Families will miss loved ones at Eid

EID ul-Fitr is an important religious day celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the blessed month of Ramadaan. The Eid holiday concludes a month of fasting wherein Muslims spent their time meditating, self-reflecting, praying, exercising discipline, and patience and begging the Almighty for forgiveness and mercy.

While Eid is a time of social harmony and celebration, we cannot separate ourselves from the challenges of fellow human beings. Due to unemployment, war, imperialism, capitalism, greed and chauvinism there are many who have nothing to celebrate.

The Eid date is based on lunar sightings and so it varies each year. This year Eid will be celebrated around Workers’ Day. In the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, the contribution of the working class, especially the essential, frontline and everyday workers cannot be forgotten. The Qur’an and Prophetic traditions teach us to be just, concerned, kind and compassionate to the workers, less privileged human beings, orphans, widows and those in need.

This year, like last year, many families, including mine, will be missing loved ones at their Eid gatherings. My prayers, thoughts and feelings goes out to all those who have lost their dear ones.

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg