting old grudges and ill-feelings. They wish each other Id Mubarak. A spirit of brotherhood prevails in every heart during this festival and there is no distinction between the rich and the poor on this day. All are treated as equal.
Similarly, every other religious body celebrates holy days with a spirit of camaraderie, goodwill and joy of being; so mankind should not merely celebrate specific days in such a way, but ensure that that communal harmony and brotherhood are foremost and they should be given top priority to strengthen the base of respective societies and the world at large.
The Board-of-Directors, Management and staff of GNNL, Publishers of the Guyana Chronicle, wish all Guyanese, especially our Muslim community, Eid Mubarak!

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