AFTER the holy month of Ramadan, we are now celebrating Eid. After a month of fasting and prayer and also desisting from back-biting and gossip, we have every right to rejoice.
There is no doubt this holy month has its reverence for all Muslims and this year, Ramadan was ‘normal’ after the Covid-related restrictions over the last two years even though many amongst us were still cautious and laid back.
However, there weren’t a large number of Ramadan councils, which showed people’s awareness, culture and keenness to do everything that is correct and rational to preserve human lives.
Some people, however, opened their private majlis for invitees only to limit the number of visitors. However, attendance in these was not very high – again a wise step by many of the invitees.
Private institutions such as banks, companies and others organised their Ramadan ghabgas for their employees, which presented a festive spirit missing for the last two years. Such gatherings positively affect job performance improvement and provide the appropriate environment among workers by creating team spirit.
I hope that this year’s Eid will present a new look, with new concepts and practices showing that people have adapted to the changed circumstances. Hopefully, this will be a time for families to try and limit gatherings as much as possible keeping in mind the old saying, ‘prevention is better than cure’. We all know the pandemic has caused the loss of many families’ lives and we have paid a heavy price.
What is needed now is a return to those family gatherings that strengthen the relations between members and which undoubtedly have been greatly affected. I am not talking about social activities only, but also sports, cultural, scientific and other activities.
Professional associations must wake up from their deep slumber and start serious and sincere work to achieve their goals for which they were established and granted the necessary licence from the official authorities.
There is no doubt that what is most important is reforming ourselves above all and working on educating our souls and adhering to values, morals, sincerity, love, respect, honesty and good treatment.
Many of us adhere to and fear that we will fall into the forbidden during Ramadan only and towards the end of the holy month, we find that all those values and morals are disregarded as if they only worked for one month of the year.
Lord, make my country and all other countries safe and stable and guide us to what you love and are pleased with.
Zuhair A. Tawfiqi
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