Message for the Millat

The Dawn Asia News Network Karachi

The congregational prayers and expressions of brotherhood, coupled with the distribution of poor dues (Fitra) marking the celebration of Idul Fitri, should not be seen merely as rituals but need to be understood and appreciated with reference to their wider significance, especially at this juncture.

It is time to realize the urgency of fraternal bonding and the concept of Millat that demand meeting of hearts and minds to weld the Ummah as a cohesive and dynamic force. In the present context, when Muslims are being widely portrayed as terrorists by their detractors, the need to highlight Islam's stress on universal brotherhood binding mankind together into one entity and its image as the promoter of peace and harmony demand exemplary behavior by its followers.

The Koran says, "O Mankind, lo! We have created you male and female and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware (XLIX-13) The Prophet's farewell address further illustrates this concept; "O People verily your Lord is one and your father is one.

There is no superiority for an Arab to a non-Arab and for a non-Arab to an Arab, for a white to a black, for a black to a white except in piety. Verily the noblest among you with Allah is the most dutiful of you."

Today when we are troubled by serious problems and challenges, the Koran and Sunnah should be the ultimate source of guidance and inspiration for Muslims all over the world.

The Koran says: "Hold fast all of you together to the cable of Allah and do not separate." Since we often ignore this exhortation we are getting divided. But the same passage in the Koran offers hope. It says, "And remember Allah's favor unto you: how you were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that you became brother by (His) grace and how you were on the brink of an abyss of fire and He did save you from it."

With this clear guidance at hand, those who divide the religion into conflicting schools of thought and believers into antagonistic sects preaching hatred against some of them deserve to be denounced.

The Koran says whoever kills a person unless it be for manslaughter and mischief in the land, it is as though he has killed all mankind. These clear warnings should be forcefully brought home to every Muslim at a time when sectarian killings and terrorism against innocent men, women and children in the name of religion are growing.

In the wider context, as members of the Millat, Muslims are bound by indissoluble bonds of faith, sharing each other's joys and happiness as also their sorrows and sufferings.

The greetings of Eid (Idul Fitri) give expression to the unity of Faith and fraternal feelings for each other. We cannot be an Ummah unless the whole body feels the pain when any of the limbs, aches.

Unfortunately, aside from verbal assertions of the virtue of unity and collective striving for common good from the platforms of the OIC and some other Arab and Islamic organizations, a matching response to the formidable challenges facing the Muslim world at this critical time is not forthcoming.

The vast resources and manpower of the Muslim countries, which could have been a mighty instrument of power, prosperity and peace lie largely unharnessed. The Koranic observation in Surah Al-Anfal to meet and match the enemy must be recalled on this day: "Make ready for them all thou can of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others beside them whom you know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever you spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full." These words of Allah should be remembered when reflecting on the message and rejoicing on this day after Ramadhan.