The gift of Eid ul Fitr

Next Thursday, 20^th April, Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid ul Fitr, which is the “festival to break the fast”; it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan; a month of fasting.

Muslims still have one week of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the most sacred month in Islamic culture. Fasting during this month is to enable spiritual growth. It is a time when, through prayer, Muslims eschew selfishness, and abstain from gossiping, lying, and fighting.

It is a noble practice that in some way affects us all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We reason that by praying, the Muslims encompass all humanity. By praying to attain a level of selflessness, our Muslim brothers and sisters will have a salutary effect on all those they meet in their daily lives.

We thank you for your heartfelt prayers and recognize the many contributions the Muslim community is making to both our spiritual and material lives in Canada, a country which has drawn us together from every corner of the world.

Yet all the goodwill and fellowship that accrue to us all are marred by the ongoing attacks on the Muslim community. In truth, the attacks have never stopped since anti-Muslim sentiments crested in 2001 following the destruction of New York’s World Trade Centre. The attacks have tailed off somewhat, but they are occurring far too often to be ignored.  

Just last Thursday at the very height of Ramadan, a man walked into the Jam’e Mosque in Markham, destroyed a copy of the Qu’ran, abused those in attendance, then tried to run over worshippers with his vehicle. This followed a June 2021 hit-and-run incident in London, Ont, that killed four members of a Muslim family; then the stabbing of a caretaker outside a Toronto mosque; and the 2017 attack in Quebec City where six people were killed; attacks have also occurred in Edmonton and Mississauga. 

Clearly there is a sizable pocket of hate in our country that must be fought at every turn by all of us. And this is the perfect time to engage in that struggle when Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr offer an environment of reflection, goodwill, the opportunity to look to the sun, break bread together, and remind us to try to be a better person in all aspects – health, spiritual, belief and faith.

At sunset on 20^th April, our Muslim brothers and sisters will celebrate Eid ul Fitr, the festival to break the fast. Generally, Muslim families invite their non-Muslim friends to share their meals. They also use the time to donate to charity and support important causes.

We can justify the wonderful spiritual and material gifts Eid ul Fitr granted us by following in the footsteps of our Muslim brothers and sisters and give just as generously to those in need.

On behalf of the Caribbean Camera family and community we wish our Muslim family a peaceful Eid wherever they are.