Happy EID-UL-FITR

Ramadan ended with the siting of the rising of the moon. The Islamic faith

is marked by the period of sacrifice and the joy thereafter! It epitomizes

what all significant religions demand. The sacrifice is real. For those not

of Islamic faith they have all shared the pain and joy of sacrifice with

Muslim friends. We share their joy when they break their fast as well as

throughout the day as they exercise religious discipline.

The exercise of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid can be seen both as an

individual as well as societal exercise. In preparing oneself individually

we help the collective and it is only the collective, which can effect

positive or negative change.

Eid after all is the combination of 3 meaningful words:

E: Embrace with open heart

I: Inspire with impressive attitude,

D: Distribute pleasure to all.

³*EID MUBARAK*²

We need to move together in the light of the spirit of Allah if we are to

save our world from intolerance, disrespect, violence and greed! And it is

only through a constant association with the light that we can achieve this.

Ramadan and Lent provide a source of strength in our belief of the Almighty

without which we would be lost!

At a time when people are looking to be led by others instead of by Allah

and are despairing at the seemingly constant failings of fellow humans only

Allah has not failed us.

In celebrating this unique occasion I am always reminded of some of the

writings of a great scholar I¹zac Hassan

³O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your

bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of

righteousness. These are some of Allah¹s signs, that they may take heed.

[7:26]

Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to

parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do not rebuke

them, but speak to them in terms of honor and kindness. Treat them with

humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they did care for me

when I was little'. [17:23-4].

As Muslims all over the world, celebrate the end of the holy month of

Ramadan. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after fasting during the month of

Ramadan. Muslims after performing the obligatory fasting of a month become

more deserving of Allah¹s forgiveness and protection from Hell. Thus, Allah

has specified for the Muslims upon their completion of fasting, a festive

day in which you gather to thank Allah, glorify and praise Him. Allah

allocated also on that day for Muslims to offer specific prayer

(Salat-ul-Eid) and a specified offertory (sadaqah).

The day of Eid is a great and glorious day. It is an occasion of happiness

and joy. Muslims¹ joy and happiness in this world is felt when you apply all

efforts to obey Allah and perform good deeds that gain reward and success in

the Hereafter. The month of daily fasting is not only a sacred duty, it is

also a powerful teaching, and in many ways a gift of Islam to the rest of

the world, reminding not only Muslims, but all our people, of our shared

values and obligation to alleviate the suffering of those who live in

poverty and deprivation. The reminder here reiterated, is that we all

endeavour to build a more humane community, nation and world.

The Christian Bible says that people should love their neighbour as

themselves. But it's quite refreshing to note from the Quran that ?Allah

created the nations and tribes that they might know one another better,

recognizing people on how they organize their thoughts and categorize their

ideas, but that does not mean we should be divided one from another. Our

common future is at stake. The very survival of the world itself is perhaps

at stake and finding common ground between Muslims and Christians is not

simply a matter for polite ecumenical dialogue between leaders, but an

ongoing communal discourse at all levels off our society. As we celebrate

this festive occasion, may the spirit of (not the letter) Ramadan endure

the whole year round.

It is important to observe also that there is so much our nation and the

world at large could learn from Islam. It (Islam) is now practiced by one of

every four people on Earth. Muslims are at cornerstone of our Ghanaian

community. They enrich our political and cultural life, they provide

leadership in every field of human endeavour, from business to medicine, to

scholarship. It is important that we as a people appreciate that we all

share common aspirations for a better future, for greater opportunities for

our children, for the importance of work and family and freedom to worship.

But like other groups past and present in, Ghanaian Muslims also have faced

from time to time -- and continue to face, sadly, from time to time ­

discrimination and intolerance. There are still too many of us who know too

little about Islam. And sadly stereotypes fill the vacuum ignorance creates.

That kind of bigotry is wrong and has no place in the little space we share

together as a society. There is no place for intolerance against people of

any faith -- against Muslims or Jews or Christians, or any other religious

group: tribal or ethnic.

So on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr may we rededicate ourselves in this coming

year to making sure that others in this country truly understand and

appreciate the faith you as Muslims embrace, its practices, its beliefs, its

precepts and its inclusive humanity.

The New Testament enjoins us thus: ?Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the

Lord is One. / And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.¹ This is

the first commandment. / And the second, like it, is this: ?You shall love

your neighbour as yourself.¹ There is no other commandment greater than

these.² (Mark 12:29-31)

In the Holy Qur¹an, God Most High entreats Muslims to invite Christians and

Jews- as follows -

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between you and us:

that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner

unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if

they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered

(unto Him). (Aal ?Imran 3:64)

Together, we could create a world in which the fruits of faith ­ tolerance,

understanding, and compassion - enrich and safeguard our planet and

worldview of our children, and our children's children.²

I am constantly reminded by a dear and special friend Yusif Mustapha whom I

respect highly that ³we all believe in God and we try to live by the

teachings of his book the Qur¹an/Bible. We must be true to ourselves and

importantly those in whom we trust and have given authority and power must

start to show the way and practice what our religion demandsŠŠ.²

On the holy occasion OF EID

Here is wishing that

May the blessing of Allah

Light up your way

And lead u to eternal

Happiness,

Success

and

Peace.

Wish you a very happy Eid..