An Inspirational Eid Message of
Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi alayh)
In a world, which has become rather
strange and peculiar, we find in the quest for peace, nations of the world are
waging wars of devastation and destruction against each other. World
governments look towards war as the solution for peace. Greed and selfishness
are considered as the key to the success of man. ...In the clamour for justice,
injustice towers over and above, in all its ugliness. Instead of peace,
freedom, success and justice, man finds himself shackled under the yoke of more
and more tribulations.
Despite billions of dollars being
expended for all types of sophisticated technology to establish law and order,
and eliminate crimes of theft, murder, bribery, corruption, rape, fraud,
hijackings and so forth, crime has not been eradicated, nor reduced by any
percentage; rather there has been and there is a daily escalation in all
criminal offences.
Frequent get-togethers of the
so-called master minds of the world, summit conferences and high level
discussions have all failed to provide a solution to the economic, political,
cultural and social problems of man.
Man is a created being and only
Divine guidance can solve his problems. The reality is clear: The heavy arm of the law on its own, just
legislation, the imposition of fines and jail sentences, cannot and will not
solve problems that face mankind. The only sure deterrent to crimes of all
kinds, is firm conviction and belief in our Creator, a life hereafter
and a day of judgement, where complete justice will be meted out. These
are long term solutions, and solutions that were proven to give the best
results and create the best societies on the face of the earth.
The obligation of fasting in the
month of Ramadaan for the Believers, men and women, who are sane and healthy,
is a clear message to mankind that unrestricted indulgence in
fulfilling the desires of one's base or animal self has to be curbed for some
time, to give an upliftment to one's spiritual self. The object of
fasting, as described in the Holy Qur’aan, is “so that you may guard
against evil.”
During the auspicious month of
Ramadan, a fasting person abstains from food, drink and sexual relations from
dawn until sunset, in obedience to the command of his creator. The month is a
training whereby the Believer's trait of God-conscious is nurtured. Even
though he may be in place of total privacy and seclusion, on the hottest day of
the year, he does not submit to the temptation of sipping even a few drops of
water for he is convinced that he cannot evade the sight of the All-Observing
Almighty.
If the spirit of fasting were to
become a reality in the society of Muslims who have observed the fasts of
Ramadaan and has advanced our piety, then mankind would see a society in which
every person becomes the guardian of the respect, honour, property and
possessions of others; a society in which the needy, the poor, the destitute,
and the under-privileged are taken cared for; a society in which honesty,
chastity, nobility, kindness, compassion, mercy and forgiveness shine forth
like the midday sun; a society in which no harm is caused to any human or
animal without a just reason; and a society in which material progress does not
bring about a moral collapse.
Eidul Fitr signifies the end of this
fasting period and is a day of joy and thanksgiving, but despite being a day of
celebration, the day commences with an additional prayer after sunrise,
reminding the believers that the object of fasting must be fully borne in mind
even after Ramadan. A believer must be aware of the fact that he was made to
observe the fast to become God-conscious, pious and self-restraining. His
natural inclinations to eating, drinking and fulfilling his sexual passions
were curbed for a month from dawn to sunset – the willpower to abstain
from all evil and totally submit himself to the will of the Creator should now
be easy for the months to follow.
Ramadaan was a golden opportunity for
the Muslim community to bring about a total transformation in all spheres of
their lives. Eid and the days to follow are opportunities to demonstrate
the moral upliftment and spiritual elevation gained through fasting by showing
compassion, mercy and kindness towards the creation of the Almighty.
Whilst conveying to the Muslim
community best wishes for a happy Eid, I make a humble appeal to every Muslim
brother and sister to keep the spirit of fasting alive – Let obedience
of Allah Ta'ala shine forth from this day forward. Let the rest of mankind observe
the effect that fasting has in changing the outlook of a believing Muslim. Let
the world observe a community free from all sins, crime and vice and let us be
an example which is worthy of emulation and of others accepting Islam.
