A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Eid – Time To Renew Resolve To Find Unity In Diversity
Eid-ul-Fitr,
one of the two major events in the Islamic calendar, is celebrated by
all the Muslims irrespective of their global location in a spirit of
festivity. It is a joyous occasion which comes after the blessed but
spiritually rigorous month of Ramazan. Eid-ul-Fitr
is being celebrated with fervour by Muslims in Sri Lanka too, extending
our bonds of goodwill beyond the confines of the community. Muslims
thus traditionally make it a habit to share their joy with their
non-Muslim neighbours, mutually reciprocating the gestures of goodwill
shown at Avurudhu, Christmas or Deepavali. Sri Lanka in that way is a
special country where people can be seen to be enjoying the warmth and
brotherly feelings amongst one another at these special occasions, with
little regard to the vicious attempts by some elements to divide them.
In the month of Ramazan, Muslims engage in many acts of charity. However, despite everything appearing
on the surface to be the same, yet the simplicity, the importance of
values and the spirit of sharing and caring may in a way got lessened to
a considerable extent due to materialism and commercialism being woven into the very fibers of our culture. Thus,with
all the going around ,our lesser privileged brethren tend to be
forgotten. It should be borne in mind that there are many out there who
have no sense of celebration in them. There are many belonging to all
communities who still languish in refugee camps after the War, and
thousands rendered homeless and out of employment after many natural
disasters –more recently during the Meethotamulla waste dump tragedy and
worse ever floods. There are those who are in hospitals ,and orphanages
going through bleak and lonely days with no one visiting them.
Friendless, deprived of company, they will have no one to offer solace
or comfort. It is therefore imperative that Muslims use this joyous day
to think and spare a thought for these deprived brethren with warm and
hope.
It
is also imperative that a sense of compassion is inculcated in our
children so that when they too will think of their unfortunate brethren
while also teaching them the art of giving without allowing them to live
in a world confined to computers and social media. Our younger
generation should be reminded that while we can at least celebrate in
some form or another, there are yet millions of children around the
world who don’t even have the basic necessities to make not this day
even all their daily lives survivable. This should also an apt occasion
to be thankful for many divine bounties without living a life of greed.
We
cannot divest ourselves from the misery of others. We cannot shrug it
off saying that it does not concern us. Many people tend to be inward
looking. They may at times donate money to charity and feel rightly it
may seem so that they are doing their duty. However, the fact that if
once seen to be with these people the perception of charity changes.
There is a feeling of belonging when the recipient and giver meet.
Another
area which should concern Muslims while they are in the festive spirit
is to learn to treat people and treat them alike irrespective of all
religious differences as one human family as per Islamic ideology and
teachings. Al Quran says: ‘Oh Mankind! We have created you from a male
and a female and have divide you into tribes and nations to distinguish (
and no despise ) each other’ and our Greatest Role Model was called
as the Mercy unto mankind and not just to Muslims. Islam thus teaches us
to be kind and compassionate. All human beings deserve dignity and
mutual respect, by the very fact that they are born into the human
family. Universalism is stressed again and again in the Quran and
Prophet(SAW)’s example, which Muslims have undertaken to emulate.
This
sense of humanity will thus ultimately decide the quality of our life
on earth and rewards in the hereafter. This spirit of tolerance and
compassion which was cultivated during this month of Ramazan will be
much needed in days ahead, at a challenging time in our history where
vicious campaigns are afoot to sow hate, discord and ill-feelings
amongst communities. Prophet of Islam (SAW) showed much compassion and
offered forgiveness even to his avowed enemies and those who made his
life and lives of his family and companions a misery and laid obstacles.
On this blessed day of Eid, these examples should be fortified in our
lives by extending goodwill, brotherhood and friendship to all
communities who have been living in amity for centuries. It is said in
every religion that hate can be dispelled not through hate but through
love and affection.
Eid, in
essence, is therefore a follow-up to Ramadan in the sense that it tells
us, as the month of fasting did, that our duties and responsibilities
to our fellow beings — our neighbours, our families, indeed those whom
fortune has not treated well — are not to be taken lightly or ignored.
The crucial point here is that Eid is an opportunity for Muslims to
demonstrate to themselves and to others that Ramadan has made them
better human beings than they earlier were. On Eid day thus, it is
thoughts of others, of fellow feeling, of respect for others that are
paramount.