Ramadan Has Concluded
By Azher Quader
President, CBC
Chicago, IL
It was Chand Raath last night. The night of a new moon. A night when Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan. A night of relief and rejoicing. A night when streets are clogged with crowds of holiday shoppers. The long nights of praying and the long days of fasting are finally over and our schedules will now return back to more normal days and more restful nights.
For most of us Ramadan was a physical experience, exhaustive and stressful, but for some, it was hopefully also a spiritual one, reflective and uplifting. Although our focus is singularly on fasting throughout the days of the camp, the story of Ramadan is never complete without recognizing the important message of the Qur’an and its relevance to our present day lives.
In the deadly aftermath of Egypt and Syria there are sobering lessons for all of us to learn from the recitations of the Qur’an, that we dare not ignore. The struggle for unity and understanding, that seeks to bind us together as one people, is as much a measure of our ability to compromise and live with our differences, as it is for our commitment to faith. Without respect for the will of the people, tauhid becomes a slogan of passion not a habit of practice.
Contrary to what some experts might say, Muslim masses are not averse to the pursuit of democracy or the rule of law; it is Muslim leadership that repeatedly disappoints them by demonstrating their arrogance in power and their indifference to the principles of governing with wisdom and caring.
The history of conflicts within our religious institutions here at home is perhaps also evidence of our own failings to practice what we preach in the domains of leadership. If the stark and simple message of the Qur’an cannot inspire us to a life of service and integrity, then all the symphonic power of its recitation in Ramadan, cannot become a source for our salvation either here or in the hereafter.
Here at home our challenges are increasing each year and cannot remain unnoticed. Our overwhelming preoccupation with fundraising throughout Ramadan cannot be overlooked. Our focus on interfaith love during the month indeed creates timely excitement and good imagery. Our iftar parties similarly promote some networking and some camaraderie. Clearly more is needed though, not only to sustain us financially but also to build relationships that are mutually beneficial and real. With a donor base that is arguably not expanding and interfaith partners that demand our equal participation in causes that are dear to them, we need to become more creative in problem solving and more committed in building bridges.
We cannot remain concerned with what matters only to us and remain disaffected with what happens to our neighbors next door. If the guidance of the Qur’an is timeless, then surely there are answers to be found within it that apply to the problems that surround us today.
From eliminating the scourge of poverty, from removing the disparities in health care, from strengthening the bonds that bind us as loving and caring families , from making education free from the burdensome weight of exorbitant tuition, from bridging the racial divide, from curbing the violence from guns that takes innocent lives on our streets and schools, from offering solutions for immigration reform, for protecting the environment, for promoting the economy , for fighting the war on terror and drugs, for assuring the civil rights of all, there is powerful guidance in the Qur’an for us to heed, and to advocate.
Ramadan has concluded. We can rest a while and catch our breath. Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we commit and do whatever we can to make a difference in the world we live in.
May Allah grant us strength and give us guidance.
Eid Mubarak!
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