Celebrating 'Eid' in Our Broken World
'Remember the dues of God and our common humanity' , urges Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) in his 'Eid-ul-Fitr' public message.
But as the world is caught in the whirlpool of calamities, when the impending danger of destruction is looming over the head of mankind, the definition of happiness has changed. The Eid which one seeks is inner peace for oneself and for humanity at large.
When humanity is suffering in all kinds of ways, whether being victims of war, or flood, or even lack of the basic necessities of life, we need to pause and reflect, and then take some serious decisions for the betterment of the beautiful global nation so much loved by the Almighty.
Today, despite having the greatest power conferred to any creature of God, man has neglected to nurture that divine love bestowed to him. He has taken everything for granted. It is now most unfortunate that the majority of the people think that they are striving in the right direction, while they are trapped in the quicksand of life and its temporary pleasures, disregarding whether they are following the right path or taking the deviating route which will take them to their lost. They moreover think that their fellow human beings are wrong whereas they are in the right. One wrong decision and everything can blow out of proportions! Peace-making countries can become in one split second the very countries holding the drape of war and throwing it in the pit of the fire of hatred, and harvesting such massive explosion as to put the future of the whole world into question. Does this world then even have a future? Who is prepared to be the Evil Mastermind to blow humankind and take the responsibility of such a heinous crime on his shoulder? Is Russia prepared to do so? Is China prepared to do so? Is India prepared to do so? Are the Arab countries prepared to do so? Which particular country or which particular individual is prepared to be the callous exterminator of mankind? If he uses Nukes, he not only blows others, but he invites others to blow him out like a poor flicker of candle dying at the blow of one’s breath! Who is then prepared to be the trigger to the prophesised Armageddon?
With each country at the neck of its fellow neighbour, each of
them wants to have the greater share of the goods of this world disregarding
the great harm they are doing along the way. The thirst for power has blinded
man. They forget that if they are not careful, very soon the very resources
they rely upon will be depleted. If this generation of humans do not do
anything to remedy the situation, there is no real future for the next. If the
evils of society and the Satanic influences which affect the mind of humanity
persist, of what avail are the riches of this world if divine chastisement is
awaiting one?
Man has let go of the fear of God, and let it seep out of his
being. By giving precedence to worldly power and achievements, he has forgotten
to turn towards God Almighty and simply to be humane.
It is not hard to be kind, to do an act of goodness, of charity.
A smile, a kind word, using the right words to display publicly one’s thoughts
and ideas without having the least intention to hurt the feelings of anyone,
and charity to the poor, among others, all form part of the attributes of a
good human being. Humans are meant to be good and not bad, they are meant for
the worship of the Almighty God and striving with the faculties at their
disposal – God-given faculties – to spread goodness and the Word of God
everywhere. Such is expected of mankind, but alas it is not so. While many are
making superhuman efforts to repair the broken bridge leading to the Almighty,
many are also making plans to explode that bridge and leave the seekers of God
Almighty, of peace, of happiness and eternal rejoice into the pit of despair.
But God Almighty says in one verse of the Quran: “O My servants, who have
committed excesses against their own souls, do not despair of God’s mercy, for
God surely forgives all sins. He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most
Merciful.”
This is the real intent of God Almighty: to forgive all those
who seek His forgiveness. That is why, all the religions of the world since the
dawn of time have received prophets who have come as bearers of the divine
light to guide their own nation and ultimately mankind to the right path. That
right path can be trod with a repentant heart.
If Muslims have fasted for a whole month, it is to acquire that
forgiveness of God Almighty, seeking Him and Him alone, preferring him to all
the wealth of this world. True Muslims are they who have this pure intention
and verily their quest will be heard by Almighty Allah Who is Ever-Gentle and
Quick in responding to the prayers of the sincere.
Let Eid be in Remembrance of the Almighty Lord and all His
creations as this world is in danger, humanity is in danger! If you want to
save yourselves from the impending danger, take refuge in God and let Him guide
you in this difficult path! Do not shut your doors and windows to the Light.
Let it come in, and invade your lives. When the seed of goodness is spread, do
not let the wild seeds of destruction or envy, or jealousy hinder your way to
God. That is what Islam and all religions of the world basically teach. These
teachings in its pure and original form all hold the same message: Man should
return to His Maker in submission and shun all kinds of evil for the good of
his own soul and for the betterment of his fellow human brethren.
May this Eid bring about light in the life of each and every
Muslim and all mankind, and may we, as one body and soul shape our intent and
action towards one same goal: to save the world from destruction, by saving our
inner selves from the filth of all evils.
I wish to all my Muslim brothers, sisters and children: Eid Mubarak, and I invite humanity to partake of this Light with us, and to spread it through goodness, kindness and the will for eternal prosperity, be it in this life and the Hereafter. Thank you.
[This Article first appeared in LE MAURICIEN Newspaper published from Mauritius, on 21 April 2023. To access it, click here].