Festival And Distress !

Today, the first of Shawal 1436 (17/7/2015) is Eid-el-Fitr, the Fast Breaking Day, supposed to be celebrated with enjoyment and lighthearted pleasure. But Muslims everywhere in the world today celebrate this “festive” day with a lot of sorrow and distress.

This whole year, including the month of Ramadan we witness a very abominable situation, and a large number of cruel and inhumane killing and destruction in so many countries: Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Egypt, Somalia, and Libya. Palestine is of course in permanent distress, since 1948.

It is a distressful festival as everyday hundreds of people, in different countries are killed or wounded, thousands are tortured, in or outside of prisons. Hundreds of thousands are obliged to leave their homes (mostly already destroyed by blasting barrels).

Everyday we find more orphans mourning their parents, or parents mourning their children, and some families crushed all together under their annihilated houses.

In many regions in Yemen, and also in many refugee camps people have neither enough food, nor drinkable water.

Almost everyday we learn about hundreds of people drowning in the Mediterranean, seeking to leave their own countries and trying to reach any European shore, despite knowing full well the risks in their endeavor.

But we find the greatness of God’s ordinance, when we reflect on the text of prayers ordered to be the slogan in Islamic festivals. It is indeed suitable for both in joyful or in horrible situations: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. La ilaha illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahi al-Hamd; which means: God is Greater, God is Greater, God is Greater. There is no god but (the One) God, God is Greater, God is Greater, and for God alone is the ultimate Praise!

Therefore, Muslims everywhere, whatever the situation that befall them, will say the same prayers, the same slogan: the slogan of praising God and seeking His blessings.