Eid celebration in time of a senseless war

Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated after a day or two depending on the sighting of the moon is a festival of breaking fast. But this apparently simple meaning has its essence ensconced in the month-long religious and spiritual cognition of self purification and enlightenment. Indeed, the observance of siam throughout the month of Ramadan acts as a rigorous training for the devotees of Islam to feel and experience the pangs of hunger the less fortunate in society endure. The Muslims voluntarily subject themselves to the rigour---a kind of physical and mental training-- in order to discipline themselves. So the abstinence acts both as a drive for cementing a bond with the hapless in society on the one hand and attaining self-enlightenment on the other. By offering fitr or fitra to the poor and needy, the well-off in society share their fortune. This is a nice example of reducing social disparities. Eid-ul-Fitr is therefore a celebration of a humanitarian mundane service as well as spiritual attainment. It also acts as a thanks-giving occasion for successful observance of the month-long siam.

True, the reward for asceticism allows the devotees of Islam to sumptuous dishes but not exceeding a limit. Similarly, attiring new dress to make the occasion special is a custom. But this again must not cross the line because the abstinence was meant to keep flaunting wealth in check not only for only a month but throughout the year. However, today's consumerism, taken to a new level, undermines the spirit of siam in more ways than one. Often unlimited showiness proves to be an affront to the very spirit of abstinence. Ordained by the true spirit of Islam, if the affluent segment of society shared their wealth proportionately, the gulf of social inequality would have been reduced to a large extent. But the failure to do so is pushing the poor and the marginal to the brink.

At the same time, this year's Eid-ul-Fitr is going to be celebrated against the irrational war American president Donald Trump and Israeli president Netanyahu have started against Iran. While Eid celebration should have fostered fraternity in the Muslim ummah, this year it is going to propagate division, hatred and violence. At no point is Iran responsible for the escalation of this insane war. Responsible for the death, destruction and violence is none other than the US president. He ordered bombardment on Iran in the month of Ramadan when the Muslims observe siam the world over. If this is how people in high positions show respect to a different religion, it only exposes the bankruptcy of morality of the leaders and by extension the crisis of civilisation.

The Muslims beyond the boundary of the war zone in the Middle East (ME) should further restrain their expenditures on food and dress by expressing their solidarity and unity with the affected people in the ME. Children in Gaza, West Bank in Palestine and Iran are dying or waiting to be the next victims. This is intolerable. This year's Eid prayer should include a message of peace and unity in the ME. No party to the feud, countries like Bangladesh are not immune from the repercussion of the war there. In fact, almost the entire world is suffering politically and economically due to the war there. Let the Eid congregation everywhere raise the demand for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Beirut and Iran. Without such moral solidarity in the Muslim ummah, the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr will remain incomplete.