Eid: A time of great joy as well as sadness
By S N Smith
April 21, 2023
To Muslims everywhere who are reading this, I wish you all an Eid Mubarak!
Although Eid is a time of joy and celebration for Muslims all over the world, it is also a time of great sadness. But this reality is part of life. Even when we smile and laugh there is still sadness within our hearts as we remember those in other parts of the world who are suffering and going through some tremendous struggles.
As we celebrate the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan and thank Allah that He has given us another opportunity to fulfill this important pillar of the Islamic faith, we are also thankful to Him for the many blessings that He has placed upon us and that, for the most part, we live in a place of peace and security.
But this is not so for many other parts of the world. Millions upon millions of Muslims worldwide are suffering from war, hunger, destabilization, and egregious violations of their human rights. Our hearts today are with the Muslims of Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, the Uyghurs, Somalia, the Rohingya people and the Muslims of India and Kashmir. All of these and many more are passing through some very trying and difficult times.
And, by Allah, we will never forget Palestine for this is where our prophet (peace be upon him) descended up to Allah and this Ummah was gifted with something most precious — the five daily prayers. Oh Allah, protect the Palestinian people, both the Muslims and Christians who inhabit that land.
It is essential that as fellow believers we should make supplications to Allah for Muslims everywhere and not forget the favours that He has placed upon us. We should never forget that when one part of the Ummah suffers that all the other parts of the Ummah are also affected.
As believers, our hearts are naturally drawn to other believers no matter where they are from, what language they speak or the colour of their skin. What unites us is the kalima, which is La ilaha ila allah Muhammadan Rasulullah.
I express my gratitude to Allah, my Creator and Sustainer, who has guided me to the truth and has bestowed upon me immense amounts of blessings the number of which I am unable to count.
But I’m also aware that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has told us that we cannot be true believers until we want for our fellow Muslims what we want for ourselves. In my heart of hearts, I want my fellow believers to be happy and free of want and to live in a place of peace and security so that they can enjoy their lives.
Oh Allah, bring peace and security to this Ummah.
Oh Allah, defeat its enemies.
Oh Allah, feed those who are hungry and heal those who are sick.
Oh Allah, forgive this ummah of its many shortcomings and keep it on the straight path.
And the believers say, Ameen
