1^st Shawwaal, 1426

 

In The Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

(He desires) that you should complete the number (of fasts) and that you should exalt the greatness of Allah for His having guided you and that you may give thanks. (Al-Quran 2:185).

With This Ayaat, believers are beckoned to be thankful for his bounties as they complete yet another month of fasting. As our eyes gaze upon the skies eager to sight the new crescent, let us think of the bounties and exalt his greatness. Like the stars in the sky, so abundant are his bounties that we cannot even begin to count them. So priceless are his gifts that we cannot even begin to comprehend their value. Undoubtedly the most priceless are his teachings through the AhlulBait (AS) that guide us on the steps to success, here and in the hereafter.

While all our days are filled with his bounties, Eid is a special day for celebrating our collective consciousness, for sustaining unity and for pondering and reflecting upon his bounties. Paying Zakat ul Fitra, Salaatul Eid, Exchanging Felicitations are all the symbols of that very unifying essence – the brotherhood and fraternity of our community.

In this day and age, when Islam and Muslims have put under the microscope by the rest of the world, it is all the more important that we demonstrate that Eid is indeed our day of peace. This must be our underlying message to the world at large, as people try to enhance their understanding of Islam and Muslims. Our actions must reflect the Quranic injunction to re dedicate ourselves to the resolute fight against any and all forms of injustice, tyranny and oppression. These values are universal and can not but strike responsive chords in the hearts of all faiths.

As we go through this day of Eid, with happiness and joy, having offered our deepest gratitude and thanks to Allah by paying Fitra and offering Salaatul Eid, let us remember the plight of million of the less fortunate people celebrating their Eid too. As we gather in our homes with our families, let us remember the victims of the recent earthquake in Pakistan and India who have no roofs over their heads. As we hug our dear ones, let us feel the pain of those who lost their dear ones during the bombings of the zawwar on the bridge of Kadhmain and the incessant killings of the innocent elsewhere in Iraq.