Celebrating Eid, Celebrating Islam:
The Religion of Peace, Mercy and Compassion
September 10, 2010
As I stand in the mosque on Eid day, along side of rows and rows of people, feeling the energy of so many beautiful people as we chant together the words of our Creator “Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Allah is Great, There is no Deity but Allah Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and praise is due to Him.” thanking Him for all that he has given us during this month of Ramadan.
It’s during this time, I can’t help but think about what I have gained during this blessed month and how fortunate I am to be standing among these people. What have I learnt? What am I grateful for, really? Well, although the lesson may be different for each and the experience varying, there are some common themes that we all seem to learn and acquire in our own ways; the markers that we pass during this spiritual journey (the day days of Ramadan).
Patience, compassion and mercy; gifts of Ramadan; gifts that we promise to carry forward even as this month ends.
Mercy and Compassion: Learning what it means to be hungry when others can eat. Counting the minutes at sunset, waiting for it to be time to break fast each night with a single date; feeling the sugar rush needed to pray, to thank you oh Lord for the abundance of food and water. While being reminded that although we are so fortunate to have food on our table each night, there are so many that sleep hungry each and every day, both locally here in Toronto and abroad.
Patience: Learning what it means to be able to exercise self restraint from worldly things like TV and Music and reminding us the value of reading, pondering and reflecting on your divine words of mercy and the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him); a mercy to all mankind.
Pondering on words like Surah 103 - Al-'Asr (Time):
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the MercifulBy (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
These are just some of the lessons I have learnt Oh Lord. I pray that you continue to give me the opportunity to welcome Ramadan yet again, so that your doors of mercy stay open to all of us.
And so, as we near the end of my stay at the Eid prayer congregation, with my heart full of contentment and my face illuminating from the glowing smile, I say with my hands up facing the sky, as I pray…
But I cannot do this on my own my Lord,
Because without you, there would be nothing.
Because, without you, I am nothing
You are … You are… You are… the Almighty, the Provider and the Sustainer
And I am your humble follower….a Muslim
I am a Muslim
-------------------------
To those who read this note:
I believe in sharing love, joy, mercy and compassion with others…. This is what Islam says, this is what Islam is, peace and mercy. Yes as Muslims we do care….So please pass this on to others, spread the message of love, compassion, peace and mercy….
Today is the day to rejoice being a Muslim!
As I stand in the mosque on Eid day, along side of rows and rows of people, feeling the energy of so many beautiful people as we chant together the words of our Creator “Allah is Great, Allah is Great, Allah is Great, There is no Deity but Allah Allah is Great, Allah is Great, and praise is due to Him.” thanking Him for all that he has given us during this month of Ramadan.
It’s during this time, I can’t help but think about what I have gained during this blessed month and how fortunate I am to be standing among these people. What have I learnt? What am I grateful for, really? Well, although the lesson may be different for each and the experience varying, there are some common themes that we all seem to learn and acquire in our own ways; the markers that we pass during this spiritual journey (the day days of Ramadan).
Patience, compassion and mercy; gifts of Ramadan; gifts that we promise to carry forward even as this month ends.
Mercy and Compassion: Learning what it means to be hungry when others can eat. Counting the minutes at sunset, waiting for it to be time to break fast each night with a single date; feeling the sugar rush needed to pray, to thank you oh Lord for the abundance of food and water. While being reminded that although we are so fortunate to have food on our table each night, there are so many that sleep hungry each and every day, both locally here in Toronto and abroad.
Patience: Learning what it means to be able to exercise self restraint from worldly things like TV and Music and reminding us the value of reading, pondering and reflecting on your divine words of mercy and the words of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him); a mercy to all mankind.
Pondering on words like Surah 103 - Al-'Asr (Time):
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the MercifulBy (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
These are just some of the lessons I have learnt Oh Lord. I pray that you continue to give me the opportunity to welcome Ramadan yet again, so that your doors of mercy stay open to all of us.
And so, as we near the end of my stay at the Eid prayer congregation, with my heart full of contentment and my face illuminating from the glowing smile, I say with my hands up facing the sky, as I pray…
- Thank you Lord for all that I have – there is nothing that I can say I have because of me, it’s all because of you.
- For you my Lord almighty, I continue the work I do each and every day
- To help the needy, the destitute, the oppressed, the abused and to give back what I have received; to use my time and energy to spread love, peace, compassion and mercy throughout the world.
- This month has been a great opportunity to continue to give back whether monetarily through zakat (charity), sadaqah and Fitra (which is encouraged during this month) or by volunteering at a local shelter or food bank, while all the time remembering that life circumstances are ever changing, knowing that today it may be someone else, tomorrow it may be me or someone I know. And being grateful for what I have no matter how much or how little it may be. And always remembering the importance of upholding and valuing a person and ensuring self respect and dignity remain intact regardless of a person’s situation.
- The opportunity to remember the people of Pakistan and their struggle during this time and even now, wondering how they must be dealing with Eid in such dire straights.
- Thank you for surrounding me with like minded individuals who share in this work. It is people with compassion and such mercy that the work continues even now and around the clock. So thank you for putting this worry and motivation into our hearts.
But I cannot do this on my own my Lord,
Because without you, there would be nothing.
Because, without you, I am nothing
You are … You are… You are… the Almighty, the Provider and the Sustainer
And I am your humble follower….a Muslim
I am a Muslim
-------------------------
To those who read this note:
I believe in sharing love, joy, mercy and compassion with others…. This is what Islam says, this is what Islam is, peace and mercy. Yes as Muslims we do care….So please pass this on to others, spread the message of love, compassion, peace and mercy….
Today is the day to rejoice being a Muslim!
