Once again the Holy Month of Ramadhan
departed us, leaving the divine message of sacrifice
– sacrificing human passions for Allah’s
sake – sacrificing egoism for the sake of
the community and sacrificing one’s avarice
for the fellow human being’s sake. It is the
same message it always leaves behind when it departs
us year after year. It is the expectation of our
Creator that this message be honoured and practiced.
It is time for us to enjoy food
and all other things that we, for the passed one
month, have been abstaining from during the day;
likewise it is time for us to put into practice
whatever we learned during the whole holy month
– tolerance, mutual understanding, generosity,
etc.
A significantly large sector of
the community still endures untold suffering in
Muttur, Thoppur and in refugee camps elsewhere in
the country and generous hands are to be extended
further to ensure that they too have sufficient
provisions to eat and wear. To a certain extent,
there is no doubt that this noble deed was done
by the benevolent brothers and sisters. However,
such deed should continue without a break. It is
the way of Islam to fight against poverty and starvation.
Every Muslim bears the obligation to provide handouts
to his poor brothers; so that they do not happen
to go to Masjids on an empty stomach in shabby clothes
on the day of festival.
While warmly wishing all the brothers
and sisters a happy Eid on my behalf and on behalf
of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama, I appeal to them
not to limit their generosity to the holy month
of Ramadhan but to keep it going without a stop.
May Allah, Most Gracious shower
His mercy on all of us!
Eid Mubaarak!
Ash-Shaikh H. Abdul Nazar
General Secretary, All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama
2006.10.17
