No Eid Celebrations For Many Muslims

Some Muslims have protested at people like us, to our attitude to other Muslims celebrating Eid in such a happy and ignorantly blissful manner. We have always said that one should celebrate Eid, however, because so many millions of our brothers and sisters are suffering all over the world, how can you really truly celebrate it? And given this fact, how can you retain a selfish mentality that only produces a nonchalant and half-baked moral defence of your inaction? How can you not feel pain and respond to it, if you truly want to be part of this Ummah?

In response to that, Muslims usually moan in their highly comfortable and ignorant zombie-like state and say things like, "Even at Eid, you can't stop being so negative," or "why can't you just let us be happy at Eid, of all times? Why guilt trip us?" As if reality isn't a guilt trip enough. It's almost childish isn't it?

The oppressed of the world, in particular, recently the Rohingya, have added another layer of shame to the passive and politically-illiterate-by-choice Muslim. In light of the recent ethnic cleansing in Burma of the Rohingya Muslims, Burmese Muslims have refrained from celebrating Eid itself.

Myo Latt, senior leader of the Burmese Muslim Association announced, “Our brothers and sisters are being murdered and their villages are being burned down in Arakan State...It is for this reason that we will not celebrate `Eid.”

Imagine yourself, in bright festivities, eating high-calorie and full flavour food, blessed to have all of your family around you (even it if may be full of petty and ungrateful family politics). Then imagine the situation of the Rohingya in Burma and others in Palestine (Gaza has felt the wrath of Israel with full force again this week), Syria, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir and elsewhere, who have little food, severed limbs and soft memories of beloved family that our now dead for being Muslim. Imagine the contrast and look at the people around you. How can Muslims, who have it so good, care so little about the body of the Ummah? No doubt, if it was their family they would do something and not just respond with resigned excuses and a shrug of the shoulders. They would do something now not later. Is the Ummah not meant to be a family? Isn't inaction simply inexcusable and unforgivable?

The one thing the Rohingya need is a political voice and again, Muslims in the UK have a special position, as the UK holds a powerful geopolitical position in the world. Muslims have utterly failed their dying and oppressed people, once again. It's time for Muslims to get political and rise up for their family all over the world. They need you more than Allah needs you to celebrate Eid.

"And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?" -Surah Nisa. Ayah 75

Eid Mubarak.