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..