It’s Ramadan, time to put aside all pettiness

We should spend this month re-examining what we have become as a nation and thinking of how we can redeem ourselves.

COMMENT

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us once again. With the fasting comes a time of reflection, of thanksgiving, and of improving relationships with family, friends, colleagues and perhaps even enemies. It is in this month that we practise controlling our worldly desires and seek to cleanse ourselves from the myriad sins we commit on a daily basis. And so there is no better time for us all to take a step back from politics and look at life’s big picture.

We have had so many disasters and controversies over the past year. So much strife and infighting, so much hurt and mistrust that they all hang over our beautiful country like a choking miasma, pulling everyone into a paranoid, reactionary state of mind that sees us sniping at each other over even the little things. Even now, a member of the royalty is directly challenged by a politician, a former prime minister must pick up the burden of a fractured opposition to challenge the current Prime Minister, and Islamic fundamentalism and moral policing are more evident than ever. They all build into a generally negative state of mind among the rakyat.

It’s Ramadan, and it’s time to retreat from all the politics and backbiting and to re-evaluate decisions that may have been made and words that may have been spoken in an ill spirit so that we may see how oddly they stand against the grand scheme of things. Surely, God did not mean for us to be constantly at war with each other or even to treat each other with suspicion all the time.

Islam, despite its current reputation in the world, is a religion of peace. The Prophet, peace be upon him, urged understanding, kindness, compassion, and mercifulness, not just between Muslims, but between all creatures. Did he not show us that Muslims and non-Muslims could co-exist in Madinah? That treating disbelievers with kindness is better in the eyes of the Almighty than to ostracise them? Did he not preach openness and accountability in government?

We have been a country at war with itself for far too long. We insist on widening the boundaries between ourselves instead of seeking to narrow them. We protest against each other for inconsequential reasons because we fear our faith is not strong enough. We insult each other, we backstab and we backbite.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, would be devastated to see the ummah behave in such a way.

This Ramadan, we, the ordinary rakyat as well as the politicians must strive to return to the cornerstones of our faith – compassion, kindness, and understanding. Let the hostilities cease as we re-examine ourselves and reaffirm the goodness inherent in all of God’s creatures. Maybe then we can find a new way forward that respects our different political beliefs, our different religious beliefs and even, among Muslims, our different ways of appreciating and expressing Islam.

We must hold ourselves to a higher standard. With so many out there bringing shame to the good name of Islam, we must look at ourselves carefully to make sure we are not espousing the same corruption of the faith associated with the extremists. In truth it is groups like the Islamic State that bring down the name of Islam, making it something to be hated and feared. Enough.

To my brothers and sisters in the faith, I wish you Ramadan Mubarak. May we focus our thoughts on the Almighty more intensely this year and forever more.